Game guide for parents: Game and safety details about the most popular kids games
In the ever-expanding world of online games, titles like Fortnite, Roblox, Minecraft and Overwatch have become favourites among young gamers. Their engaging gameplay and unique offerings captivate young audiences, enabling them to enjoy creative building, survival, strategic combat, social deduction, and much more, with the most popular genre being creative and building games.
Keeping track of the latest gaming trends can be hard, especially if you haven’t held a gaming controller since the days of Ataris or Nintendo 64s. As the gaming world evolves, online gaming has never been more popular. In fact, online gaming statistics show that 91% of youngsters aged between three and 15 play online games. For parents, online gaming can be a minefield.
Although there are genuine risks associated with online gaming, they can be negated through communication with your child and understanding parental control settings. To help you on this journey, we’ve collated the ultimate guide offering gaming advice for parents, featuring the risks of online gaming, knowing if a game is appropriate for your child, and ways to make gaming safe.
Fortnite
What is Fortnite?
Fortnite burst onto the gaming scene in 2017 and has since become one of the most popular online games in the world, with close to 250 million players every month. The most popular game mode is Battle Royale, in which 100 players are dropped onto an island with the sole aim of being the last player standing.
What set Fortnite apart from its rivals was its vibrant, colourful, and cartoon-like graphics, which appeal to gamers of all ages. Far from being a simple first-person shooter, Fortnite encourages players to be creative, building towers and walls, and foraging for raw materials.
Fortnite has maintained its popularity by constantly evolving and adding new features. Game developers, Epic Games, regularly alter the map, add and remove weapons, and release new skins—many of which tie into popular TV and film releases.
Responding to the popularity of Battle Royale, Fortnite has since launched various other game modes, such as Fortnite: Creative, Fortnite: Save the World, and Lego Fortnite, which focus more on designing buildings than on shooting opponents.
What is Fortnite’s age rating?
The Video Standards Council Rating Board rates Fortnite as a PEGI 12 due to mild violence in the game. By comparison, the equivalent in America rates Fortnite as ‘Teen’ and only suitable for those aged 13 and older.
What safety features are available on Fortnite?
Children under the age of 13 will receive ‘cabined accounts’. These allow children to play the game with limited features, such as being unable to talk to strangers, make in-game purchases, or receive notifications. The only way a child can access these is via parental consent.
Alongside this, Fortnite has various parental controls, all protected by a password, to prevent your child from overriding these. From the settings menu in-game, parents can:
Toggle off mature language from appearing in chat
Disable friend requests
Set your child’s name to “anonymous” to non-squad members
Replace the names of non-squad members with “player”
Disable voice chat
Disable text chat
Require a PIN to add friends
In addition to in-game settings, further parental controls on consoles like Xbox and PlayStation can give parents more limits to keep their children safe while playing Fortnite.
Fortnite parental controls
Setting up Fortnite parental controls could not be simpler. First, launch Fortnite on the platform of your choice. Once the game has loaded, click the character’s face icon. You then have the option of going into settings and then selecting parental controls.
Once you’ve selected parental controls, press ‘set up parental controls’. This step requires you to choose and confirm an email address. After that, you will need to input a six-digit parental control PIN. The PIN will be needed to change parental controls in the future, so keep it safe and do not reveal it to your child.
Options available for parents include:
Filtering mature content from the text chat
Hide account names of other players
Prevent your child from making ‘new friends’
Limiting who your child can text or voice chat
Monitor screen time.
Additional points to note about Fortnite
Although the game is free, players must purchase the ‘Battle Pass’ for full access to additional features, such as new outfits and characters. In the UK, the pass costs 1,000 V-Bucks, equivalent to £6.99, and lasts an entire season (approximately 10 weeks). Some benefits will be accessible to players with a free pass, but players will need to pay for the best rewards.
As well as this, many younger Fortnite players have been victims of V-bucks scams. V-bucks are the in-game currency that allows players to buy skins and other accessories. Scammers have created authentic-looking websites claiming to offer V-bucks at discount prices, but these are actually schemes to gain bank details and other personal information.
Unfortunately, these scams are becoming more commonplace. Although scammers are always evolving, there are often tell-tale signs that give away things aren’t as they should be. Before clicking on any links, make sure your child knows to double-check URLs and domain names. They may have a letter too few or too many, or a symbol that dupes the user, so it pays to be vigilant.
Roblox
What is Roblox?
