Parents' Guide to

The Island of Dr. Frankenstein

By Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Budget adventure is violence-free but also short and bland.

Game Nintendo Wii 2009
The Island of Dr. Frankenstein Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • The Island of Dr. Frankenstein Game: Screenshot #1
  • The Island of Dr. Frankenstein Game: Screenshot #2
  • The Island of Dr. Frankenstein Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What’s It About?

THE ISLAND OF DR. FRANKENSTEIN is a simple and gentle tale of a boy who lives on an island that has been lifted into the sky by fans created by the mysterious Dr. Frankenstein. His primary responsibility is to maintain the machinery that keeps the island afloat, which involves tending to the fans and sucking up the pesky white vapors that slowly gather around them. But, he finds himself doing a lot more than that, including helping villagers with tasks such as procuring candy, chickens, or mechanical parts. There’s no violence in the game, making it quite safe for young children, so long as they can read the short text dialogue bubbles that pop up when chatting with non-player characters.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is a game best thought of as a child’s introduction to the world of adventure and role-playing games. Its world is small and painless to navigate, the story is mellow and easy to digest, and the controls are dead simple. However, it’s also less polished—and less fun—than, say, a Mario game. The blocky, texture-less graphics are decidedly dated and the music extremely repetitive. What’s more, the activities in which the player engages are uninspired and derivative. There are no fatal flaws, but it does feel like a very short, bare-bones adventure. Its attractive bargain price of $19.99 is what ends up earning the game a somewhat hesitant thumbs-up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about adventure games that feature no violence. Do you feel like you need to hop on or whack an enemy in order for a game to feel complete? Or is it enough to explore, talk to other characters, and solve puzzles?

  • Families can also discuss the role of monsters in games and other media. Need they always be scary and violent? Or can they be just as interesting when presented as average characters with more or less normal needs and desires?

Game Details

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