Bravely Default Ii – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Bravely Default Ii

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2021

77%

WISE Score

73%

IGDB

A meaty, old-school JRPG with strategic depth and zero monetization nonsense—if your kid has the patience for turn-based battles and reading.

Bravely Default Ii

game

2021

77%

WISE Score

73%

IGDB

A meaty, old-school JRPG with strategic depth and zero monetization nonsense—if your kid has the patience for turn-based battles and reading.

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Where to Play

PC/Steam

Nintendo

Screenwise Verdict

Bravely Default II is that increasingly rare beast: a premium game with zero predatory monetization that actually respects your time by having an ending. It's a love letter to classic JRPGs with a strategic combat system that rewards thinking over reflexes.

The good news: it's wholesome, strategic, and teaches persistence. The challenging news: it's SLOW. We're talking turn-based battles, lots of reading, and grinding that will test even patient kids. If your child grew up on Fortnite and TikTok, this might feel like watching paint dry. But if they've shown interest in Pokémon's strategic side or enjoyed Octopath Traveler, this could be a hit.

The 50-80 hour runtime is both a feature and a warning—it's substantial, meaningful content, but also a serious time commitment. At least you know exactly what you're getting: no surprise charges, no loot boxes, no chat with strangers. Just a big, meaty RPG that asks for patience and rewards strategic thinking.

Age Fit

Best for patient tweens and teens (10-17) who enjoy strategic thinking and don't mind reading. Younger kids will struggle with the complexity and pacing; older teens might find it a bit juvenile in story but can still enjoy the mechanical depth.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic JRPG with themes of heroism, friendship, and cooperation. The 'Heroes of Light' narrative emphasizes working together and overcoming adversity. Turn-based combat is strategic rather than chaotic. Some fantasy violence typical of the genre, but the overall tone is earnest and positive with characters supporting each other through challenges.

Imaginative

Original RPG with a new world and story in the Bravely series tradition. The innovative 'Brave/Default' combat system encourages strategic experimentation. Features extensive job/class customization allowing creative party builds. Music by acclaimed composer Revo adds artistic depth. The game invites exploration of a fantasy world with meaningful choices in combat tactics and character development.

Safe

No in-game purchases, loot boxes, or online chat—a premium single-player experience. Users interact (likely for trading or sharing content) but without predatory monetization. IGDB rating of 73 suggests solid quality without major controversies. Fantasy violence is expected and genre-appropriate. No evidence of manipulative infinite loops beyond typical RPG grinding, which is player-controlled and goal-oriented.

Enriching

Deep strategic gameplay requiring planning, resource management, and tactical thinking. The job system teaches experimentation and consequence assessment. Story explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and moral complexity typical of JRPGs. Significant time investment (50-80+ hours) builds persistence and long-term goal achievement. However, entertainment can be repetitive with grinding, and the narrative, while solid, doesn't break new ground in ethical complexity.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Premium single-player experience with NO in-app purchases, loot boxes, or predatory mechanics—just buy it and play it
Deep strategic combat system rewards planning, experimentation, and tactical thinking rather than button-mashing
Extensive job/class customization lets kids build their party creatively and see consequences of their choices
Teaches persistence and long-term goal achievement through a 50-80 hour campaign that actually has an ending
Beautiful art style and acclaimed soundtrack from the composer behind Attack on Titan's music

⚠

What to Watch For

This is a LONG game with significant grinding—kids need patience and tolerance for repetitive battles
Turn-based combat and heavy reading make this a tough sell for kids used to fast-paced action games
Fantasy violence is present but genre-typical (sword fights, magic attacks, monster battles)
Some story themes involve betrayal and moral complexity that younger kids might not fully grasp
The 'II' in the title is misleading—it's actually a standalone game, not a direct sequel

Conversation Starters

"Which job class combo are you trying out? What makes it work well together?"
"The game lets you save up turns or use them all at once—when do you think it's smart to go all-in versus playing it safe?"
"What do you think about the characters' choices? Would you do the same thing in their situation?"
"How do you decide when to grind for levels versus just pushing forward in the story?"

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