Roblox was launched in 2006 with minimal fanfare, but its popularity grew rapidly in the late 2010s, and its growth accelerated due to the pandemic. The latest statistics show that Roblox has over 216 million monthly users, with 70.2 million people playing daily.
Roblox is not a single game but a collection of games that players can drop in and out of, created by amateur game creators. Some of the most popular games within Roblox include Brookhaven RP, where players role-play in a virtual suburban community, and Adopt Me, where players can purchase and look after pets.
Roblox can be played by children globally and downloaded on a computer, games console, smartphone, or tablet, unlocking all the games Roblox offers.
What is Roblox’s age rating?
Due to the games on Roblox being created by amateur creators and not a single commercial game company, the game’s PEGI rating is Parental Guidance Recommended.
However, Roblox highlights age recommendations across all games, so each game will fall under one of the following categories:
- All ages: Suitable for everyone with mild violence or small amounts of fake blood.
- 9+: Suitable for everyone aged nine and older, with more instances of mild violence or heavy amounts of fake blood.
- 13+: Suitable for everyone aged 13 and older, with frequent instances of more serious violence and small amounts of realistic blood.
What safety features are available on Roblox?
Roblox features a range of safety features parents can set up, regardless of a player’s age. Parental controls available can limit or turn off chat features, including who your child can chat with when in a game or on the site, who can send them messages, who can follow them into games, and who can invite them to VIP servers.
In order to reap the benefits of these in-game safety features, you must enter the correct date of birth for your child’s account. This will ensure the most appropriate level of filtering is applied and will give you a separate parent login to monitor your child’s gaming sessions.
Players aged 12 years and younger will have posts and chats filtered for inappropriate content at all times as well as personal information. For players aged 13 years and older, it is much the same, but they can say more words and phrases.
Roblox parental controls
To set up Roblox parental controls, log into your Roblox account. Afterwards, select the gear icon at the top right of the page. Press ‘privacy’, before toggling the account restrictions section to turn on parental controls. The toggle will then turn green and the following message will be displayed saying ‘Account restrictions are currently enabled’.
Options available for Roblox parental controls include:
- Limiting the games your child can play to ones that match or are below the age recommendations set.
- Settings that give you notifications when spending occurs.
- The monthly limit on account spending.
Additional points to note about Roblox
Although the game is free, players are encouraged to make purchases to spend on equipment and outfits. With the correct parental controls in place, no purchases can be made without permission, but it’s worth discussing this with your child before they begin playing.
Robux scams on Roblox target users with offers of free or discounted virtual currency, often through unofficial websites, social media, or in-game messages. These scams can lead to the loss of personal information, account hijacking, or financial loss. It’s important to educate your child to only use official channels and that too-good-to-be-true offers are often just that.
Minecraft
What is Minecraft?
Minecraft was launched in 2009 by Markus Persson, later developed by Mojang, and has been one of the most popular online games for under-18s since its launch. It revolutionised sandbox gaming with its unique blocky graphics and infinite virtual worlds.
Minecraft is all about letting your child’s imagination run wild. It allows players to explore, gather resources, craft items and build anything they can imagine. Minecraft supports solo and multiplayer experiences, with modes ranging from survival to creative.
What is Minecraft’s age rating?
The Video Standards Council Rating Board rates Minecraft as a PEGI 7, which means it's suitable for children aged seven and older. The PEGI system classifies this rating as a game that contains non-realistic looking violence towards fantasy characters.
What safety features are available on Minecraft?
Before Microsoft purchased the game in 2014, parental controls were limited. Now, parents will be pleased to know that the Better Together Update gives parents more control, and these can be set via Xbox Live.
For example, chat filters are enabled (as standard) to filter out personal information and inappropriate content/language, and private messaging is no longer available.
Player permissions can also be set via the Minecraft Pause menu. Your child can invite their friends to look at, but not touch, their creations and help fight without attacking each other to prevent ‘griefing’.
Minecraft parental controls
To set up Minecraft parental controls, you require an Xbox Live or Microsoft account, even if you’re not playing on an associated Xbox or Microsoft device.
To manage your child’s Minecraft experience, set up Microsoft Family Safety settings. Create a family group section and sign in. Once this is done, add all relevant family members and create an account for your child. Once signed in, you can edit the parental settings.
Options available for Minecraft parental controls:
- You can add, mute, block or report players.
- Custom permissions limit what other players can do in your child’s world.
- Limit or turn off in-game chat.
- Set up realms that only your child and their friends can play in.
Additional points to note about Minecraft
Minecraft’s open-ended nature allows players to install mods (modifications) to enhance or alter gameplay. However, downloading mods from unverified sources can pose a significant risk, as these files may contain malware designed to harm the user’s device, steal personal information, or compromise account security.
Overwatch
What is Overwatch?
Overwatch, developed by Blizzard Entertainment and released in 2016, is a team-based multiplayer first-person shooter emphasising cooperative play through a colourful cast of heroes, each with unique abilities. Set in a vibrant, futuristic world, it pits two teams against each other in various objective-based game modes.
The game has received praise for its accessible gameplay, one of the many reasons it appeals to younger gamers. Other draws include diverse characters, strategic depth and a significant esports community. Blizzard’s commitment to ongoing content updates means it never fails to captivate younger gamers.
What is Overwatch’s age rating?
The Video Standards Council Rating Board rates Overwatch a PEGI 12, meaning it is suitable for people aged 12 and over. This rating is due to frequent scenes of mild violence towards human characters and some bad language.
What safety features are available on Overwatch?
All players must have a Battle.net account to play, and they must be at least 12 years old. If a player under 18 creates an account, a parent’s email address is required to confirm the creation of the account.
Once the account is created, various parental controls are available, including controlling time spent gaming, managing in-game purchases, limiting chat options, and privacy settings. Disabling or muting other players in the chat and further settings via gaming consoles, such as a Nintendo Switch, are also available.
Overwatch parental controls
To set up Overwatch parental controls, you must first log in to your child’s account with the details you set up after purchasing the game. Once there, you need to select parental controls. To modify the account settings, go into the parental portal, where there will be a host of options limiting what features your child can use.
Overwatch parental controls include:
Play time limits. Parents can set daily, weekly, or monthly play time limits, which means your child can no longer play the game when the pre-set time is reached.
Play time reports show how long your child has played Overwatch that week.
Controlling and disabling in-game purchases.
Mute your child’s communication with fellow players or modify who they can talk to.
Additional points to note about Overwatch
In Overwatch, the focus on combat and strategy involves characters using various weapons and abilities in team-based battles, which might concern parents due to its depiction of violence.
Although the game’s art style is designed to reduce the realism of conflicts, the inherent theme of combat can influence young player’s perceptions of conflict resolution and competition.
What are the risks of online gaming?
We’ve collated a list of the most common online gaming risks to give parents an idea of what to consider when their child is gaming online.
Bullying
For many young people, escaping into a digital world offers light relief from day-to-day life. Anonymity allows people to be whoever they want and, in theory, keep privacy at bay. However, some gamers take advantage of this, which, in some cases, can result in cyberbullying.
This is particularly the case when a child may not be as good at the game as other players or don’t have the latest skins or packs. This not only affects your child’s relationship with gaming but also their overall mood.
Trolling
Trolling is where players go out of their way to deliberately attack other players in a game. Trolls do this not just to torment fellow players but also to encourage them to quit. This sucks the enjoyment out of the game for gamers, often leaving victims upset and frustrated.
Verbal trolling is one of the most common examples, where trolls use an in-game chat to provoke other players. This may include:
- Trash-talking - i.e. putting others down.
- Flaming - i.e. insulting, swearing or using other offensive language.
Griefing
Griefing is when a player deliberately harasses or tries to aggravate other players during a multiplayer game, acting against server rules or community guidelines. Unfortunately, this kind of gaming behaviour is hard to prevent.
It is most prevalent in games like Minecraft, where players actively build and create, such as destroying buildings with a hammer or fire and ruining a gamer’s hard work in seconds.
Scams
Scamming in gaming is when an individual cheats a player out of something—often money. Common gaming scams to look out for include fake gaming websites that promise free games or extra in-game currency in exchange for personal details (i.e. login details or banking information).
The primary motivation for scamming is to access other gamers' accounts and steal private information, such as credit card details, game upgrades, and in-game purchases.
Learn more about different gaming terms, words and slang in our gaming glossary.
Microtransactions (otherwise known as In-game purchases)
In-game purchases, also known as microtransactions, are one of many ways game developers earn money—especially for free games such as Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League. To enhance gameplay, players have to pay to unlock new game modes, characters, or even materials.
These are categorised as:
- Consumables: Products that can only be used once, such as lives or hints.
- Non-consumables: Products with no expiration date, such as unlocking a new level or upgrading a character/vehicle.
