Parents' Guide to

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

By Harold Goldberg, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Well-written RPG can be both frightening and sad.

Game Nintendo DS 2009
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Game: Screenshot #1
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Game: Screenshot #2

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

Holly R.
Holly R. Parent of 1-year-old
July 20, 2019
age 14+

I played the rerelease on the 3DS...

I had the 3DS version of the game (with voice overs) and it is very sad. Like the main series, it has Satanic imagery. I never actually finished the game but I got about half way. Too many of my favorite characters got killed because I had to choose which ones to save. The game has an easy mode that was still incredibly difficult and I actually got stuck and was forced to quit shortly after the one guy died off and you have to keep a female character from being murdered. Very sad. Very depressing.

This title has:

Too much violence
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What’s It About?

The Shin Megami Tensei series of role playing games have always been full of amazing gameplay - along with some psychologically affecting stories. SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI: DEVIL SURVIVOR takes place in Tokyo where demons have been unleashed upon various districts in the city. It's up to you to vanquish them or conquer and use them to get to the bottom of a mystery that threatens you and the city in which you live.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (3 ):

You don't use the DS stylus much in the game, but it doesn't matter because the story is so eerily compelling. Plus the gameplay makes hours go by quickly. What hits home as too real is that a DS-like device is used to summon demons. This is the kind of thing that can play with your mind and seem real in the dark of night. The turn-based battle system on a grid is somewhat difficult to get used to, especially for newbies. But the manual should aid even the helpless in learning the game. Then, you can spend hours upon hours leveling up (getting stronger) and freeing your city from its horrible spell and horrid monsters.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Did this game scare you? Was it too scary? Why or why not?

  • Did traveling through Tokyo make you want to visit the city? Why or why not?

  • Of the various teen heroes, who did you identify with most? What does that say about your personality?

Game Details

  • Platform: Nintendo DS
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: Atlus
  • Release date: June 23, 2009
  • Genre: Role-Playing
  • ESRB rating: T for Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity
  • Last updated: August 31, 2016

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