Parents' Guide to

Diablo II/Diablo II Expansion

By Jeremy Gieske, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Well-made, but not good for kids.

Game Windows 2003
Diablo II/Diablo II Expansion Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 6 parent reviews

mistwold
mistwold Adult
March 16, 2012
age 12+

Parents should use their discretion

I think every parent has to make the decision to let their child play this game based on their child's maturity level. I play this game and let my 9 year old daughter play, but only OFFLINE. I would never let her play it online due to the language and interacting with people you don't know. My child is very smart and knows it is make -believe so I don't feel like it's an issue. Actually, the thing that freaks her out the most is the music. It is a little gory but it is not realistic looking at all and you are always killing bad creatures, not people.
Plague
Plague Parent
November 18, 2010
age 13+

Diablo ll

This game is very fun, but has intense gore, violence, and sexual themes that is most definitely not for kids.
See all 6 parent reviews

What’s It About?

The premise of DIABLO II involves the character taking on Diablo, which is, of course, another name for the Devil. The expansion pack picks up where Diablo II leaves off, by having the character fight Diablo's \"brother\" Baal. The idea of Heaven versus Hell is prominent throughout the games, with the player being assisted by an angel of sorts while taking on various demons and monsters, all the while building up to the battle with Diablo, and later Baal.

Diablo was one of the first popular games to employ a \"real-time\" aspect of gameplay: With every click of the mouse, the player can move a sword or cast a spell to attack enemies. Strategy primarily involves choosing the best weapon or spell your character can use.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (13 ):

Diablo II and its expansion pack contain a rudimentary story that, while well done, only serves as a weak link from one battle to the next. Perhaps one of the more worrisome aspects is the direct correlation between player action and violence.

The battles can be quite bloody -- larger monsters, in particular, can explode into a large puddle of blood and guts. The potentially scary segments are mostly contained in cinematic segments between the main "acts." These scenes tie the overall story together, and contain some of the most disturbing scenes, including battles, possession by demons, torture, and fires. Although undoubtedly a popular and well-made game, Diablo II isn't a good choice for kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in this game. Do you enjoy the constant action, or do you prefer more of a story?

Game Details

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