Oceanhorn – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Oceanhorn

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2013

78%

WISE Score

74%

IGDB

Mobile Zelda clone that actually nails it—island-hopping adventure with heart, puzzles, and a missing dad to find.

Oceanhorn

game

2013

78%

WISE Score

74%

IGDB

Mobile Zelda clone that actually nails it—island-hopping adventure with heart, puzzles, and a missing dad to find.

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Where to Play

App Store

Screenwise Verdict

This is the mobile Zelda game parents hoped for back in 2013, and it still holds up. The production values are legit—gorgeous visuals, incredible soundtrack, thoughtful level design. Your kid will sail between islands, solve environmental puzzles, gradually unlock new abilities, and piece together a genuinely sweet story about a boy searching for his missing father.

The elephant in the room: it's a Zelda clone. Unapologetically. If your kid has access to a Switch and actual Zelda games, those are better. But for mobile gaming? This is quality stuff. No predatory monetization, no ads, no social pressure—just a solid 10-15 hour adventure you pay for once.

The controls take some getting used to (even 8-9 year olds report a learning curve), and younger kids might find boss fights stressful. But for the right age range—roughly 9-14—this is exactly the kind of mobile game you want your kid playing: challenging, beautiful, complete.

Age Fit

Best for ages 9-14 who love exploration and puzzle-solving. The E10+ rating is spot-on—younger kids will struggle with controls and some boss intensity, while older teens will likely find it too simple or derivative if they've played actual Zelda games.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Zelda-inspired adventure with a heartfelt father-son story at its core. Combat is cartoonish and non-graphic, featuring fantasy monsters rather than realistic violence. The tone is earnest and heroic—you're a kid searching for your missing dad while saving the world. No edgy content, mean-spirited humor, or toxic behavior. The pacing is deliberate and exploration-focused rather than chaotic, though some younger kids might find boss fights mildly intense.

Imaginative

A love letter to classic Zelda games with island exploration, puzzle-solving dungeons, and gradual ability unlocks that open up the world. The Uncharted Seas setting encourages curiosity—sailing between islands, discovering secrets, finding ancient treasures. Puzzles require spatial reasoning and experimentation. However, it's heavily derivative of its inspiration rather than blazingly original, and the gameplay is more guided than truly open-ended or creative. You're following a set path rather than building or expressing yourself.

Safe

ESRB rated E10+ for Fantasy Violence. No gore, sexual content, profanity, or truly scary imagery—just cartoon combat with monsters. The 'horror and fear themes' mentioned by SaferKid are mild (boss battles, mysterious sea monster). No online chat, no loot boxes, no gacha mechanics. The free-to-download model with a single IAP to unlock the full game is transparent and parent-friendly—you can test it first. No manipulative monetization loops or compulsive design. Clean, straightforward adventure game.

Enriching

Solid problem-solving through environmental puzzles and dungeon navigation. Requires planning, resource management, and pattern recognition in combat. The quest structure teaches persistence and goal-setting. Gorgeous soundtrack from legendary composers (Nobuo Uematsu, Kenji Ito) exposes kids to quality game music. However, it's primarily entertainment—there's no deep narrative complexity, moral dilemmas, or skill-building beyond standard action-adventure mechanics. Fun and engaging, but not particularly transformative.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely well-crafted Zelda homage with exploration, dungeons, and gradual ability unlocks that feel rewarding
Touching father-son story that drives the adventure without being heavy-handed
Stunning soundtrack from Final Fantasy and Mana series composers—legitimately beautiful music
Fair pricing model: play the first chapter free, then one purchase unlocks everything (no ongoing nickel-and-diming)
Controls work well with touch or controller, making it accessible for different play styles

⚠

What to Watch For

Boss fights and monster encounters might be mildly intense for sensitive kids under 8
The controls can be tricky for younger players—even 8-9 year olds report needing time to master them
It's derivative—if your kid has played real Zelda games, this will feel like a knockoff (albeit a good one)
Some puzzles require patience and spatial reasoning that might frustrate impulsive younger players

Conversation Starters

"If your dad left you a mysterious letter and disappeared, what would you do first?"
"Which island was your favorite to explore? What made it special?"
"The main character is trying to live up to his father's legacy—do you ever feel pressure to be like me or mom?"
"What's the hardest puzzle you've solved so far? Walk me through how you figured it out."

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