E (Everyone)

47% of all ratings assigned to physical and console downloadable games in 2023 were E for Everyone. This shows that there are nearly two thousand new video game options that may be appropriate for your whole family!

E10+ (Everyone 10+)

In 2023, Everyone 10+ was assigned 17% of the time, which is identical to 2022. This means that kids aged 10 and under may be ready to play more than 60% of the new games released throughout the year!

T (Teen 13+)

23% of ratings assigned were for T for Teen last year – a slight increase from 2022. Combined with E and E10+, almost 9 out of 10 ratings assigned to physical and console downloadable games released in 2023 are appropriate for your teenager.

M (Mature 17+)

As is the same every year, M for Mature was assigned the least frequently in 2023, with 13% of rating assignments (up 1% from 2022).

No one knows your kids better than you!

Rating Categories are a great first step to understanding what’s in a game before buying or downloading it for your kids. But like most things in life, context matters! Fortunately, ESRB provides even more information to help you decide what’s appropriate for your family at a glance. ESRB also assigns Content Descriptors to indicate why a game was assigned a specific rating and/or what parents might want to know about. This includes terms and phrases to let you know if a game includes content like language, crude humor, violence, and more. ESRB also assigns Interactive Elements, which let you know if a game includes features like the ability to communicate with others online or offers to make in-game purchases. And if you still want more information, you can also consult our rating summaries, which are available for all physical games by title search on our website and mobile app.

Beyond the ratings, there are so many other resources at your disposal to help manage your kids’ video game experiences. In fact, parents say picking up the controller, checking the ratings, and talking with other parents are the most popular ways to help determine if a game is OK for their kids to play.

Remember: No one knows your kids better than you! Sometimes a younger child may be ready for a T-rated game, and other times a 14-year-old may need some more time. ESRB is here to help provide you with tips to help you make (and back up!) those decisions while maintaining some peace of mind. For more information on what you can do to keep you kids’ video game experiences positive, visit our Family Gaming Guide – a comprehensive, user-friendly guide that provides tips for picking appropriate games, managing online communications, establishing household rules, setting up child accounts and parental controls, and more!

The post E for Everyone Was the Most-Assigned Age Rating in 2023 appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

But what will your kids find as they run, fly, and adventure their way through this new game? Fortunately, we have you covered with everything you need to know to decide if Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is appropriate for your family.

Is Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Appropriate for Kids?

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is rated T for Teen, meaning it’s suitable for players ages 13 and up. Content Descriptors include Language, Mild Blood, and Violence. The game’s rating information also includes two Interactive Elements, Users Interact and In-Game Purchases. This means that players can interact with one another through co-operative online play, and in-game purchases are also available.

It’s a first-person shooter/action-adventure game in which players assume the role of a Na’vi alien engaged in resistance against a colonizing force. Players engage in frenetic combat, using arrows, explosives, and machine guns to attack enemies such as soldiers, drones, and mechs. A handful of areas allow players to use stealth tactics to infiltrate bases and attack soldiers.

According to the ESRB Rating Summary, firefights are highlighted by realistic gunfire, cries of pain, and explosions. One scene depicts blood smeared/splattered on a cliff near the corpses of soldiers. The words “sh*t” and “a*shole” appear in the game.

Where Can I Play Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and How Much Does it Cost?

It’s available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S and costs $69.99 for the standard edition, which includes the full game either digitally or physically. There is also a digital only “Gold Edition” which costs $109.99, and includes the full game and the season pass. The season pass provides access to two story packs that will be released at a later date, and some additional bonus content. Additionally, there is an “Ultimate Edition” for $129.99, which includes everything in the Gold Edition and access to in-game cosmetic items and a digital artbook.

As mentioned, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora may also offer the ability to purchase in-game items, bonuses, and/or currencies using real money. Remember to set parental controls to make sure your kids know how much money they can spend, if any!

What is Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora About?

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is an action, adventure, and exploration game set on a beautiful alien planet, filled with extraordinary creatures. It’s the story of a young Na’vi who has escapes the clutches of the Resources Development Administration (RDA) – a colonizing human organization aiming to plunder Pandora for the planet’s rich resources. Following the player character’s escape, they are tasked with learning to reintegrate with the peaceful Na’vi.

Remember to set parental controls!

The player will join their fellow Na’vi as they are forced to defend their home from the RDA. The human invaders must be repelled through a series of missions and fights, in which the player makes use of Na’vi and human weaponry, tools, flying mounts, and vehicles.

How Does Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora play?

During combat sequences, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a first-person shooting game. The player takes the main character’s point of view, as they encounter enemies who must be fought using a wide variety of weapons. These include quiet but powerful Na’vi bows, which are useful for stealthy players, as well as noisy human rocket launchers, which can take out heavy fortifications.

