For more on Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, check out our full Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet review. Or, for more of the best Xbox 360 games for a 10 year old, why not try our Family Game Finder
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet doesn't really have a story. Instead, it's a game about exploration, as you navigate your ship through the depths of a planet, discovering new creatures, items, weapons, and solving puzzles as you go.
In terms of difficulty, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is mostly alright, but it's let down by several tricky difficulty spikes that stop the game from being as accessible as it otherwise would be. Children especially may be more tempted to give up when they can't do the game, which makes the one specific difficulty spike, which happens only a quarter of the way in, somewhat worrying.
The puzzles, though, should be OK for children around seven or eight, and mostly involve thinking laterally, and doing as you would in real life. There are plenty of pointers to help you figure out what to do, too, as if you scan objects, the game actually tells you which item/weapon you need to use with them. The ability to control two analogue sticks at once, however, is a prerequisite for managing this.
As far as violence, swearing, gore, or sex goes, there's nothing for parents to be concerned about here - Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is, by some game's standard's, pretty tame. There's no blood, gore, swearing, or sex, and very little in the way of violence. As you progress through the caves and worlds of the game, you'll come under attack by various enemies, although only a few are shaped like things you may recognise from the real world - such as the bats.
One thing it is worth keeping in mind, though, is that Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet can be a little bit on the scary side, especially for young children. It's dark, everything's silhouetted, and things can appear to jump out at you from nowhere. So while it's likely OK for little ones in terms of violence, etc, you may want to think twice about giving it to one who's easily jumpy.
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet allows up to four players to play together, either locally, or online, in a mode called the Lantern Run. Basically seeing you chased by a monster, it's up to you to flee through the caves, working together to survive for as long as you can. Pretty tense, and fun for a family working together.
Age Ratings
Format Reviewed: Xbox 360
