Parents' Guide to

Pokemon Black 2/Pokemon White 2

By Mark Raby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Great installment in strategy and monster collection series.

Game Nintendo DS 2012
Pokemon Black 2/Pokemon White 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Pokemon Black 2/Pokemon White 2 Game: Screenshot #1
  • Pokemon Black 2/Pokemon White 2 Game: Screenshot #2
  • Pokemon Black 2/Pokemon White 2 Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 8 parent reviews

Consumer733333
Consumer733333 Adult
August 19, 2022
age 18+

Racist KKK Pokemon

Pokemon of same region are related to the KKK. Zekrom is a Nighthawk and Reshiram has a white robe look because placement of the stripes are the same and his head shape. Colors are same. Zekrom has eyes color of Nazi flag. Reshiram creates a burning cross. Fusion forms of Kyurem have same problem with being like the KKK. The designs could change but Pokemon is too interested in making money off of the least amount of work possible.

This title has:

Too much consumerism
2 people found this helpful.
Jewel2814
Jewel2814 Parent of 7 and 13-year-old
November 7, 2022
age 18+

Racist Legendary Pokemon

Not appropriate. Legendary white and black dragons and KKK are alike. Don’t care if it’s a dragon or human, don’t be making them match a hate group cause they look inspired off KKK uniforms.
1 person found this helpful.
See all 8 parent reviews

What’s It About?

POKEMON BLACK 2/POKEMON WHITE 2 are unique in the Pokemon franchise because, for the first time, they are direct sequels of the games that preceded them. Both contain parallel storylines with only minor differences. This game takes place two years after the previous installments in the series, although new players can pick up this game with no difficulty in understanding the story. As has become the norm in this franchise, players take on the role of an aspiring Pokemon trainer whose goal is to rise to the top of the ranks in the well-respected sport of Pokemon battling, while at the same time conquering an evil force that threatens the safety and peace of the entire region.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8 ):
Kids say (15 ):

Pokemon Black 2/Pokemon White 2 are somewhat formulaic in their presentation. With the franchise now nearly 15 years old, there is nothing exceptionally new or different with the basic structure of the game. The beauty of this series, though, is that the structure continues to work very well. This installment contains a whole cast of new Pokemon with new abilities and powers, as well as features like mini-games and a feature called "Pokestar Studios" that allows players to create movie scenes with their creature companions. There is also a new feature that allows players to create their own shopping mall that grows when players invite online friends to visit. These enhancements help to refresh the experience, but the truth is that the Pokemon franchise epitomizes the adage of "if it isn't broke, don't fix it." This game captures all the same magic as the many titles before it, and the added features and content allow it to be a different experience and an easy recommendation for any fan of the series.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violent content in this game. What are your thoughts on using Pokemon for battle? Is it a good way to resolve conflict?

  • What dreams do you want to accomplish in life? What obstacles are you prepared to face to make those dreams come true?

Game Details

  • Platform: Nintendo DS
  • Subjects: Math : counting, numbers, ratio
  • Skills: Self-Direction : achieving goals, goal-setting, work to achieve goals, Thinking & Reasoning : logic, solving puzzles, strategy
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Release date: October 8, 2012
  • Genre: Action/Adventure
  • ESRB rating: E for Mild Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
  • Last updated: June 21, 2020

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended game lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate