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That Dragon, Cancer Review
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Posted: 21 months ago, last updated 3 weeks ago.
Author: @GeekDadGamer and Jo Robertson.
Overview
A game about a family with a young son who has terminal brain cancer. It sounds off-putting and morbid but this living biography invites you to join the family and find hope, faith and love in the face of an insurmountable challenge. It’s a unique collage of poetry, phone calls, diagnosis rooms and home movies full of raw emotion.
In game form, lightness combines with weight and sadness to create a unique perspective on cancer and losing a child. The mature theme and simple click-to-move interface make it an ideal first game. If you get stuck you can simply move to the next scene, which is always unlocked.
You can play the game on your own or with your family if they are mature enough for the topic, by taking turns to play a particular level while the others offer suggestions on how to progress or which parts of the game to investigate next. The emotive material and intimate engagement with this family’s story make it important to take time to discuss the game. After playing, you can engage further in the story with a documentary, Thank You for Playing, about the family behind the game.
In game form, lightness combines with weight and sadness to create a unique perspective on cancer and losing a child. The mature theme and simple click-to-move interface make it an ideal first game. If you get stuck you can simply move to the next scene, which is always unlocked.
You can play the game on your own or with your family if they are mature enough for the topic, by taking turns to play a particular level while the others offer suggestions on how to progress or which parts of the game to investigate next. The emotive material and intimate engagement with this family’s story make it important to take time to discuss the game. After playing, you can engage further in the story with a documentary, Thank You for Playing, about the family behind the game.
Game Details
Content Rating: PEGI 3
Release Date: 12/01/2016, updated in 2016
Platforms: Android, Mac, PC and iOS
Genres: Adventure, Narrative and Point-and-Click
Accessibility: 27 features
Developer: Numinous Games (@Numinous_Games)
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Commitment
Duration: This game will take between 105 minutes and 3 hours to complete.
Players: This is a single player game. The game is divided into chapters that in total take about 2 hours to complete. Revisiting scenes and experiencing every aspect of the game, like the messages and art displayed in the hospital level from real-world cancer patients, will take considerably longer for those who wish to linger.
Players: This is a single player game. The game is divided into chapters that in total take about 2 hours to complete. Revisiting scenes and experiencing every aspect of the game, like the messages and art displayed in the hospital level from real-world cancer patients, will take considerably longer for those who wish to linger.
Costs
Does not offer in-game purchases, 'loot boxes' or 'battle/season passes'.
Age Ratings
In addition to the rating parents should note the weighty subject matter both for younger children as well as older players who this may be a sensitive subject for.
Accessibility
You can skip past any level if you are stuck, as the game lets you play any level without the need for unlocking them.
Our That Dragon, Cancer Accessibility Report documents 27 accessibility features:
Our That Dragon, Cancer Accessibility Report documents 27 accessibility features:
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