- Auto-renewal subscriptions: Charges that occur regularly (e.g., monthly) and often enable premium features.
- Non-auto-renewal subscriptions: Paid subscriptions for a fixed period (e.g., a year) and require gamers to renew manually.
If unchecked, children can end up spending a fortune on in-game purchases as they look to have the most up-to-date features to curb FOMO (fear of missing out). Setting up parental controls with restrictions on in-game purchases is vital to avoid racking up an eye-watering bill or setting a spending limit if it is allowed up to a certain amount.
Communication with strangers
Gaming online is a great way for children to play and socialise with their friends from the comfort of their own homes. But what can start as an innocent chat with friends can lead to communication with strangers whose intentions may not be good for a whole host of reasons.
This often isn’t a cause for concern, as players who are not friends cannot chat directly in most games. However, in-game chats—either via a group chat or privately—can expose children to:
- Inappropriate content, including swearing or bullying (or being ‘griefed’).
- Unwanted contact.
- Being pressured into sharing personal information.
- Scams.
Before purchasing a game, review its settings to see whether you can turn off or limit chat functions to prevent your child from chatting with strangers.
You may also be interested in our guide on how to keep your child safe on their smartphone.
Ways to make gaming safe for your child
Now that you know the issues to look out for, there are many ways you can tackle them. Fortunately, game designers are on your side with plenty of safety features to ensure your child can have a safe online gaming experience.
1. Change settings
All major game consoles have settings that can be changed to prevent children from harm when playing games online. This can include setting time limits to control how long your child can play games on a given day, as well as implementing contact limits to prevent them from speaking to strangers.
Some games also have individual settings to ensure they are more age-appropriate for children, such as turning off communication features or muting voice chat to help put parents’ minds at ease when their children are playing their games.
2. Set up parental controls
Improve your child’s online gaming safety by customising game and platform settings. Make use of privacy controls to limit messages and invites to friends only, set parental controls for playtime limits, and manage in-game purchases.
If you have concerns, you can familiarise yourself with these features and adjust them to fit your child’s evolving needs before they start playing the game.
3. Set clear boundaries
If you’re concerned your child might get carried away and end up gaming morning, noon and night, implementing clear gaming boundaries will be beneficial.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children over the age of six shouldn’t game for more than an hour on school days and more than two hours on weekends. It’s worth getting into a habit of setting limits, such as only allowing gaming once homework and chores are complete.
To avoid your child becoming dependent on online gaming, consider introducing your child to other fun and stimulating activities to do in their free time. Perhaps even one that you could do together, such as going to the cinema or playing sports.
4. Talk to your child about gaming
Regularly having open conversations with your child about their gaming and online interactions is key to understanding their online experiences. Approach these talks calmly, starting by asking them questions like:
- Why they enjoy playing the games they play.
- What they do when they’re gaming.
- Who they are playing with.
- What they are sharing.
The answers to these questions help you better understand what your child is doing when they are gaming, while also taking an interest in their games. By keeping these conversations part of your regular dialogue with your child, and explaining the associated risks of online games (such as scams), you are helping to keep everyone safe.
FAQs
Is Rust suitable for a 12-year-old?
Rust is a multiplayer survival video game aimed at an older demographic. Its age rating is akin to that of a PG, but it does have quite brutal aspects, including shooting and hunting. Ultimately, it is at the parent’s discretion, so you may want to look at videos online of people playing to decide for yourself whether it is appropriate.
Check out our parent’s guide to PEGI ratings to help determine what is age-appropriate for your child.
Is Minecraft safer than Roblox?
Roblox has faced some criticism in the past for not creating a safe environment for its younger players. It has since added more parental controls, but there remains a debate as to how effective these changes have been. As a result, Minecraft remains a safer game for children.
Is gaming good for a child’s brain?
In moderation, video games can have a positive effect on a child’s brain development. Studies have shown that playing video games can improve cognitive function, including boosting memory, attention span, and decision-making skills. Playing games online can also help them learn to work as a team.
How long should a 12-year-old play video games per day?
A recommended time frame for children aged 12 is that they play no more than 60 minutes of gaming on a weekday, with that limit extending to two hours on non-school days.
How many hours of gaming is considered an addiction?
Gaming addiction or gaming disorder means a person struggles to control how often and how long they play video games. This addiction can sometimes extend to children playing video games in excess of 12 hours a day, which in some cases can lead to violent behaviour, as well as avoiding school and homework.
