Parents' Guide to

Life Is Strange

By Michael Lafferty, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Adventure focuses on power, consequences of second chances.

Game PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox 360 , Xbox One 2015
Life Is Strange Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Life Is Strange Game: Screenshot #1
  • Life Is Strange Game: Screenshot #2
  • Life Is Strange Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 38 parent reviews

eternalanxiety
eternalanxiety Adult
December 30, 2020
age 13+

lovely!!!

i played this game when i was 13-14. i’ve replayed it since than as well. it does have some mature themes such as drug use, alcohol, suicide. the developers of this game wanted to cater to high school aged teens. even in middle school, kids will experience this stuff, maybe not to the extent that this game portrays it. the message is good, the soundtrack is amazing. this game is genuinely the only one i’ve played that made me cry. still to this day it gets me emotional even though i’ve played it countless times. personally, if you don’t trust that it’s not age appropriate for your kid, i think it’s a great family game. it’s very story based and there’s even some topics that your kids could ask questions about. it leaves a lot of room for discussion.

This title has:

Great messages
Easy to play/use
1 person found this helpful.
mrsroadrunner
mrsroadrunner Adult
September 15, 2022
age 18+

Opinion from a older adult

This is a great story. It has mystery, suspense, and everything a story about a serial killer should have. I was confused at first if this was based at a University campus, or a private high school campus. With all the sex, drugs, and violence I was just confused at first. The conclusion is, that it is at a private high school. Most of my friends are grandparents and do not play video games so when I am asked what age video games are appropriate for it would be entirely up to whoever I am talking with. I would think young people 18+, perhaps kids younger who are mature for their age? Though I ran into grade school kids when I played GTA (grand theft auto), so my opinion might be conservative. Parents concerned should play the first episode themselves, or some of it. Look on the internet for whatever video game and "gameplay", after. Watch someone play the game? I thought it was a great game, but again I am an older adult.
See all 38 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Max Caulfield is not a typical 18-year-old teenage girl. Not only does she seem skilled with a camera, but she discovers that she has the ability to reverse time, albeit not too far. But it's this ability that's at the core of LIFE IS STRANGE -- EPISODE 1: AMERICAN CHRYSALIS. Max has returned to her hometown on the Oregon coast after being gone for five years, is accepted into a prestigious private academy, and is soon embroiled in a dark mystery involving the disappearance of other students. Everyone could be a suspect, from the famous teacher of photography to the Vortex club, to other priggish, snobbish students who think they have free reign to do what they please without consequence. As you play the game, you'll find that choices have consequences, and the decisions Max makes will alter the story as it unfolds.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (38 ):
Kids say (89 ):

Life Is Strange has a sinister undertone that grabs players and forces them through the plot with the one caveat: that things aren't always what they seem to be. On the downside, the setting is a little forced for the sake of the story, with gameplay relying on highlighting objects and then selecting actions from pop-up wheels. Some action elements can be obscured by characters if the camera isn't in the right position to reveal what players can and can't do. The game also has some puzzles that are sequential (not bad unless you get hung up trying to figure out something that seems so minor overall), meaning you have to accomplish certain things to solve the puzzle and advance the story.

On the positive side, the artwork is very nice with a great use of color and texture. Although the profanity can seem a bit much, a 17-year-old who helped review the game said the character interaction reminded her of the school she attends, from the student attitudes to some of the language. The game is easy to control, the characters are distinctive, and the puzzles aren't mind-bending, but they can require a bit of intuition and intelligence. Even though the game advertises that actions have consequences, Max can alter her actions with her time-reversal powers and make other choices, which leads to some replayability. So far, this is shaping up to be a first-rate adventure title.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the impact of violence in games. Why does violence affect people more when it happens unexpectedly? Is it any worse when violence happens to kids?

  • Have you ever been faced with a dilemma where there was no easy answer and, regardless of your decision, someone would be hurt or feel bad? How did you handle it? Do you think you did the best you could, given your choices?

Game Details

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