Game images by RAWG
Tom Clancy’s The Division: Resurgence
Ubisoft
About This Game
Super ReviewTom Clancy’s The Division: Resurgence is a free-to-play, online team-based shooter set in a post-crisis New York City, rated Mature for frequent realistic gun violence and mature themes. While it offers cooperative play and deep customization, parents must contend with aggressive monetization, significant social risks from open chat with strangers, and time-pressure mechanics designed for compulsive play. This is a Risky choice for families.
Super Review
Parent verdict
Tom Clancy’s The Division: Resurgence earns its "Risky" health label due to a combination of mature content, aggressive monetization, and high social risks. While cooperative play and character customization offer engaging elements, the game is explicitly rated Mature (17+) for realistic violence and themes of societal collapse. Its free-to-play model relies heavily on in-app purchases, including loot boxes and premium currencies that can lead to pay-to-win advantages, alongside mechanics that push for daily, compulsive engagement. Open communication with strangers presents a clear hazard for younger players, making this title best avoided by families, or only considered with strict parental controls for older, mature teens.
What players actually do
- Players engage in tactical third-person shooter combat, often taking cover and using special abilities to defeat AI enemies and other players. (Exercises: strategic thinking, reaction time)
- Players team up in squads of up to four to complete story missions, explore a large open world, and participate in competitive player-vs-player modes. (Exercises: teamwork, communication, coordination)
- Players collect and upgrade an extensive array of weapons, gear, and character abilities, customizing their agent's appearance and loadout. (Exercises: resource management, strategic planning for combat encounters)
Where it shines
- The game strongly promotes cooperative play, requiring players to work together, strategize, and communicate effectively to overcome challenges in a shared online world.
- It provides extensive options for self-expression through character appearance and deep customization of weapons and gear, allowing players to tailor their playstyle.
Parent watch-outs
- Tom Clancy’s The Division: Resurgence contains frequent, realistic gun violence and mature themes related to societal collapse, earning it an ESRB Mature 17+ rating.
- The free-to-play model features aggressive monetization, including loot boxes (called "Cosmetic Draws") and premium currencies, which some players report create pay-to-win advantages.
- Open voice and text chat with strangers is a core social feature, exposing players to a high risk of toxic behavior and cyberbullying.
- Heavy time-pressure mechanics, such as daily quests, limited-time events, and daily caps on rewards, are built into the game to encourage compulsive daily play.
Family rules worth setting
- Given the ESRB M rating and mature themes, restrict play to only highly mature individuals 17 or 18 and older, if at all.
- Disable all voice and text chat functions, or strictly limit communication to only pre-approved friends if the game is permitted.
Talk about this
- Discuss how free-to-play games use in-game purchases, loot boxes, and time-limited offers to encourage spending and consistent play, and why it's important to be mindful of these tactics.
- Talk about appropriate online behavior and the risks of interacting with strangers in online environments, emphasizing the importance of privacy and reporting any uncomfortable interactions.
Play style
This is a continuous online experience, with sessions typically involving mission completion or open-world exploration, which can last from short bursts for daily tasks to longer engagements with co-op teams. The difficulty is dynamic, with progression tied to gear collection and upgrades. It's primarily a cooperative game, though solo play is possible, and competitive PvP modes exist. Younger or less experienced players may struggle with the tactical combat and the social dynamics of an open online world, and will likely encounter significant friction if not mature enough for the content.
Score Breakdown
Positive Aspects
Risk Factors
Why this rating
Educational Value
0/5The game primarily focuses on action, shooting, and RPG elements within a narrative of societal collapse. It offers no intrinsic educational value, leading to a score of 0.
Addictive Monetization
4/5The game is free-to-play but incorporates aggressive monetization, including loot boxes ("Cosmetic Draws") and premium currencies. Player feedback indicates these can create pay-to-win advantages, justifying a high risk score of 4.
Time Pressure / FOMO
4/5Tom Clancy’s The Division: Resurgence features several time-pressure mechanics designed to encourage compulsive daily play. Daily quests, limited-time events, and daily caps on rewards contribute to a high FOMO risk, resulting in a score of 4.
Social Risk
4/5As a massively multiplayer online game, it includes open voice and text chat with strangers, creating a significant risk of exposure to toxic behavior and cyberbullying. This inherent social risk warrants a score of 4.
Content Intensity
3/5The game is rated Mature (17+) by the ESRB and PEGI 18, primarily due to frequent, realistic gun violence and mature themes of societal collapse. This level of content intensity leads to a score of 3.
Negatives
- •Contains frequent, realistic gun violence and mature themes related to societal collapse, reflected in its ESRB Mature 17+ rating.
- •Features aggressive monetization, including loot boxes ("Cosmetic Draws") and premium currencies that can create pay-to-win advantages, according to player feedback.
- •Includes open voice and text chat with strangers, creating a high risk of exposure to toxic behavior and cyberbullying.
- •Heavy time-pressure mechanics, such as daily quests, limited-time events, and daily caps on rewards, are designed to encourage compulsive daily play.
Positives
- •The game is built around cooperative play, encouraging teamwork and strategy with other players.
- •Players have opportunities for self-expression through character appearance and extensive gear customization.
- •It offers a large, open world to explore with a significant amount of story and mission content.
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Official Ratings
Age Fit
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