Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
A fantastic music game for the entire family.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 16 kid reviews
Kids say that this game, despite being released many years ago, remains a beloved choice for music lovers of all ages, offering a great selection of popular songs and a fun, engaging gameplay experience. While some reviews mention minor language concerns, the overall consensus is that it is suitable for family play and helps improve musical skills, making it a great party game for friends and family.
- fun experience
- great song selection
- suitable for family
- improves musical skills
- minor language concerns
- engaging gameplay
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
Similar to the Guitar Hero games, ROCK BAND players form a band and work their way up from rags to riches by pleasing fans and racking up points, and then unlocking bigger and bigger venues. In front of the animated band performing on stage is a kind of giant guitar fret board with a camera that sails down it as the song plays to show players which notes/drums to hit at certain points in the song. Color-coded buttons on the guitar neck and drum pads must be hit at the correct time, while the singer must follow the karaoke-style lyrics to hit the right note at the right time, for the proper length of that note. Play well and the virtual crowd cheers you on, but fumble too many times and you might just get booed offstage.
Is It Any Good?
The soundtrack in Rock Band is extraordinary, featuring nearly 60 classic and newer rock songs, mostly from the original bands. Highlights include The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again," David Bowie's "Suffragette City," Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper," The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop," Nirvana's "In Bloom," and Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive." Adding to its replayability, new songs can be downloaded each week for a couple bucks apiece. You can go with the pre-built musicians or use the integrated tools to create your own by selecting from hundreds of options.
Rock Band is the ultimate party game, best enjoyed with a group of friends. It's one of the most accessible and enjoyable games in recent memory, for all ages. Music fans, run -- don't walk -- to pick up Rock Band today.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the developer built on a popular concept -- Guitar Hero -- and expanded on it by adding drums, bass, and vocals. What does this game teach you about being in a rock band? Does it seem easy or do you have a new appreciation for the work that goes into becoming a good rock band?
Game Details
- Platforms : Xbox 360 , PlayStation 3 , Nintendo Wii , PlayStation 2
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : MTV Games
- Release date : November 20, 2007
- Genre : Music & Dance
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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