Parents' Guide to

Grand Theft Auto IV

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Murder, sex, drugs, drunk driving. Not for kids.

Game PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360 2008
Grand Theft Auto IV Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 12+

Based on 125 parent reviews

age 10+
1 person found this helpful.
age 7+

One of the greatest Gta games

I think that as long as your child has a basic understanding of right and wrong you should be able to trust them with this game. Stop blaming video games for crimes please. Also, this game can be used to show off what not to do instead of what to do, have we ever thought about that? A kid who understands what laws and morals, rights and wrongs are should be able to play. As far as I'm concerned their is only violence and bad language in this game the nudity in the strip clubs aren’t that bad they are topless yes but they have underwear and as for the sex scene with your romantic partner you can only hear the moaning you don’t watch the character and their partner going at it. And believe it or not you kids will quickly learn that people can die, swearing and guns exist and all the rest. '' Shielding'' them does nothing against that. Also if your kid plays games like Call Of Duty , Battlefield and doom then Gta is fine cuz fun fact Call Of Duty and Battlefield is more realistic and graphic when it comes to shooting or stabbing someone compared to Gta. That said in my opinion Gta Iv is one of the best Gta games in the series and if your child is mature and you explain them the difference between right and wrong this game is a fun and good choice for your child to delve into the Gta series regards a adult who knows a lot about Games cuz i’m a Gamer myself. And quick mention i used to play this as a 8 year old back in the day and i was mature for my age and i knew the difference between right and wrong.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Easy to play/use

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (125 ):
Kids say (237 ):

For the first time in the series, Grand Theft Auto IV offers high-definition graphics, including smooth animation and lip-synching, varying weather effects, and a new physics engine that models everything authentically. This sequel also adds more hand-to-hand combat and optional in-car GPS to help you better navigate this city. Without question, though, the biggest new feature is something gamers have been asking about for years: multiplayer. In Grand Theft Auto IV, up to 16 gamers can play online in a host of game head-to-head modes, like "Cops & Crooks," or cooperative missions like "Hangman's NOOSE." Xbox 360 gamers will also be able to download bonus missions and other content later this year, via the Xbox Live service.

Of course, the controversy this game will garner is unavoidable. As with past GTA titles you can shoot at cops, drive into pedestrians, or request "services" from a prostitute and a lap dance from a stripper. This sequel is also laced with plenty of foul language and you can drink and drive, though your cousin calls you a "bloody idiot" for doing so. Again, take heed of the "M"-rating. Aside from a slightly choppy frame rate at random times, where the action stutters for a bit, and hard-to-read green GPS directions on your mini-map, there is little to complain about with the gameplay mechanics of Grand Theft Auto IV. Adult gamers will find a single-player story that can easily last a month, not to mention the ability to hop online and play with friends. In short, this highly-polished sequel will gratify adults who will get a long "bang" for their buck. But don't let your kids anywhere near it.

Game Details

  • Platforms: PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360
  • Available online?: Available online
  • Publisher: Rockstar Games
  • Release date: April 29, 2008
  • Genre: Action/Adventure
  • ESRB rating: M for Intense Violence, Blood, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Partial Nudity, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
  • Last updated: November 4, 2015

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