Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Imaginative puzzling fuses with comic book characters.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Scribblenauts Unmasked - A DC Comics Adventure
What's It About?
As the name of the game suggests, SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED - A DC COMICS ADVENTURE fuses the popular Scribblenauts series with characters, items, and story lines tied to the DC Comics universe. Maxwell and his magic notebook are back, and he can type virtually any word or phrase -- such as "purple cat" or "wooden sword" -- to see it appear and help accomplish missions. Maxwell is joined by his twin sister, Lily, who can zip around the world with a globe and visit iconic locales, such as Metropolis, Atlantis, Gotham City, Oa, and many others. Their goal is to stop the villains' evil plots once and for all. The game houses more than 2,000 DC Comics characters and objects, all drawn in the charming Scribblenauts art style and used to solve puzzles, confront enemies, and unlock new areas. Fan favorites include Superman, Lex Luthor, Batman, the Joker, Aquaman, the Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman, and players can access the in-game Batcomputer to read up on all the characters and objects in the game. The PC and Wii U versions are the same and, unlike the Nintendo 3DS game, let you create your own superhero (or modify an existing superhero or villain) and share your custom creations, if desired.
Is It Any Good?
Yes, this game is excellent for kids (young and old), as it encourages them to use their imaginations to solve puzzles and type in the names of objects, which magically appear in the game. There's more than one way to solve a puzzle, so kids can chat about what worked for them. In the Wii U version, a second player can use a Wii Remote to take control over characters. This game contains randomly created puzzles called Heroic Feats, which adds to the game's replayability. Also, as if access to more than 2,000 DC Comics characters and items wasn't exciting enough, the ability to create characters or modify existing superheroes and villains means additional fun. There's about 10 hours of play here.
Overall, though, when compared to previous Scribblenauts games, this title is arguably the weakest one. Why? Scribblenauts Unmasked is a great idea -- fusing imaginative gameplay with 80 years' worth of comic-book lore -- it doesn't really do much to push the series forward. The puzzles and scenarios don't seem as creative as the game and apps that came before. Scribblenauts Unmasked is an excellent idea, but the execution is less stellar. Still, it's worth exploring, especially for DC Comics fans, because it lets players use their imaginations to take control of the action.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
By combining the imaginative game series of Scribblenauts with the popular DC Comics universe, kids can create and use objects starring their favorite comic book characters. But is this a shameless marketing ploy? Is it the same game re-skinned with DC Comics heroes and villains? Why do you think Warner Bros. did this?
What do you like about playing puzzle games?
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo 3DS , Nintendo Wii U , Windows
- Subjects : Science : animals , engineering , physics , Hobbies : building , collecting , Language & Reading : following directions , letter or word recognition , reading comprehension , spelling , vocabulary
- Skills : Collaboration : cooperation , Tech Skills : digital creation , using and applying technology , Self-Direction : achieving goals , work to achieve goals , Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , decision-making , solving puzzles , Creativity : developing novel solutions , imagination , making new creations
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Warner Bros. Games
- Release date : September 24, 2013
- Genre : Puzzle
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks ) , Animals ( Dinosaurs , Bugs , Ocean Creatures , Wild Animals ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Superheroes , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Pirates , Puppets , Robots , STEM
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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