What Parents Need to Know About Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Avatar may be a household name when it comes to film, but it’s been some time since an Avatar video game was released. Enter Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, a game that puts players in the blue feet of the Na’vi and lets them explore a chunk of the planet Pandora.

But what will your kids find as they run, fly, and adventure their way through this new game? Fortunately, we have you covered with everything you need to know to decide if Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is appropriate for your family.

Is Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Appropriate for Kids?

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is rated T for Teen, meaning it’s suitable for players ages 13 and up. Content Descriptors include Language, Mild Blood, and Violence. The game’s rating information also includes two Interactive Elements, Users Interact and In-Game Purchases. This means that players can interact with one another through co-operative online play, and in-game purchases are also available.

It’s a first-person shooter/action-adventure game in which players assume the role of a Na’vi alien engaged in resistance against a colonizing force. Players engage in frenetic combat, using arrows, explosives, and machine guns to attack enemies such as soldiers, drones, and mechs. A handful of areas allow players to use stealth tactics to infiltrate bases and attack soldiers.

According to the ESRB Rating Summary, firefights are highlighted by realistic gunfire, cries of pain, and explosions. One scene depicts blood smeared/splattered on a cliff near the corpses of soldiers. The words “sh*t” and “a*shole” appear in the game.

Where Can I Play Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and How Much Does it Cost?

It’s available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S and costs $69.99 for the standard edition, which includes the full game either digitally or physically. There is also a digital only “Gold Edition” which costs $109.99, and includes the full game and the season pass. The season pass provides access to two story packs that will be released at a later date, and some additional bonus content. Additionally, there is an “Ultimate Edition” for $129.99, which includes everything in the Gold Edition and access to in-game cosmetic items and a digital artbook.

As mentioned, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora may also offer the ability to purchase in-game items, bonuses, and/or currencies using real money. Remember to set parental controls to make sure your kids know how much money they can spend, if any!

What is Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora About?

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is an action, adventure, and exploration game set on a beautiful alien planet, filled with extraordinary creatures. It’s the story of a young Na’vi who has escapes the clutches of the Resources Development Administration (RDA) – a colonizing human organization aiming to plunder Pandora for the planet’s rich resources. Following the player character’s escape, they are tasked with learning to reintegrate with the peaceful Na’vi.

Remember to set parental controls!

The player will join their fellow Na’vi as they are forced to defend their home from the RDA. The human invaders must be repelled through a series of missions and fights, in which the player makes use of Na’vi and human weaponry, tools, flying mounts, and vehicles.

How Does Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora play?

During combat sequences, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a first-person shooting game. The player takes the main character’s point of view, as they encounter enemies who must be fought using a wide variety of weapons. These include quiet but powerful Na’vi bows, which are useful for stealthy players, as well as noisy human rocket launchers, which can take out heavy fortifications.

The story parts of the game include training, exploration, and other (sometime optional) quests to further benefit the Na’vi. As the player progresses through the game, they will make friends, learn more about the Na’vi, and augments their skills, such as riding flying mounts, and crafting tools and weapons. As the player grows, so will their options for approaching exploration, combat, story segments, and more. Ultimately, it will be up to you and your family to decide how to overcome obstacles and protect the Na’vi.

But remember, just exploring Pandora’s beauty and varied wildlife is a big part of what makes this expansive open-world game so enjoyable, leading to unexpected in-game scenarios!

Prepare Your Kids for Adventure

There are plenty of tools and ways to help you set reasonable limits on your kids’ video game experiences as they prepare to defend Pandora.

Of course, it’s always a good idea to check the ESRB-assigned rating information to make sure it’s appropriate for your children. If possible, we also recommend that you try the game out before giving your kids permission to play, or learn more about the game via online streams and videos.

Additionally, virtually every video game device has parental controls that allow you to manage what your kids play (based on the ESRB-assigned rating information), when and for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases. You can find step-by-step parental control guides at ParentalTools.org.

If you’re looking for more tips about video games and online safety, visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide.

Colin Campbell is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Economist, The Guardian, Polygon, IGN, Gamesindustry.biz and more.