suitable for kids?

[Wolfsspinne]

Hi,
I wonder wether this game is suitable for kids aged 8-11?
Could they play it alone and understand the puzzles and most of the humor?

[timmo4444]

thats... hard to answer. For the most part yes, the premise and controls are simple enough. The puzzle difficulty is more standard point&click adventure (and like other daedalic games), its not aimed specifically towards children.. so it may be hard for them.
The content is also a bit on the dark side (witches who eat children, characters who lie and try to trick anna). If it was a movie it would probably be rated pg-13 or maybe pg.

[juicyluce9]

I think the humour is directed more at an adult audience as there is lots of satire. And there is a slight macabre undertone as timmo4444 suggested. The puzzles are quite difficult so a child would probably need the help of an adult to get any enjoyment from it

[cG. KCIV]

How is this game not specifically aimed at children.... Its as tame as Putt putt.... Maybe a teenage Putt Putt?

[bra1n1ac]

There's a lot of dark imagery in this game, and some characters speak cleverly about evil and despair at around the game's midpoint. Magic, the occult and the devil play major roles in this game (and the classical term for such things; "witchcraft" is frequently used.) There are also a couple of minor curses (of both the "profanity" type and the "evil magic" type.) However, Anna is as pure and good a main character as you could ever hope to find (especially in her interactions with others,) and is always trying to help people. My advice; don't sit young kids down in front of it, as though it were a baby-sitter, but with some parental guidance, I don't think it will be harmful. There's a lot that modern-day kids could learn from a sweet character like Anna.

[Murray]

Kind of... The puzzles are appalling with a lot of stuff you've just got to stumble upon.

I wouldn't reccomend this game puzzle wise. Best puzzle 5 out of 6 chapters in is dirtying a nightingale with coal...

[Rina]

It's hard to say, since every child is different. The puzzles are sometimes really hard, and without real help to sit some time. But when I look at today's youth they solve heavy puzzles faster than an adult. To the witches who want to like to eat children, or the spirits I can say only that we are great but even with such tales. See Hansel and Gretel, and many others.
My conclusion: ages 11-12 and playable.

[timmo4444]

Originally posted by cG. KCiV =TGT= | DGL:

How is this game not specifically aimed at children.... Its as tame as Putt putt.... Maybe a teenage Putt Putt?

a putt-putt where witches eat children and the main characters parents have been killed in an attempt to harvest their brains for their psychic power? And in which part of putt-putt do you meet the devil? because you do in this game.

[cG. KCIV]

Originally posted by timmo4444:

Originally posted by cG. KCiV =TGT= | DGL:

How is this game not specifically aimed at children.... Its as tame as Putt putt.... Maybe a teenage Putt Putt?

a putt-putt where witches eat children and the main characters parents have been killed in an attempt to harvest their brains for their psychic power? And in which part of putt-putt do you meet the devil? because you do in this game.

LOL have you played putt putt recently? there was some messed up themes in those games.

and meeting the devil? really.... the little mermaid has a witch/devil in it? Herculese has that as well. (hades).

clearly your understanding of children is a little off ;) its not the subject as so much as it is the presentation.

(can't spell sorry on mobile)

[KramsDesign]

Hey everyone - Dane Krams here, director of the game. I thought I'd just chime in to say, I definitely made this keeping both adults and kids in mind. Just about everything in the game, including meetings with the Devil, witches kidnapping children to eat, these are all taken directly from stories from the Brothers Grimm, and to an extent are even pared back from what they wrote! Furthermore, any darker elements are usually framed by humour, or at least redeemed by Anna's intentions and actions. These are stories generations of children were brought up on, and perhaps to a lesser extent, still are today. I for one have read all these stories to my son already and he loved them, but at the end of the day this is entirely up to the individual parent. I'm a believer that the old school, darker Disney (aka Snow White, Sleeping Beauty) gave children a more deeper, rounded understanding of human emotion, and was a big influence in my decisions to design the game the way I did.

Just my two cents! Hope you all enjoy the game ^^

[cG. KCIV]

Originally posted by Sughly:

Hey everyone - Dane Krams here, director of the game. I thought I'd just chime in to say, I definitely made this keeping both adults and kids in mind. Just about everything in the game, including meetings with the Devil, witches kidnapping children to eat, these are all taken directly from stories from the Brothers Grimm, and to an extent are even pared back from what they wrote! Furthermore, any darker elements are usually framed by humour, or at least redeemed by Anna's intentions and actions. These are stories generations of children were brought up on, and perhaps to a lesser extent, still are today. I for one have read all these stories to my son already and he loved them, but at the end of the day this is entirely up to the individual parent. I'm a believer that the old school, darker Disney (aka Snow White, Sleeping Beauty) gave children a more deeper, rounded understanding of human emotion, and was a big influence in my decisions to design the game the way I did.

Just my two cents! Hope you all enjoy the game ^^

This post + 100, I believe you accomplished your goal perfectly. and Anna's Quest is indeed a extremly solid game which deserves its accolades. :)

[Trent]

Sorry for the necro, but I was wondering the same thing...appreciate all of the feedback, especially from the dev. Thing is, my kids are only 4. I'd be playing the game, with them watching and "helping" if they can. I've played some somewhat "scary" games (certain HOGs), but they loved Deponia (they call it the "funny man game"). I think I can probably couch the content as not too scary and "see how brave the girl is," etc...

Maybe I'll be paying for therapy sessions when they're teenagers.

[CivMeister]

I know this thread is a few years old, but I thought I'd add my 2 cents. Over the last month or so I've been playing Anna's Quest, with my 8 and 6 year olds watching me and giving advice. (My 8 year old was often helpful). Anyway, my point being is that they did not find the game scary. My 6 year old did find the conversations over long but that's expected. I think what won it over is that Anna is so sweet and kind, and so is Ben, and...

SPOILER ALERT...

They found young Winnie amusing.