THE FINALS

Game images by RAWG

THE FINALS

Embark Studios

PC; PlayStation 5; Xbox Series X|SFree-to-play team shooter with battle pass and cosmetics

Health Score

MIXED

Official Website Watch Gameplay

About This Game

Super Review

THE FINALS offers fast-paced, destructive team shooter action in a game show format. While its dynamic environments and team play can be engaging, parents should be aware of the highly competitive online environment, potential for toxic interactions, and the strong monetization tactics that can encourage impulse spending and foster a fear of missing out.

Super Review

Parent verdict

THE FINALS is a mixed offering for families, best considered for older, more mature teens with a proven track record in competitive online environments. Its health score of 30 reflects significant concerns around monetization and social risks, making it a qualified fit that demands active parental oversight. While the destruction and teamwork are exciting, these benefits are overshadowed by intense online competition and aggressive in-game purchasing systems, necessitating clear boundaries.

What players actually do

Players collaborate in teams to steal cash-out objectives, requiring strategic coordination and communication to outmaneuver opponents and secure wins.
Players dynamically destroy large sections of the arena using a variety of weapons and gadgets, exercising tactical environmental manipulation to create new pathways or traps.
Players customize their character's appearance and loadouts, engaging with progression systems that unlock new cosmetic items and battle pass rewards over time.

Where it shines

The game strongly encourages team-based play, demanding coordination and strategic thinking as players work together to achieve objectives, fostering collaborative problem-solving.
The highly destructible environments offer unique strategic depth, allowing players to creatively alter the battlefield to their advantage, which adds a fresh layer to typical shooter gameplay.

Parent watch-outs

The online-only nature of the game and its competitive focus mean lobbies can be prone to toxicity, with potential exposure to unsportsmanlike conduct and harsh language from other players.
The business model relies heavily on in-game purchases, including battle passes and cosmetics, creating a constant push for spending and a sense of missing out if players don't keep up with seasonal offerings.

Family rules worth setting

Set strict limits on screen time and designate specific play periods to prevent excessive engagement with the game's competitive loop and FOMO-driven seasonal content.
Establish a firm rule against in-game purchases, ensuring that no money is spent on battle passes, cosmetic items, or other microtransactions without explicit parental consent.

Talk about this

Discuss the nature of online competition and the importance of good sportsmanship, even when faced with frustrating opponents or losses.
Talk about the psychological tactics games use, like battle passes and limited-time cosmetics, to encourage spending and extended play, and how to resist those pressures.

Play style

Sessions are typically short, fast-paced rounds, making it easy to jump in and out. The difficulty is high due to intense online competition, requiring quick reflexes and strong teamwork. It's an exclusively online, team-based experience, meaning players will always be interacting with others. Younger or less experienced players may feel significant friction from the competitive nature and may need help managing frustration or dealing with aggressive opponents.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

0/5

Creativity

3/5

Pro-Social

3/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

4/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

4/5

Social Risk

4/5

Content Intensity

3/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

0/5

THE FINALS is designed as a competitive entertainment experience with no inherent educational objectives. Its fast-paced, destructive combat offers no discernible academic or developmental learning benefits. Therefore, it receives a score of 0 for Educational Value.

Addictive Monetization

4/5

The game's free-to-play model relies heavily on a battle pass system and cosmetic purchases, creating strong incentives for continuous engagement and spending. This structure, combined with seasonal content, can foster a fear of missing out (FOMO) and encourage impulsive purchases, justifying a high risk score of 4.

Social Risk

4/5

As an online-only, highly competitive team shooter, THE FINALS exposes players to potential social risks from other users. Lobbies can be toxic, with instances of unsportsmanlike conduct and competitive pressure, leading to a significant Social Risk score of 4.

Content Intensity

3/5

The game features fast-paced combat with violence and mild blood, typical for a 'T' rated shooter. The constant destruction of environments and competitive nature contributes to a moderate level of intensity, leading to a Content Intensity score of 3.

Pro-Social

3/5

THE FINALS is inherently team-based, requiring players to coordinate and communicate to achieve objectives, which can foster pro-social skills like teamwork and strategy. However, the competitive online environment often limits genuinely positive social interactions, resulting in a moderate Pro-Social score of 3.