Many quests and shorter scenarios involve battling and defeating various creatures like large beasts, ogres, trolls, or wild animals, using swords, other weapons, and magic attacks. When enemies are defeated, they cry out in pain and fall with blood splatter, or sometimes break into chunks of flesh. The game is still rated "Teen" because it's more fantasy-based violence than realistic.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Some female characters wear revealing outfits, like low-cut tops or short skirts, and there are some scenes where they perform provocative dances. The game also includes some sexually suggestive dialogue, with lines like "Want me to talk dirty? I do speak Nathrezim, you know", "Honey, I've got all kinds of toys in my utility belt", and "I have tattoos in other places, you know."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
To play The War Within, you'll need the original World of Warcraft game, and there are optional in-game purchases available using real money, similar to other MMORPGs. The game also requires a Battle.net subscription. Additionally, there are several versions of the game to buy, including more expensive Collector's Editions.
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Players can purchase and drink alcoholic beverages like mead and wine from taverns and other locations. Characters can also drink excessively, which is shown through slurred speech and blurred visuals, implying they're drunk.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
This is the 10th expansion to World of Warcraft, and you'll need the core game to play. If you've played before, you'll likely be familiar with the controls and game mechanics. The game includes a tutorial, helpful tips, and community support, but expect some trial and error as you learn to navigate and succeed
Positive Messages
very little
World of Warcraft: The War Within offers an engaging fantasy world where players can team up to complete missions and overcome challenges, but it doesn't have a clear central theme or message. The game is mostly designed for entertainment and social interaction. There is some more mature content like violence, sexually suggestive themes, and alcohol use.
Diverse Representations
very little
This game is set in the fictional world of Azeroth with fantastical creatures where you'll come across many fantastical creatures, like Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, and Trolls, similar to those in other fantasy books and movies. There's some, but not much diversity in race, gender, and age among human characters.
You can create and customize your own character in this game, so there's no single 'main' character that everyone plays. You can team up with other players but the story doesn't focus much on specific characters that could be labeled as 'positive' or 'negative.' Characters engage in battles, using magic to defeat enemies, and participate in behaviors like excessive drinking, so the game doesn't offer strong examples of positive role models.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know World of Warcraft: The War Within— available for Windows PC and Mac— is the tenth expansion to the longstanding World of Warcraft massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). The game includes violence with blood and gore, such as using weapons to fight fantastical enemies, as well as sexually suggestive imagery and dialogue. Players can purchase and drink alcohol, with the option to drink so much that they get drunk. There's also some mild profanity with the use of words like "ass" and "bastard."
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What’s It About?
It's time to return to Azeroth. WORLD OF WARCRAFT: THE WAR WITHIN is the tenth expansion of the popular online role-playing game, World of Warcraft. In this new adventure, players return to Azeroth and explore the underground world of Khaz Algar, which has four unique and dangerous zones: the Isle of Dorn, Hallowfall, the Ringing Deeps, and Azj-Kahet. The story follows your character as you investigate the dark plans of Xal'atath, an evil elf, and try to stop the forces threatening peace in Azeroth. Players team up online to complete quests, fight enemies, collect loot, and improve their skills. In this expansion, the level cap is raised to 80, and new features like "Dynamic Flying" and "Delves," which are shorter missions that can be played solo or with others, are introduced. This is the first of three chapters in the new Worldsoul Saga, available for both PC and Mac.
It's important to keep in mind that World of Warcraft: The War Within isn't a standalone game—you'll need the original World of Warcraft and a Battle.net subscription to play. For longtime WoW players, this tenth expansion introduces a brand-new area, a higher level cap, and fresh story layers. The addition of Delves is perfect for when you don't have hours to play. Despite some technical bugs, The War Within is a solid addition to the World of Warcraft series.
After some stunning cinematics to set the stage, you'll start in your familiar home base and descend into Azeroth's underground world, moving through the scenic Ringing Deeps, Hallowfall, Isle of Dorn, and Azj-Kahet. The game shifts focus from helping others to centering on your character's journey through the main campaign and side quests. The War Within offers Delves for quick gameplay and bigger challenges that require teaming up with others. As you progress, you'll level up, master new abilities, gather loot, and immerse yourself in the game's rich atmosphere. While there are some repetitive elements and glitches, these should be polished over time. Fans will enjoy The War Within, especially knowing it's part of a new three-part story arc.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the violence in World of Warcraft is different from real-life violence. How can seeing violence in a game affect how we think about it in real life? Here are some tips on how to talk about violence in video games.
The game shows characters drinking alcohol and using suggestive language. How do you think this affects the game? What could be the risks of showing these behaviors in a game? How does the way you act in the game differ from the way you would act or the choices you would make in real life? Why are these different, or why not?
When you play World of Warcraft, you might be chatting and playing with friends or other players online. How can you stay safe while talking to others? What can you do to be kind and thoughtful in the game?
ESRB rating:
T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
Last updated:
August 30, 2024
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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.
By Marc Saltzman
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