Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars
By Erin Bell,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Compelling tactical strategy game with mild violence.

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Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars
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What’s It About?
In TOM CLANCY'S GHOST RECON: SHADOW WARS, Ghost team -- an elite and secretive U.S. squad of special forces soldiers -- is sent in to respond to increasing military tensions in Eastern Europe as a megalomaniac Russian politician tries to manipulate his way into power and usher in a new Cold War. The player leads the six-member squad, who each have different specializations such as sniper, medic, and engineer, through a variety of missions to suppress bandits and henchmen and restore stability to the area. Play is turn-based and strategic. Players have a wide variety of weapons and special attacks, such as air strike, at their disposal. The action takes place on a grid with varying terrain that can be used to a player's advantage.
Is It Any Good?
Shadow Wars is an engaging turn-based strategy game whose thorough tutorial and three levels of difficulty make it accessible to newcomers as well as veterans. A meaty campaign mode offers a diverse set of well-designed scenarios, from building infiltrations to all-out assaults. There's also a multiplayer mode where two friends can play opposing sides by passing the 3DS back and forth. Graphics are only so-so, and the 3D effects are not impressive, but if you're looking for a solid portable strategy game rather than something to show off the 3DS's graphical effects, then Shadow Wars is an outstanding choice for teens and older.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of teamwork. What are some real-life examples of how people can use teamwork to solve a problem?
Families can also talk about tactical board games like chess, where each playing pieces has different attributes that can be used to win.
Game Details
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: UbiSoft
- Release date: March 27, 2011
- Genre: Strategy
- ESRB rating: T for Mild Violence
- Last updated: August 30, 2016
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