Common Sense Media Review
By David Chapman , based on child development research. How do we rate?
Colorfully chaotic party game expanded with bonus content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Runbow
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
RUNBOW is a fast-paced action platform game for up to nine players. Players race against each other and the clock in a number of game modes, including King of the Hill, Arena, and Run. You don't only need to keep track of your opponents, though. The background is constantly shifting colors, taking with it any platforms and obstacles matching those colors. It's a wildly frantic rush of action and color that's sure to keep you coming back for more. Apart from multiplayer, gamers can check out the large single player adventure mode. The Deluxe Edition adds in all of the previously released downloadable content (DLC) for the game, such as Satura's Space Adventure, which adds 36 additional single player levels and 13 multiplayer stages. There are also bonus costumes for the two main characters, as well as more than 15 characters from hit indie titles like Freedom Planet, Shantae, Shovel Knight and more have been included as playable personas. Finally, gamers get access to both volume one and two of the official game soundtrack.
Is It Any Good?
This fast paced action platforming game has been expanded with loads of additional content that will keep gamers jumping and fighting with friends for hours. The insanely exciting action game has a unique style all its own, with a constantly changing color scheme that's as much your enemy as those other players looking to knock you out of the running. Runbow is a fantastic example of a simple idea polished to near perfection. The controls are easy to pick up and play, but the game requires a surprising amount of strategy and tactics. In the single-player Adventure, you need to plan your moves quickly but also make careful use of timing if you hope to beat the clock.
Admittedly, though the game still manages to squeeze out some fun, playing solo is probably the worst way to play Runbow. Apart from testing your skills against the complicated levels, there's no competition to challenge you, even in the newer content. That's not to say that the new content isn't difficult. The Bowhemoth section is a difficult series of strung together levels that require very accurate timing to successfully clear each stage. Similarly, while Satura's Space Adventure isn't as hard, it's still a challenge to clear some stages thanks to the rapidly changing color effects and split second jumps needed. Plus, it's great to explore these levels as Shantae, Rusty, Lilac, or some of the other characters from very popular indie titles, even if it's just a cosmetic skin. But the real excitement comes in the maddening pace of the game's multiplayer matches. Here, it's not enough to memorize the cycle of colors and time your moves accordingly. You also have to watch out for the other players just itching to throw a monkey wrench into your plans. One wrong move and it's game over. It's easy to lose track of your position and (in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment) find yourself taking a header into a pool of molten lava. Luckily, rounds are extremely short, usually a minute or two at most, so you're never far from getting back to the action. Runbow is one of those titles that's perfect for family game night, thanks to its frantic and fun action, and the addition of new levels and characters really keeps you playing for hours.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about gaming together. Is it more fun to play games together in the same room or to play across distances? What are the benefits to having a family game night?
Talk about pattern recognition. How does understanding patterns help in this game? How can recognizing other patterns in the real world help accomplish goals or avoid obstacles?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo 3DS , Nintendo Switch , Nintendo Wii U
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Nighthawk
- Release date: July 3, 2018
- Genre: Arcade
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , Adventures
- ESRB rating: E for Mild Cartoon Violence
- Last updated: April 24, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
What to Play Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate