Parents' Guide to

Final Fantasy XIII

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Gorgeous fantasy RPG with combat & some suggestive scenes.

Game PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 2010
Final Fantasy XIII Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 10+

Based on 9 parent reviews

age 15+

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
age 8+
This often-underrated game is a good choice for most ages. In spite of the combat-centric gameplay, it's blood-free, and the language is pretty mild. The story is enjoyable, with good characters and profound lessons that can positively influence young and old alike. Top it off with beautiful graphics and an amazing soundtrack, and a simple but nuanced control system (some complain it's too simple: the fact is that the controls are designed to be as simple or complex as your individual approach to gameplay, melding to the user's preferences). A few thematic elements and disturbing creatures are perhaps the biggest concerns, but if you let your kids play Zelda or the more recent Mario games, there's no reason they can't play this.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (31):

Yes, especially for longtime fans of the series. Final Fantasy XIII once again brings together the talents of producer Kitase Yoshinori, director Motomu Toriyama, character designer Tetsuya Nomura, and art director Isamu Kamikokuryo, to deliver a stunningly deep and breathtakingly beautiful role-playing game that plays out more like an interactive movie -- complete with orchestrated soundtrack and the theme song "My Hands" by Leona Lewis. The modified turn-based battle mechanic should also please veterans as it provides more freedom and tactical options during gameplay.

The game, however, is quite linear, which might disappoint those looking to roam in this gorgeous fantasy world. But this ambitious single-player adventure features an interweaving storyline, new characters, and tweaked battle mechanics that should excite and delight Final Fantasy enthusiasts and RPG fans alike.

Platform Note: Both versions of the game play and look the same.

Game Details

  • Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Release date: March 9, 2010
  • Genre: Role-Playing
  • ESRB rating: T for Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
  • Last updated: August 31, 2016

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