Okami – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Okami

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2006

83%

WISE Score

88%

IGDB

A gorgeous ink-painting adventure where you play a wolf goddess restoring Japan—creative, cultural, and just mature enough to keep teens interested.

Okami

game

2006

83%

WISE Score

88%

IGDB

A gorgeous ink-painting adventure where you play a wolf goddess restoring Japan—creative, cultural, and just mature enough to keep teens interested.

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Where to Play

PlayStation

Nintendo

Screenwise Verdict

Okami is one of those rare games that's both a work of art and genuinely fun to play. The Celestial Brush mechanic is brilliant, the visuals are stunning, and the deep dive into Japanese mythology offers real cultural enrichment.

That said, it's not a kids' game—the Teen rating is earned through scattered mature humor, brief suggestive content, and references to drinking and smoking. Parents expecting a wholesome Zelda-for-little-kids experience should preview first.

The bigger question is whether a modern teen will stick with a nearly 20-year-old game that moves at a deliberate, contemplative pace. If your kid appreciates art, mythology, or slower narrative-driven adventures, this is a gem. If they're used to fast-paced action and instant gratification, they may bounce off it. But for the right kid, Okami is unforgettable.

Age Fit

Best for kids 11-13 and up who can handle reading-heavy gameplay and appreciate slower-paced, artistic experiences. The ESRB Teen rating is accurate—mature enough to keep older kids engaged, but the scattered crude humor and cultural references mean it's not for elementary schoolers.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Okami centers on restoring nature and healing a corrupted world, with themes of cooperation, kindness, and environmental stewardship. The wolf protagonist helps villagers and brings beauty back to the land. However, the ESRB flags crude humor, suggestive themes, and references to alcohol/tobacco that keep it from being completely wholesome. The tone is generally positive and uplifting, but scattered mature jokes and cultural references to drinking mean it's not squeaky-clean.

Imaginative

The Celestial Brush mechanic is genuinely innovative—players literally paint on screen to solve puzzles, manipulate the environment, and execute combat moves. The sumi-e ink-wash art style is stunning and unique, drawing from Japanese folklore and mythology. The world invites exploration and creative problem-solving throughout its 15-20 hour campaign. This is one of the most visually distinctive and mechanically original games of its era.

Safe

No in-game purchases, loot boxes, or online chat—excellent on the monetization/social front. The ESRB Teen rating is warranted: fantasy violence with occasional blood splatters, crude humor, brief suggestive content, and references to alcohol and tobacco. Combat is stylized rather than graphic, and the mature elements are scattered rather than pervasive. The game respects player time with a finite story. Main safety concern is ensuring parents preview the tone, as some jokes and themes may surprise families expecting a purely kid-friendly adventure.

Enriching

Okami immerses players in Japanese mythology and folklore, teaching cultural stories and Shinto traditions organically through gameplay. The brush mechanics demand creativity, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving. Puzzles grow progressively challenging, building cognitive skills. The game's central message—restoring beauty and life to a dying world—offers meaningful environmental and moral themes. It's long enough to require sustained focus and perseverance. The main limitation is that younger players may need help with reading-heavy dialogue and cultural references.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The Celestial Brush is genuinely innovative—painting solutions on-screen never gets old
Stunning sumi-e art style that looks like a playable Japanese watercolor
Rich immersion in Japanese mythology and folklore, teaching cultural stories organically
Encourages environmental themes and problem-solving without being preachy
No monetization traps, no online toxicity—just a complete, finite story

⚠

What to Watch For

ESRB Teen rating for scattered crude humor, brief suggestive content, and alcohol/tobacco references
Dialogue-heavy with Japanese mythological names—younger kids may need reading help
Fantasy combat includes occasional blood splatters (stylized, not graphic)
15-20 hour playtime requires sustained focus; later puzzles can be challenging
Nearly 20 years old—pacing may feel slow compared to modern action games

Conversation Starters

"What do you think about the idea of a goddess taking the form of an animal? Why a wolf?"
"How does painting to solve problems feel different from using weapons or tools?"
"What Japanese myths or folklore from the game stuck with you? Want to learn more about them?"
"The game is all about restoring nature—what do you think causes the darkness in the land?"
"If you could have one Celestial Brush power in real life, which would you pick?"

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