Parents' Guide to

Call of Duty: World at War

By Brett Molina, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Intense first-person shooter captures brutality of WWII.

Call of Duty: World at War Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 13+

Based on 87 parent reviews

age 11+

Best WW2 game out there

This game is amazing! It is pure fun while also retaining my a large amount of historical accuracy and attention to detail. There is lots of blood and the game doesn’t shy away from gore. You shoot Nazis or Japanese, language is occasional but sometimes strong. The campaign is awesome and the missions capture the brutality of war. If you pay attention, you can also see how war changes people.

This title has:

Too much violence
2 people found this helpful.
age 14+

Recommended for 14 or over

It really shows the horror of wars, it might be too much for some people, but it's fine

This title has:

Great messages
Easy to play/use
Too much violence
Too much swearing
2 people found this helpful.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (87):
Kids say (247):

While the last release in the franchise, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, set the bar for first-person shooters on consoles, World at War delivers a very similar experience. The campaign is chaotic and intense. The Russian missions tend to feel like typical WWII games, but action in the Pacific is more intriguing. Japanese enemies employ ambush tactics like charging with bayonettes. Because most prefer hiding in grass, your character will often use a flamethrower to flush out enemies.



World at War is also dark and brutal. Smoke and gunfire blanket the skies of Berlin as you break through Nazi defenses. You'll see enemies burned alive or missing limbs following explosions. On the default difficulty, opponents are relentless. However, they do exhibit some odd behaviors. There were a few moments where opponents were inches away and opted to sit and aim as opposed to aggressively attacking. Weapons are diverse, ranging from mountable assault rifles to grenades and sniper rifles. Multiplayer is equally impressive, with a deep ranking system and rewards for bolstering your skills. With a wealth of World War II games available, World at War stands out as one of the best.

Game Details

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