Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2011

68%

WISE Score

75%

IGDB

Kinect-powered Sesame Street adventure that's wholesome but trapped in 2011 with hardware nobody owns anymore.

Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster

game

2011

68%

WISE Score

75%

IGDB

Kinect-powered Sesame Street adventure that's wholesome but trapped in 2011 with hardware nobody owns anymore.

Jump to

Also rated on

IGDB75

View →

Where to Play

Xbox

Screenwise Verdict

This was a genuinely good idea in 2011—Double Fine making a Sesame Street Kinect game with real heart and educational goals. The WISE fundamentals are solid: it's safe, wholesome, teaches emotional skills, and gets kids moving.

But here's the brutal truth: it's 2025 and this game is functionally extinct. Finding a working Xbox 360 Kinect setup is like hunting for a VCR. Even if you have one gathering dust, the motion controls feel ancient and frustrating by modern standards. Your kid will flail around while Elmo doesn't register their jumps, and everyone will be annoyed.

If you somehow already own the hardware and find this at a garage sale for $2, sure, your 4-year-old might enjoy 90 minutes of Sesame Street chaos. Otherwise, this belongs in the gaming history museum, not your living room.

Age Fit

Built for preschool through early elementary (3-7), but the Kinect's physical demands and recognition issues mean 5+ works better in practice. Older kids won't touch it.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Sesame Street IP built on emotional health and cooperation. Game explicitly focuses on relationships and life skills through Elmo and Cookie Monster interactions. No toxic elements, cooperative play design, age-appropriate tone throughout.

Imaginative

Living storybook concept with Double Fine's creative direction offers whimsical exploration. Problem-solving mechanics encourage creative thinking, though the Kinect motion control format limits open-ended creativity compared to building or creation games.

Safe

No in-game purchases, no online chat, users interact locally only. Sesame Street brand ensures child-safe content with zero concerning elements. No compulsive loops or manipulative design. Kinect requirement means parent visibility.

Enriching

Targets life skills and emotional learning through gameplay, which is developmentally valuable. Physical movement via Kinect adds motor skill development. However, entertainment value limited by dated motion controls and relatively simple gameplay loop.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Double Fine brought actual game design chops to educational kids' content, which was rare
Physical movement gameplay gets kids off the couch in a structured way
Sesame Street characters model emotional intelligence and problem-solving
Zero predatory elements—no purchases, no chat, no manipulation
Cooperative play designed for parent-child interaction

⚠

What to Watch For

You need an Xbox 360 AND a Kinect sensor, which is basically archaeological equipment in 2025
Motion controls were janky even when new—expect frustration with recognition
Very short game (2-3 hours) with minimal replay value
Younger kids may struggle with Kinect's movement precision requirements

Conversation Starters

"Which monster did you like helping the most? Why do you think they needed our help?"
"What would you do if you found a friend who was feeling sad like [character]?"
"Should we make up our own story about monsters who need help?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic