Last updated on December 9th, 2025 at 11:49 pm
MissionUS: For Crown or Colony – Roleplaying Game Review
MissionUS: For Crown or Colony is a Roleplaying/Adventure/Education game from Thirteen/WNET, first launched in 20th December 2018.
It’s rated 9+ and currently has 49+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes MissionUS: For Crown or Colony Stand Out
The year is 1770. You are 14-year-old Nathaniel Wheeler. You’ve just left your family farm to become a printer’s apprentice in Boston. As you make your way in the city, you meet all kinds of people with different viewpoints, from Redcoats and Loyalist merchants to poets, apprentices, and Sons of Liberty –not to mention Constance Lillie, the charming young niece of a Loyalist merchant. When tensions between soldiers and citizens erupt in the Boston Massacre, you must decide where your allegiance lies. Are you with the Patriots, or are you loyal to the Crown? And will you help Constance find her lost dog?
“For Crown or Colony?” is the first installment of the acclaimed MISSION US interactive gaming series that immerses young people in the drama of American history. Winner of the Games for Change Award for “Most Significant Impact,” the Mission US series has been called “one of the most captivating educational games online” and “a powerful game that all kids should experience.” Teachers have noted that the games are “a great way to make history real for 21st century learners” and “virtual learning at its finest.” Multiple research studies show that using Mission US leads to measurable gains in historical knowledge and skills among students.
GAME FEATURES:
• Immerses players in the world of 1770 Boston before the American Revolution, culminating in the Boston Massacre and its aftermath
• Innovative choice-driven story with over 20 possible endings and badge system
• Includes interactive prologue, 5 playable parts, and epilogue – approx. 2-2.5 hours of gameplay, segmented for flexible implementation
• Diverse cast of characters features a range of perspectives on British authority and colonial protest, and includes historical figures Paul Revere and Phillis Wheatley
• Primary source documents integrated into game design
• Includes text-to-speech, Smartwords, and Glossary features to support struggling readers, as well as closed captioning, play/pause controls, and multi-track audio control.
• Collection of free classroom support resources available at mission-us.org includes document-based questions, primary sources, class activities, vocabulary builders, standards alignments, writing prompts, and visual aids.
ABOUT MISSION US:
• AWARDS include: Games for Change Award for Most Significant Impact, Japan Prize, multiple Parents’ Choice Gold, Common Sense Media ON for Learning, and International Serious Play awards, and Webby and Daytime Emmy nominations.
• CRITICAL ACCLAIM: USA Today: “a powerful game that all kids should experience”; Educational Freeware: “one of the most captivating educational games online”; Kotaku: “a slice of livable history that every American should play”; 5 out of 5 stars from Common Sense Media
• GROWING FAN BASE: 2.5 million registered users across the US and around the world to date.
• PROVEN IMPACT: Major study by Education Development Center (EDC) found students who used MISSION US significantly outperformed those who studied the same topics using typical materials (textbook and lecture) – showing a 14.9% knowledge gain versus less than 1% for the other group.
• TRUSTED TEAM: Produced by THIRTEEN WNET NY Public Media (NY’s flagship PBS station) in partnership with educational game development company Electric Funstuff and the American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning, City University of New York.
This Roleplaying game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, MissionUS: For Crown or Colony is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 20th December 2018
Download & Availability
MissionUS: For Crown or Colony is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Get MissionUS: For Crown or Colony on App Store
Requirements: Requires iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 / iPad Mini 3 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 4 / iPad Mini 4 (Cellular) or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
Our fifth grade social studies teacher showed us this app. We played it during class and our free time its very addicting in a good way.
We played these games a lot as a kid and was super excited to see that its in the AppStore! We played again and was still filled with the same nostalgia, as well as the fun historical aspects. Its educational and entertaining, and makes you really think into your decisions and choices.
This game is really excellent online though Ive never tried the mobile version. We dont understand why this has a 4.1 as like we said this is a really though out and well executed game.
This is a AMAZING GAME! We think they could add a little bit more to it but we LOVE how it teaches kids about these things! 100000/10 DOWNLOAD IT RIGHT NOW.
We love that you control the characters story and make their choices. You choose the side they are on as well. Best history game we have ever played.
This game taught us a lot about the colonial times. Like the contract to be a apprentice or like effigies and the sons of liberty. Just so you now we think you should have a app with all of the mission US games. Other than that one thing we totally recommend this game/learning tool.
We haven't played the app yet, but the online version was astonishing! We have no complaints! If you're searching for a social studies game for your struggling kid, show them this game! -a current 5th Grader's mom.
Our history teacher made us play this game.
We wasnt even able to play the game because after we downloaded it they wanted us to pay even though it was deceitfully advertised as free. Very frustrating! It is especially a bummer for us because we are a history buff and this is our favorite period.
Any idea why our is app is not playing any sound nor is it reading aloud.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 1.0
- Size: 2,026.14 MB
- iOS: 7.0 or later
- Languages: EN
- Content Advisory: Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence
- Developer: Thirteen/WNET
Last updated: 20th December 2018 | Genre: Roleplaying, Adventure | Developer: Thirteen/WNET