Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lifelike third-person military shooter has bloody combat.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Based on 18 kid reviews
Kids say the game is entertaining with a blend of strategy and action, though its strong language and violent content limit its suitability for younger audiences. Reviewers note that while the blood and gore appear less than in similar titles, the presence of strong language and graphic scenes, particularly in cutscenes, makes it more appropriate for older teens.
- content controversy
- age recommendations
- language warnings
- tactical gameplay
- violence levels
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
Set in the near future in countries ranging from Pakistan to Russia, TOM CLANCY'S GHOST RECON: FUTURE SOLDIER has players controlling a squad of four elite American soldiers attempting to avert foreign attacks on friendly soil. Working through highly tactical missions with either computer- or human-controlled allies, players use an enormous arsenal of powerful and highly specialized weapons, as well as futuristic military technology such as enemy tracking gear, mobile artillery, and quadricopter drones. Once they're through with the story, players can hop online and fight with both friends and strangers in a variety of competitive modes, leveling up their soldier with experience points along the way.
Is It Any Good?
The first new Ghost Recon game in half a decade, Future Soldier isn't likely to be easily confused with any of the other military shooters currently lining store shelves. Its third-person, squad-focused, cover-based combat feels sufficiently different from the competition, and its technology-of-tomorrow arsenal of military hardware helps create some interesting and original strategic missions.
However, it's also plagued by several minor problems. The grainy, bleached-out graphics don't stand up well against those of other blockbuster shooters. Plus, its campaign, while drawing inspiration from popular films, lacks the sort of glossy cinematic spectacle that's become a hallmark of the genre and makes other games feel like interactive war movies. It can still be a lot of fun, especially when playing in its highly competitive online modes, which have a distinctive, tactics-heavy vibe you won't find in other shooters, but a Call of Duty killer this isn't.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how war makes them feel. What do you think of the soldiers who fight in far off places to keep their families and countries safe?
Families can also discuss online safety. What would you do if you encountered an online predator or bully? When is it best to simply ignore them, and when should you tell your parents or an adult about what you've encountered?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Subjects : Social Studies : cultural understanding , geography , global awareness
- Skills : Collaboration : cooperation , meeting challenges together , teamwork , Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , strategy , Self-Direction : self-assessment , self-reflection , set objectives
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : UbiSoft
- Release date : May 22, 2012
- Genre : Third-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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