Dawn of Discovery
Common Sense says
- Nintendo Wii
- $29.99
- 2009
Parents say
Kids say
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Get it now on
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Did this review miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive, diverse representations in books, TV shows, and movies. Want to help us help them? Suggest a diversity update
Suggest an update Dawn of Discovery
A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this fun adventure game has a pirate theme, and thus there is rum and other alcohol references in the game. While it is about civilization-building, there is a gallows in your town and you'll see some bloodstains on it. Language such as 'damn' is employed, and you'll be exposed to cannonballs hitting ships and then sinking. When the credits roll, you'll hear someone talk about smoking hemp.
Stay up to date on new reviews.
User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Addictive and fun game safe for all ages
What's it about?
In DAWN OF DISCOVERY, just as in Civilization games, you'll learn a bit about history as you check out various civilizations and cultures. Here, you're the good son of England's King George. Your goal? Colonize the world and pack riches onto your ship to save the formerly merry ole England. The game’s graphics are presented as a graphic novel, and sometimes, they really seem 3D. Your first hours will include story mode missions featuring tutorials and banal, if necessary, dialog. In the process, you will build farms, warehouses, and ships and send back food to the homeland’s starving waifs. You’ll upgrade your villages all the way up to elite metropolitan centers. Just don’t raise taxes too much: as in real life, your population moans and groans about it. The main goal here: a gentle balance so all kinds of people thrive.
Is it any good?
Dawn of Discovery is a multi-layered game, one that will keep you occupied (and frantic) for hours upon hours. You can even play this game with friend using two Wii remotes. As you progress, you’re put in competition with your evil brother, and your missions get harder and seem timed. You will be motivated to succeed because if you don’t grow enough food for your settlers, they die with a sad smiley face. Despite some problems with graphics and poor drop-down menu placement, this is a fun strategy game to explore.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how video games can teach. Did this game show you what life would have been like if you existed in the 1400s?
Do you think the Prince's behavior impacted the way you look at the world?
Game details
- Platforms: Nintendo Wii
- Price: $29.99
- Available online? Not available online
- Developer: UbiSoft
- Release date: June 23, 2009
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating: E10+ for Alcohol Reference, Mild Language, Mild Violence
- Last updated: August 31, 2016
Our editors recommend
Top advice and articles
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.