Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Open world racer with mild adult themes and a novel twist.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Driver: San Francisco
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 16 kid reviews
Kids say this game offers an engaging and exciting experience with creative gameplay mechanics and remarkable graphics, but it does have significant language issues that may deter some parents from allowing younger players to engage with it. While the driving elements and story are enjoyable for older teens, the frequent use of profanity and occasional darker themes make it more suitable for older audiences.
- engaging gameplay
- strong language
- creative mechanics
- suitable for older teens
- great graphics
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
The latest entry in Ubisoft's long-running action racing series, DRIVER: SAN FRANCISCO's story heads in an original direction right off the bat by placing the majority of the game inside a coma patient's dream. The franchise's hero, undercover cop John Tanner, gets into a major accident while chasing an escaped criminal maniac and suddenly finds himself in a realistic dream in which he's still chasing after his suspect. But there's a twist: He can instantly \"shift\" to the bodies of other drivers on the road, taking control of their vehicles at will. This new ability comes in handy not just in story missions, but also in side challenges that allow players to do everything from moving between police cars involved in high speed chases to taking control of criminals' cars. The action extends beyond the single-player story to 11 online multiplayer modes that accommodate up to eight players each.
Is It Any Good?
It's hard to stand out in the crowded genre of open world driving games, but Driver: San Francisco does just that with its undeniably original "shift" ability, which promotes fast-paced play and creates some very unusual play scenarios, such as using multiple cars in a single chase. It also keeps players from wasting time finding new missions by allowing them to hover above the city to easily find cars with icons denoting a new activity. Gorgeous graphics -- particularly during in-game cinematic sequences -- are just the icing on top.
However, hardcore racing fans might find the action and driving physics to be a little too arcade-like, or unrealistic. Cars quickly recover from devastating crashes and can take turns at wildly high speeds. Plus, most of the city roads are a lot wider than they would be in reality, likely to help keep rookie players on the road rather than smashing into the buildings that line the streets. Still, anyone looking for some easily digestible racing action with a fun, novel twist probably won't be disappointed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about online safety. What precautions do you take when playing games with strangers over the Internet? How can you tell if they mean you harm? Have you considered playing online with voice communication disabled?
Parents who have teens learning to drive may want to consider a study that suggests playing some racing games can lead to taking more driving risks in real life and share it with their children.
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : UbiSoft
- Release date : September 6, 2011
- Genre : Racing
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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