The story parts of the game include training, exploration, and other (sometime optional) quests to further benefit the Na’vi. As the player progresses through the game, they will make friends, learn more about the Na’vi, and augments their skills, such as riding flying mounts, and crafting tools and weapons. As the player grows, so will their options for approaching exploration, combat, story segments, and more. Ultimately, it will be up to you and your family to decide how to overcome obstacles and protect the Na’vi.

But remember, just exploring Pandora’s beauty and varied wildlife is a big part of what makes this expansive open-world game so enjoyable, leading to unexpected in-game scenarios!

Prepare Your Kids for Adventure

There are plenty of tools and ways to help you set reasonable limits on your kids’ video game experiences as they prepare to defend Pandora.

Of course, it’s always a good idea to check the ESRB-assigned rating information to make sure it’s appropriate for your children. If possible, we also recommend that you try the game out before giving your kids permission to play, or learn more about the game via online streams and videos.

Additionally, virtually every video game device has parental controls that allow you to manage what your kids play (based on the ESRB-assigned rating information), when and for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases. You can find step-by-step parental control guides at ParentalTools.org.

If you’re looking for more tips about video games and online safety, visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide.

Colin Campbell is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Economist, The Guardian, Polygon, IGN, Gamesindustry.biz and more.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

With the new ESRB Mobile App, parents can:

Search for ESRB-Assigned Rating Information

Video games are a huge attraction for kids of all ages! Now more than ever, it’s important that parents can access rating information quickly and with ease! The ESRB Mobile App continues to allow parents to search for age and content ratings assigned to physical video games. This includes Rating Categories, Content Descriptors, Interactive Elements, and Rating Summaries (if assigned).

Start a Conversation with ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide

The best way for parents to manage their kids’ video game experiences is to stay involved. To help, ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide is now available on the ESRB Mobile App. The Family Gaming Guide provides easy access to information that can help start an open-ended, judgement-free family conversation about video games.

But a conversation is just the first step! The Family Gaming Guide also outlines simple tips so parents can establish household rules around managing screen time, online communications, and more. Perhaps most importantly, the resources found in the Family Gaming Guide will help parents get some peace of mind knowing their kids are set up for fun and age-appropriate video game experiences.

Find Step-By-Step Parental Controls Guides

It’s always a good idea to back up household rules by setting parental controls. The ESRB Mobile App makes accessing ESRB’s free step-by-step parental controls guides quicker than ever.

From consoles and computers to smartphones and tablets, every video game device offers parental controls. These help parents and caregivers manage what their kids play, when and for how long, with whom, and how much (if any) money they can spend on in-game purchases.

Read the ESRB Blog

Sometimes it’s helpful to have a little more information about specific video games, services (like Discord and Twitch), and devices (like a new video game console). The ESRB Mobile App includes direct access to the ESRB Blog, which is regularly updated with new information on new and long-running games, tips to manage online play, and other useful information to help parents stay involved with their kids’ video game experiences.

More to Come!

We’ll continue to add more features and resources to the ESRB Mobile App in the future. Make sure you visit the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and download the app so you can stay up to date on the latest insights to help keep your kids’ video game experiences appropriate, wherever you are.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post Welcome to the New and Improved ESRB Mobile App appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S

Microsoft offers not one, but two consoles: The Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S. They both play the same games but there are a few notable differences that may help you decide which is a better fit for your children.

• Xbox Series X – The Xbox Series X is the fastest and most powerful Xbox ever. The Series X loads the latest high-res games with speed. Additionally, the Series X can play games via disks or download.
  • The Xbox Series X starts at $499
• Xbox Series S – Xbox Series S is similar to the Series X, although it has 1440p resolution as opposed to the Series X’s 4K. While it can play all the same games, it’s important to note that the Xbox Series S is an all-digital console, which means it does not play disc-based games, only downloads.
  • The Xbox Series S starts at $299

As mentioned, you can play the same games on both consoles, as well as many games from the original Xbox, the Xbox 360, and the Xbox One. That’s about 20 years of video games to choose from! Some Xbox games that may be on your children’s list, with their ESRB age rating noted, include:

• Forza Motorsport – Everyone
• Sonic Superstars – Everyone
• Hi-Fi RUSH – Teen
• Minecraft Legends – Everyone 10+
• Minecraft – Everyone 10+

A few of the exclusive game franchises you’ll find on the Xbox and/or Windows PC and nowhere else include Halo (Teen to Mature 17+), Starfield (Mature 17+), Age of Empires (Teen), Microsoft Flight Simulator (Everyone), and more. Additionally, Xbox users can subscribe to Xbox Game Pass (also available for PC) ) starting at $9.99/mo. for one console or PC, or $16.99/mo. for both console and PC, which provides hundreds of games at any given time..

