Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
A somewhat deep role-playing game with character.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Parents say the game is extremely inappropriate for young players due to the prevalence of grooming and predatory behavior, which often goes unchecked by the game's moderation team. While some users appreciate the game's social aspects and economy, the concerns about inappropriate content and technical issues underscore a significant divide in user experiences, leading to strong warnings against letting children play.
- grooming concerns
- predatory behavior
- social aspects
- technical issues
- age appropriateness
- user experiences
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 7 kid reviews
What's It About?
Rather than charging the typical $15 a month to play a massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Korean-based Nexon Group has a different strategy: give the core game away for free but offer small \"micro transactions\" to players -- a dollar here, two bucks there -- that provide additional weapons, items, skills, and locations. The latest in the company's string of popular games is MABINOGI, an ambitious fantasy MMORPG with an attractive 3-D \"cel-shaded\" anime art style (including pre-rendered cinematics), multiple roles players can partake in (from heroic warriors to humble farmers), and a rich community in which to play together as a small party or specialized guild.
Already a huge success in Asia with more than 7 million players, Mabinogi (http://mabinogi.nexon.net/landing/) utilizes a real-time, mouse-driven combat system, not unlike Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo. After creating a custom character (by selecting a name, face, hair, clothes, and so on) you'll begin exploring a countryside town and trying out your fighting moves on creatures such as foxes and raccoons, but will soon take on missions that pits you against bigger and deadlier beasts. Whether fighting alone or in groups, there is no blood or gore during combat, but the violence can be a bit graphic, such as a \"smash skill\" move that has your character stab an enemy with a long sword and then use their boot to kick it off the blade. Special items, such as potions, can be mapped to the F keys for easy access.
Is It Any Good?
As characters progress by completing missions, they'll develop skills in one of three categories -- life, combat, and magic -- so while most will likely choose fighting as their modus operandi, players will benefit from additional "ability points" by becoming a prominent member in their community, which can occur when you fish or cook for others. Players can also earn daily "bonuses" (based on the game's clock) and the character will grow taller as they get older (up to 21 years of age). Whether you're a casual player who wants to dabble in a free MMORPG or a hardcore gamer curious to know what all the hoopla is about, we had fun spending three days living in Mabinogi with its attractive graphics, huge world, and intuitive combat system.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether Nexon's approach of "micro transactions" is a good for the consumer. Is getting the game for free an appealing advantage over the typical $15 a month for other role-playing games or does this pose more of a nuisance for those who want access to everything up front for a flat monthly fee?
Game Details
- Platform : Windows
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Nexon
- Release date : March 27, 2008
- Genre : Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG)
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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