Parents' Guide to

Guild Wars: Nightfall

By Dwight Odelius, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Free online fantasy RPG has some violence.

Game Windows 2006
Guild Wars: Nightfall Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 9+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Duck N Boo
Duck N Boo Adult
July 22, 2012
age 10+

Get multiple accounts, create your own guild, and play with your kids! :)

Although it can be played by a single player with the addition of heroes or henchmen to complete, it is most fun if friends or family have accounts that can join together. Players can join other players' guilds, and often, other characters will try to interact with your characters, so keeping an eye on your kids as they play is really a must, especially for the younger ones. I and my kids each have our own account and have made our own guild so we can all help each other, and it has been quite enjoyable for us to play together! Really a lot of fun for all!
jfbrown42
jfbrown42 Parent of 12-year-old
August 26, 2009
age 8+
Nightfall is the latest full "chapter" in the Guild Wars series of games. Many players think it has the best story. Nightfall introduced "Heroes", which are computer-controlled companions that the player can equip with items and skills, so that you can play the game by yourself if you so choose (although it's much more fun playing in a well-coordinated group, or guild. Since the Guild Wars games don't have a monthly fee like most MMO's, a parent doesn't have to be too concerned if the kid gets bored with it for some reason after a few months and stops playing it (it won't be a continual drain on your credit card).

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What’s It About?

GUILD WARS: NIGHTFALL is the third in a series of games that allow the player to explore, quest, and fight in an online mythical world. In the role of a fantasy hero, players battle solo or in groups against monsters and other players.

From a menu of options, players choose their hero's physical and combat attributes, including skin color, hair style, magical abilities, and fighting skills. Players take their hero on quests to defeat monsters, which awards experience, new abilities, improved clothing and weapons, and game currency. The missions are easy by design, so that if necessary they can be completed without the help of other players.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Nightfall's first-rate campaign takes place in Elona, an area adjoining the original Guild Wars' play region, Tyria. The player becomes the hero seeking to prevent a mysterious event called Nightfall, which will return an evil godlike being to the world. Of the three Guild Wars games, Nightfall's story is the strongest and most satisfying to finish. The game also introduces Heroes, computer controlled henchmen that can help players on their quests.

As with other Guild Wars games, end-game content revolves around player versus player (PvP) combat. But, unlike many MMOGs, successful PvP play doesn't depend on players having better equipment or character abilities; characters come with the highest level of both these things, so that success relies on skill, strategic thinking and teamwork, and not just on equipment quality.

Nightfall is a MMOG, but only loosely; the only thing that's "massively multiplayer" about it are the towns where players congregate to go on quests or PvP. The actual game areas are "instanced," meaning that individuals and teams get their own copy of the world in which to quest by themselves. This makes the game cheaper to produce and thus free to play, but the trade off is that it prevents potential random encounters with other people. Interaction with the game population happens only in the towns, providing less opportunity to form unplanned "pick-up" groups.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about online safety with their teens. Why is it important to maintain privacy while online? Is everyone always who they claim to be? What does effect does online anonymity have on people's behavior? Families can also discuss the unique business model of the Guild Wars franchise. How can an online game make money if no one pays a subscription fee?

Game Details

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