Parents' Guide to

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

By Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Rich, epic, historical action game with very mature themes.

Game Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One 2013
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Game: Screenshot #1
  • Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Game: Screenshot #2
  • Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 59 parent reviews

jennievh
jennievh Parent of 21-year-old
January 14, 2022
age 13+

So much fun. Lots to do, easy to improve, just a blast

I agree with the review that thought it was OK for a 13-year-old. This is a fascinating game with plenty of violence and gore, but as you've read, you can turn the blood off. There are several moral judgments, which are interesting, but mostly, you sail around and attack ships and look for stuff on the islands. I'm not great at video games, and leveling up is pretty easy with AC4. My son has had it for years and I'm only sorry I didn't try it out sooner! And this does not glorify being a pirate, IMHO. It just gives a glimpse into pirate's life and challenges you to figure out a variety of puzzle situations. Really, really enjoying it.

This title has:

Easy to play/use
chad_the_dad
chad_the_dad Adult
November 5, 2021
age 13+

My son loved this game!

I watched my son play this game. He really enjoyed playing it. While I watched I noticed there was some language and things. There was not much so it should be fine for kids above 12. The game follows stuff that happened in real life, so it's pretty educational. My son really liked the game mechanics and the storyline. Just don't keep younger kids in the room while you let your older kids play it.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use
See all 59 parent reviews

What’s It About?

ASSASSIN'S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG continues the rich and historical narrative established by its predecessors but introduces new protagonists. As with previous Assassin's Creed games, it has two very distinct settings. One is the present, where players take control of a rookie researcher working for a game company in Montreal who explores the genetic memories of Desmond Miles, the modern-day protagonist of past games in the series. But the bulk of the game takes place in the past, within the genetic memories of Desmond's ancestor, Edward Kenway, who lived during the golden age of pirates in the Caribbean. Kenway was a privateer, a pirate, and an Assassin -- a member of an ancient order pledged to protect the freedom of humanity through the ages. As Kenway, players explore a massive open world in which they can take on missions that further the story, or they can choose to simply explore. Activities include sailing the seas, searching for treasure, hunting animals, melee-fighting on land, and epic ship-to-ship battling on the ocean. A multiplayer component pits assassin against assassin, with players trying to track down and identify one another in environments crowded with civilians.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (59):
Kids say (124):

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag stands apart from its predecessors in plenty of ways, but none more evident than its focus on sea-based exploration. Building on the terrific sea ship mechanics of Assassin's Creed III, nearly half the game is spent sailing around the Caribbean, exploring small islands, and getting into spectacular cannon battles with other boats. It's an exciting, visually sumptuous, and undeniably fresh way to approach both sandbox play and water-based combat. There's little else like it in the world of games.

Beyond the piratical element, the primary draw remains the series' rich storytelling and immersive, historically accurate world. Players get to explore virtual versions of cities including Havana, Kingston, and Nassau -- recreated using maps, images, and artifacts from the era -- and interact with historical figures such as Blackbeard and Anne Bonny, all while working through a complex and engaging story that seamlessly jumps between modern and historical eras and is filled with unexpected twists and turns. If you're a mature player with an interest in history, few games are likely to satisfy as much as Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in media. Why do you think so many stories, regardless of format, include violence? What is its narrative significance? Does extreme violence have a valid place in works for more mature audiences? Does violence belong in any stories meant for children?

  • Families also can discuss history as it's portrayed in this game. What aspects of the golden age of pirates did the game get right? What did it get wrong? Do you think that the game glamorizes the pirate lifestyle?

Game Details

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