Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Lafferty
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
New races, solid story infuse more life into WoW.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 15 parent reviews
Based on 21 kid reviews
Kids say that this game offers an immersive experience filled with quests and social interactions, but it also presents issues such as violence, suggestive themes, and language that may concern parents. Many reviews emphasize the game's addictive nature, advising moderation and parental supervision, while some players find it beneficial for teamwork and strategy development among young gamers.
- addictive gameplay
- parental supervision
- violence concerns
- social interaction benefits
- toggle controls available
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
In WORLD OF WARCRAFT: CATACLYSM, the ancient and dark power known as the dragon Deathwing has risen and is flying across the lands of Azeroth laying destruction in its wake. The Alliance and Horde must put aside differences and battle to vanquish the threat to their lands; if one faction falls, the other most certainly will. Cataclysm is an expansion to World of Warcraft, the most popular MMO in video-game history. It offers two new races (goblin for the Horde and worgen, or werewolf, for the Alliance), new beginning territories, and more content for upper-level players. There are five new high-level zones packed with quest lines to draw players deeper into the lore of the game. By playing, players become stronger as reflected in their level, and this expansion raises the previous player level cap of 80 to 85.
Is It Any Good?
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm infuses a bit of new life into World of Warcraft. The new races have strong backstories, and the game has done a good job of making some elements (like explaining spells and what they do) to newer players. The face of the world has changed, offering a new dynamic that could challenge players. The game is not hard to pick up and play, but it can be a bit hard to put down and walk away from. The community is solid and the story arcs are well done. Cataclysm offers new challenges and does what a solid expansion should do -- build on the existing world and challenge established players but also give new entertainment and challenges to newcomers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about responsible online behavior and how to stay safe in an online gaming environment.
Discuss how to handle the violence of games and stop it from seeping into the real world.
Talk about tow to put limits on game-playing hours to maintain a healthy lifestyle without feeling consumed by a game.
Game Details
- Platform : Windows
- Subjects : Language & Reading : following directions , reading comprehension , text analysis , Social Studies : power structures , the economy
- Skills : Collaboration : cooperation , teamwork , Communication : conveying messages effectively , friendship building , Thinking & Reasoning : decision-making , making conclusions , problem solving
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Blizzard Entertainment
- Release date : December 7, 2010
- Genre : Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG)
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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