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Parents' Guide to

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

By Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Mature fantasy RPG is full of sex, violence, profanity.

Game Windows 2011
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Game: Screenshot #1
  • The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Game: Screenshot #2
  • The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 17 parent reviews

BothnianReviews
BothnianReviews Adult
February 3, 2019
age 14+

Medieval fantasy.

Personally i don't get the whole shock about the sex scenes in Witcher, there are not even many sex-scenes in Witcher 2, actually i don't remember any particular one at the moment. But c'mon if you are fine with killing people with swords and axes, how come breasts are so horrible? breasts and other body parts are natural, where as killing tens or hundreds of soldiers is not so everyday thing. That being said the violence in this game isn't in my opinion any worse than it is in the game Skyrim, so if you let your kids play Skyrim you could as well let them play this. The story in the Witcher games might be leaning towards adults though... Just make sure that your kid is 14+ and it should be fine. Compared to Witcher 3 this is not quite as good, so that's why i give only 4/5 and not 5/5 in rating, also i felt like this lacked some of the atmosphere present in Witcher 1, where as Witcher 3 is like this very cool mixture between witcher 1 and 2 + a lot bigger world to explore... Still why not play all the witcher games with your (14+) kids ? I understand that there is violence,references to drugs,sex, and gambling (or acts of these things) but its all depicted in such a way, that i don't see it harmful for anyone who is 14 years or older. I am a young adult trying to write sensible evaluations of games that i have played, its shocking that people give lower ratings to extremely gory horror game Resident Evil 7 (good game too but only for adults) and this game which is basically the equivalent of Lord of the Rings, there is also smoking and drinking in lord of the rings, there is no sex - but seeing a naked character can't be that bad can it? you see a lot of naked people even as a kid if you go to sauna or swimming hall locker room don't you?
Polingeddy
Polingeddy Parent of 15-year-old
January 27, 2019
age 18+

Pornography, parents beware!

This game is pornography. I didn't even make it through the first set of cutscenes.
See all 17 parent reviews

What’s It About?

The follow-up to a cult hit role-playing game released in 2007, THE WITCHER 2: ASSASSINS OF KINGS is an epic dark fantasy game that follows the story of Geralt, a renowned monster hunter who, at the start of the game, is framed for the assassination of a king. As a witcher, Geralt is in possession of advanced combat skills, including acrobatic maneuvers and magical abilities. He uses these valuable skills not only in his quest to find and apprehend the real murderer, but also to carry out a wide variety of side quests that often provide players the option of choosing whether Geralt acts selflessly or greedily, on the side of good or on that of evil. Of particular note is the game’s vibrant world. It’s a staggeringly detailed and realistic fantasy realm that amplifies the authenticity of events that occur within it.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (17 ):
Kids say (13 ):

The Witcher 2 stands out for its gorgeous graphics and superlative storytelling. The world you explore is enormous, stunningly rendered (assuming you have a PC powerful enough to handle it), and filled with secrets that players must seek out. Among these secrets are countless side quests that introduce you to memorable personalities and shocking events that help shape Geralt’s personality. Playing the game feels like seeing an adult-oriented fantasy novel spring to life and then stepping into it.

Unfortunately, it’s not exactly accessible. Combat can be exceptionally challenging, especially at first, and menu design and inventory management is clunky at best, confusing at worst. These are issues that diehard fans of dark, Western-style RPGs will gladly endure for the grander experience, but will almost certainly turn off genre rookies. Regardless, they ought not to take away from the game’s significant achievements in world design and narrative.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in games. How do you feel when you fight fantastical creatures in games? Do you feel differently if your opponents are humans?

  • Families can also discuss sexuality in games. Should we guide children playing games the same way we do when physical romance is depicted in live action entertainment?

Game Details

  • Platform: Windows
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: Atari
  • Release date: May 17, 2011
  • Genre: Role-Playing
  • ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
  • Last updated: August 30, 2016

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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.

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