This War of Mine: The Little Ones

 Xbox One
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. ActionTrip
    Jan 27, 2016
    90
    This is a game with an important message to portray, that somehow manages to never lose sight of the fact that it is primarily just that – a game. If only more titles had that same presence of mind.
  2. We Got This Covered
    Jan 20, 2016
    90
    It's depressing and filled with tough decisions to make, but This War of Mine: The Little Ones is one of those games that you simply have to play.
  3. Xbox Achievements
    Jan 20, 2016
    88
    This War of Mine: The Littles ones is a powerful, affecting game that covers an aspect of warfare not typically touched by the medium. Telling the stories of normal civilians caught in the middle of a war, it asks: what you would do to survive? The disturbing answer is: anything you have to.
  5. Wccftech
    Feb 15, 2016
    86
    This War of Mine: The Little Ones adds more to the game that makes it both wholeheartedly enjoyable and deeply distressing. Its survival mechanics are impressively weighted, and the events throughout the war are harrowing.
  6. Vandal
    Jan 22, 2016
    86
    The Little Ones is one of those games that rely on the experience and making us feel something beyond the mere entertainment. A game you should try if you look for something different that will make you think about human nature.
  7. LevelUp
    Feb 14, 2016
    83
    The introduction of kids to the formula, improves the experience a bit and, as a whole, This War of Mine: The Little Ones remains an original take on the subject of war. It would've been good if 11 bit studios made some changes to the UI in order to make it more friendly on consoles, though.
  8. High-Def Digest
    Apr 10, 2016
    80
    The controller is a bit rusty, but don’t let that stop you from experiencing one of the most compelling stories in this generation.
  9. Pure Xbox
    Feb 11, 2016
    80
    This War of Mine: The Little Ones is a fantastically atmospheric, emotional, and compelling game that constantly makes you doubt what you're doing, in a way that feels entirely natural as part of the experience.
  10. Brash Games
    Feb 7, 2016
    80
    This War Of Mine: The Little Ones is not a fun experience, but I’ll be damned if it’s not memorable one. Both compelling and harrowing in equal measures, the gameplay might have its quirks, and you could certainly argue that aspects of it are downright boring, but as a realistic representation of the civilian experience during war-time, 11 bit studios’ have pulled no punches. Arduous, horrifying, boring, exciting, depressing.
  11. TrueAchievements
    Jan 26, 2016
    80
    Whilst the days can get a little repetitive and boring if you have to catch up on sleep and not much else, the game challenges you, your morals and your survival instincts against the backdrop of the serious subject of war.
  12. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Jan 25, 2016
    80
    This compelling exploration of war’s human cost is also a tense strategy game, with kids giving it real heart. Proof you can make an engrossing game, no matter how bleak the subject.
  13. Attack of the Fanboy
    Jan 20, 2016
    80
    While the new console release of This War of Mine: The Little Ones does not really bring anything new to the table from the most updated PC version, the surprisingly emotional situations and impressive scavenging and survival system is worth checking out for anybody that missed out on the original release.
  14. Multiplayer.it
    Jan 20, 2016
    78
    This War of Mine: The Little Ones adds further complexity and drama to an already ruthless survival game.
  15. MondoXbox
    Feb 14, 2016
    75
    A complex and thought-provoking survival experience, capable of making us feel the real struggle of civilians living in war zones. Its overly punishing mechanics, though, could scare people away after a few hours of play, and the new children component feels a bit under-developed.

Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Best Xbox One Game of 2016
97
#97 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2016
68
#68 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 69 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 69
  3. Negative: 9 out of 69
  1. MyStupidName22
    Jan 30, 2016
    0
    The game has horrible balance, an awful developer that ignores the community and breaks their game with an update before abandoning the game.The game has horrible balance, an awful developer that ignores the community and breaks their game with an update before abandoning the game. Without mods, this game is unplayable. Good luck with the slow pace on console.… Full Review »
  2. Awanka
    May 7, 2023
    6
    An interesting take on the survival/crafting/base-building genre. Instead of going out and fighting zombies or monsters, your charactersAn interesting take on the survival/crafting/base-building genre. Instead of going out and fighting zombies or monsters, your characters spend most of their time scavenging resources to stay alive. The game forces you to make choices that actually matter, and pacifism is often preferable to risking your character's lives in battles they may not win. The story, such as it is, is emergent as your characters create their own path trying to stay alive in a violent and bleak setting. There is an undercurrent of despair and hope that the developers fostered beautifully.

    On the downside, once you understand the mechanics of it, the gameplay becomes easy and repetitive. There are also a few mechanical quirks to the controls that are quite frustrating as your characters starts climbing walls or going down stairs instead of going straight like you want them to.    … Full Review »
  3. neomoonsevin
    Mar 7, 2023
    5
    So far I'm not liking it it's silent and sound FX's and maybe music idk I haven't heard anything yet I'll come back when IV thoroughly played this one
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