After bandits burn their family homestead to the ground, a mother makes the difficult choice to leave her 6-year-old son in the safety of a monastery. But, unwilling to let Mom face her troubles alone, he sets out on an adventure. As he crosses through three different environments — the busy religious community, a harsh desert and a frontier town brimming with untold dangers — the little boy, armed with only a slingshot and his wits, must move obstacles out of the way, avoid grown-ups (including the well-meaning monks) and inspire other children to aid him in his effort to reunite with his mother. While this stealth puzzle game’s visuals are inspired by Italian director Sergio Leone’s spaghetti Westerns, it’s almost entirely free of the violence by which those films were often marked. So, aside from some topics unsuited to small fry, including a version of human trafficking, this is a family-friendly title that features unique art, an atmospheric soundtrack, cunning level designs and a charming story centered on love. Playable on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and Windows PC. Mature themes, mild cartoonish violence. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Entertainment Software Rating Board rating is E — everyone.
El Hijo: A Wild West Tale
