Parents' Guide to

The Oregon Trai‪l‬ (Apple Arcade Edition)

By3月c Saltzman,Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Stellar (and more accurate) reboot of a simulation classic.

Game Apple Arcade 2021
The Oregon Trai‪l‬ (Apple Arcade Edition) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

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What's It About?

It's back: The classic pioneering game, THE OREGON TRAIL, popularized on the Apple II in the '80s, is now playable on newer Apple devices. The Oregon Trail is a pioneering simulation that takes place in the 1800s. The single-player game challenges you to hand-pick a party of characters, load up your wagon, and travel from Independence, Michigan, to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, making tough decisions to stay healthy on your trek out west. As with the original game, you must survive bear attacks and snake bites, bandits and broken bones, inclement weather and seedy townsfolk. You'll choose supplies, move around (or discard) items in your wagon to make room, change up members of your traveling troupe, and take on side missions and the odd mini-game that can help or hinder your journey. But Gameloft also consulted with indigenous people to better (and more accurately) depict the Native American side to this story. The traveling party also has more racial representation. The game offers an unlockable journal to archive and view collected items, along with weekly challenges, global rankings (and the option to see your fallen friends' tombstones along your journey), and other extras outside of your main campaign.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say(2):

Whether you're a longtime fan of this challenging simulation or you're new to the franchise, this is a real treat, and a refreshingly different kind of game than what's found on Apple Arcade. While the slow-ish pace and dialogue-heavy gameplay won't be thrilling for all players -- especially younger gamers who prefer fast action (or might not appreciate the historical relevance) -- this version of The Oregon Trail is just great. Similar to its predecessors, the game has you make several decisions on your journey to the west, but this version offers more depth in its characters (each with their own strengths and weaknesses), greater diversity, and deeper dialogue sequences that help you stay engaged in the campaign. Since you know your decisions will affect the storyline, you'll take care every step of the way. Should you swap pelts for supplies to fix a broken wheel? Will you pay a ferry operator to cross a waterway, or ford the river instead? (Water and wagon conditions play a role here too, along with river depth and width.) Will you take a chance to eat berries if you're starving and out of ammunition for hunting? You get the idea. In fact, the game boasts randomly generated events that affect the choices you need to make (and their outcomes) across the 12 main playable journeys.

Visually, the game doesn't mess with the side-scrolling look of its predecessors, but it has a pleasant mix of pixel art characters, 3D environments (and cutscene sequences), attractive lighting effects (including sun flares), and varying weather conditions. The melancholy music and sound effects are top-notch, which also adds to the immersion. There isn't much to complain about -- it could very well be the best version of the half-a-century-old classic -- but some may find the pioneering life simulation a slow one. And there's some repetition across the various journeys. But for those willing to invest the energy, they'll no doubt fall for its charm, attention to detail, and depth.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the historical accuracy of The Oregon Trail. Do you find this game to be an accurate look at the trials and tribulations of pioneering life in the 1800s? Why, or why not? Is there something odd in playing something for fun that re-creates the hardships people went through in real life?

  • The original Oregon Trail game depicted a band of brave White settlers venturing out west, and indigenous people were seen as enemies. Does the new game portray indigenous people more accurately -- as people invaded by Europeans? Does the game not vilify Native Americans, or does it not address the conflict at all?

  • Are there consequences for your decisions? What happens if you decide not to administer medicine to someone who is sick? Or choose to haggle with a person during a trade?

Game Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids bysuggesting a diversity update.

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