Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Light scares, clever puzzles make for a fun adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 16 kid reviews
Kids say this game is a great choice for slightly older children, often highlighting its fun exploration and humorous ghost characters while also noting that some levels and bosses can be quite challenging and scary for younger kids. The gameplay mechanics are easy to learn, but the puzzles and levels may pose difficulties, making it more suitable for ages 8 and up.
- fun gameplay
- humorous ghosts
- difficult puzzles
- appropriate for ages
- not very scary
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
After standing in Mario's shadow for 12 years, Nintendo's green-capped super bro has finally emerged to star in LUIGI'S MANSION: DARK MOON, a sequel to his only previous solo adventure. Professor E. Gadd has lost control of his ghostly research subjects and needs help from the young plumber to pacify his poltergeists. He sends the trembling Luigi into several different haunted mansions on a series of quests that involve recovering gadgets, ridding rooms of various infestations, and tracking down particularly impish spirits. These tasks are all part of Luigi's grander goal to reconstruct the titular Dark Moon, an object with the power to make phantoms behave nicely. Players employ various gizmos to scour the mansions' rooms for clues, mission items, and treasure, stopping now and then to use the Ghostbusters-ish PolterGust 5000 to hoover up any specters foolish enough to show their ghostly faces. Expect fun exploration, some challenging puzzles, plenty of action, and a few mild scares.
Is It Any Good?
There's loads to love about Luigi's second solo outing. The game's world is bursting with personality and is just begging to be explored. And the fun puzzles contained within -- such as figuring out how to burn away cobwebs or engage two pressure plates at once to start a motor -- are always fair and make sense within the context of the situation. Plus, sucking up ghosts -- a bit like reeling in a fish, ending with a rubbery popping sound -- can be quite satisfying. However, the most endearing part of it all is Luigi himself. Timid but lovable, you can't help but root for Mario's little brother as he tiptoes around dark rooms. He even occasionally hums along to the game's score to work up a little courage. He's adorable.
The only thing that puts a damper on the experience is an interface that proves occasionally irksome. Without a second analog joystick to control the camera or help with aiming, players may end up a little frustrated. Still, it's no deal breaker. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is a blast, and quite unlike anything else on Nintendo's handheld.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fear and courage. What sorts of things make you afraid? How do you deal with that fear? Is it possible to be brave if you don't first feel fear?
Families can also discuss why Mario games are so popular.
Game Details
- Platform : Nintendo 3DS
- Subjects : Hobbies : collecting
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : logic , solving puzzles , strategy
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Nintendo
- Release date : March 24, 2013
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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