Is Ghost of Tsushima Suitable for a 13 Year Old?
As an avid gamer and content creator focused on the latest gaming news and releases, I often get asked by parents if mature-rated games like Ghost of Tsushima are OK for their young teens to play. From the trailers alone, Ghost of Tsushima looks like an exciting samurai epic full of thrilling combat that any 13-year-old would be itching to play. However, with an Mature rating and extremely graphic content, I do not recommend Ghost of Tsushima for those under 17 years old.
A Breakdown of Ghost of Tsushima‘s M Rating
The ESRB has rated Ghost of Tsushima as M for Mature based on the following elements depicted in-game:
| M Rating Criteria | Examples in Ghost of Tsushima |
|---|---|
| Blood and Gore | Severed limbs, brutal decapitations |
| Intense Violence | Torture scenes, people burned alive |
| Sexual Content | Male nudity, suggestions of past encounters |
| Mature Themes | Loss, despair, some traumatic events |
So in nearly all categories that would restrict a game to ages 17+, Ghost of Tsushima is hitting the limit. By comparison, other popular M-rated franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty tend to focus on 1 or 2 restricted elements. This puts Ghost of Tsushima among the more graphic M-rated games out there in terms of mature content.
Contextualizing Ghost of Tsushima‘s Level of Violence
It‘s not just the quantity of violence that pushes the boundaries – it‘s also the gruesome style. For example:
- Brutal sword kills that linger on blood spray or dismembered body parts
- Torture scenes like waterboarding interrogations
- Soldiers burned by fire or explosives, shown suffering
This all exceeds what most child psychologists recommend exposing a 13-year-old to. Per the APA, graphic violence can negativity impact a child‘s sleep, attention, and social interactions at that age. It also tends to desensitize kids to real violence.
The Complex Themes May Be Overwhelming
Beyond the gore, Ghost of Tsushima delves deep into emotional topics like:
- The loss of family members and loved ones
- Making difficult wartime decisions with ethical implications
- Betrayals from trusted friends and mentors
- Trauma and PTSD from the costs of war
These complex moral themes challenge adults, let alone young teens without much life experience. The bleak, tragic tone may take an emotional toll.
More Appropriate Game Alternatives for 13 Year Olds
Now I don‘t want to dismiss 13-year old gamers looking for an exciting action-adventure! Thankfully there are several great ninja/samurai games with less graphic content worth considering instead:
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Nioh
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Middle Earth: Shadow of War
All these games deliver thrilling combat without the same level of graphic content as Ghost of Tsushima. And they avoid tapping into more emotionally heavy themes.
Guiding 13 Year Olds Towards Mature Gaming
As both a gamer and a parent myself, I understand the desire for 13-year olds to play popular mature games with their friends. My advice is to have an open conversation about what content they can handle. Slowly introduce more mature games while monitoring reactions closely for signs they feel upset or disturbed.
With a few more years of emotional development, Ghost of Tsushima may be an impactful game to revisit down the road. Just not quite yet for those under 17 unless a remarkably resilient and mature player.
