Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2: A Video Game Review For Parents
Updated April 20, 2023
Overview
**This review was updated on August 30, 2023.**
When it comes to video games, first-person shooter games consistently take the top spot in popularity. And one of the most well-known is Call of Duty. This game drops players in the middle of a war storyline where they have to use deadly combat to complete their missions. The game is known for its realistic violence and mature themes, making it a polarizing topic among parents.
So if your kid has asked to play and you feel at a crossroads — no need to worry! We’ve done the research and we’ll tell you exactly what you can expect in Call of Duty’s latest release, Modern Warfare 2. We’ll also share tips on available parental controls for the game that may help make your decision. Let’s dive in!
Harmful Content ❗️
As mentioned, parents’ primary concern with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (and all COD games) is the violence, which we’ll get into later. To start, the game is targeted toward mature audiences. The ESRB rated it for ages 17+, citing “Blood, drug reference, intense violence, language.” However, one positive thing is that COD games have a Graphic Content filter that can be toggled on. This will filter out blood, gore, and adult language.
Language
The game can be rife with profanity at times. This includes bad language, but often it’s the language of other players you have to look out for. If your child is using the text and/or voice chat features of the game, you can expect them to be exposed to offensive banter from other players.
Sexual Content
Fortunately, there is no sexual content in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Violence
Call of Duty is known for its realistic and intense violence, including depictions such as gunshot wounds, dismemberment, stabbings, and more. The blood and gore add to the overall effect of each kill. But again — if the graphic content setting is turned off, that can help mitigate the exposure.
It’s worth noting that all COD games take place in a war and the intent of the game is to kill other players. The goal is to be the only player (or squad) left standing. With that in mind, even with the graphic content settings and other parental controls, parents may not feel this game aligns with their overall family values.
For a specific example from Modern Warfare 2, there’s a scene in which a civilian mass shooting takes place in an airport. Players are given the choice to either participate in the killings or observe them instead. Again, we’d encourage parents to consider if this game is appropriate for their children to play.
Positive Value 💫
Call of Duty has some benefits, such as building teamwork skills when playing in a squad with other players. In fact, the tagline for Modern Warfare 2 is “The ultimate weapon is team.” Additionally, first-person shooter games have been found to be correlated with improved cognitive abilities such as memory and attention.
So, should my kid play it?
No, Bark would not recommend letting kids play this game. Not until they’re at least 16 or mature enough to handle the intensity of the game.
If you choose to let them play, be sure to take advantage of parental controls. This includes the graphic content setting and disabling the voice chat communications. Read our Call of Duty tech guide which gives step-by-step instructions on how to set these controls for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC Battle.net users.