Xbox parental controls can be set on the device, through the Xbox Family Settings app (Android and iOS), or the Microsoft Family website:

• Content & Age limits:  Set age level for ESRB rating for games on Xbox consoles for each child (via app, console, and website)
• Screen time limits:  Create screen time schedules for each child. Customize each day of the week with different ranges and what fits best for your household schedule (via app and website)
• Manage Friends:  See each friend your child is following, allow them to ‘Ask a parent’ to add a friend, or you can remove friends who your child is following. (Via app and console)
• Manage Spending:  Add money to your child’s account and enable the ‘Ask to Buy’ feature when they want to purchase a game, app, or in-game purchase. View your child’s account balance and spending history (via console and website)

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch system can play games both on the TV at home and on a handheld anywhere. There are currently three variations of the Nintendo Switch console.

• Nintendo Switch – This is the standard Nintendo Switch, giving your kids the ability to play their games both on the TV using a “dock” and in handheld mode with the system’s built-in screen.
  • The Nintendo Switch starts at $299
• Nintendo Switch – OLED Model – While it’s largely the same as the original Nintendo Switch, it boasts a larger OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screen. This sounds complicated, but what it really means is that the colors are more vivid, with crisp contrast when you play on-the-go. It also has some other improvements (enhanced kickstand for tabletop play and a new dock with integrated LAN port, etc.), but the new screen is certainly the main draw here.
  • The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model starts at $349
• Nintendo Switch Lite – This is a handheld-only console. While it still plays nearly all the same games you’ll find on the original Nintendo Switch and the OLED Model, you cannot connect it to your TV.
  • The Nintendo Switch Lite starts at $199

Some Switch games that may interest your kids are:

• Super Mario RPG – Everyone
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Everyone
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Everyone 10+
• Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet – Everyone
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Everyone

A few of the exclusive game franchises you’ll find on the Switch and/or other Nintendo devices and nowhere else include The Legend of Zelda (Everyone to Teen), Super Mario (Everyone to Everyone 10+), Super Smash Bros. (Everyone 10+ to Teen), Pokémon (Everyone to Everyone 10+), and more.  Additionally, Nintendo users can subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online for as little as $3.99/mo. and have access to over one hundred classics from Nintendo’s back catalogue.

Parental controls can be set on the device itself, through the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app (Android and iOS), and your Nintendo Account allowing you to manage:

• Which games your kids can play based on the ESRB age rating (via console and app)
• When and for how long (via app)
• Whether communication can occur
• If they can spend money on in-game purchases (via Nintendo Account)

PlayStation 5

Sony’s newest console – the PlayStation 5 – offers a leap in power from its predecessor. There are two slightly different options available if the PlayStation 5 is on your kids’ wish list for this year.

• PlayStation 5 (2023 refresh) – This console, released with an updated design in November 2023, plays all the new games, as well as PlayStation 4 games, via either disks or digital download. Note that the older model may still available in some stores for the same price, but will be phased out in favor of this newer, slimmer design.
  • The PlayStation 5 starts at $499
• PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (2023 refresh) – The hardware capabilities are identical to the standard PlayStation 5 – meaning all the games will look and play the same as the console with a disk drive. The core difference is that this is a download only console, so you and your family will have to download games online via the PlayStation Store. That said, the refreshed model, launched in November 2023, has the ability to add a disk drive at a later date if you change your mind. This disk drive can be purchased separately for $79.99.
  • The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition starts at $449

Both consoles also play an overwhelming majority of the back catalogue of games from the PlayStation 4.  Some PlayStation games that may catch your kids’ eyes are:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Teen
• Hogwarts Legacy – Teen
• HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – Turbocharged – Everyone
• Horizon Forbidden West – Teen
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure – Everyone

A few of the exclusive game franchises you’ll find on the PlayStation and (in some cases) on PC and nowhere else include Gran Turismo (Everyone), Ratchet & Clank (Everyone 10+ to Teen), The Last of Us (Mature 17+), Final Fantasy XVI (Mature), Uncharted (Teen), God of War (Mature 17+), and more. PlayStation users can also subscribe to PlayStation Plus, a tiered subscription service. You can choose from PlayStation Plus Essential (starts at $9.99/mo.), PlayStation Plus Extra (starts at 14.99/mo.), and PlayStation Plus Premium (starts at 17.99/mo.). Each tier has its own perks, with the highest tier including hundreds of video games to choose from.

PlayStation parental controls can be set on the device itself or through a browser-based portal on a computer or mobile device to manage:

• Which games your kids can play based on the ESRB age rating
• When and for how long
• With whom
• How much money (if any!) they can spend on in-game purchases

More Tips

Shopping for video game consoles is just the first step! There are dozens of great video game options for every family, but here are a few more tips for the holidays season, especially as the shopping competition heats up.

• Check the Ratings – Make sure you always check the ratings before you buy to make sure a video game is appropriate for your family. You can find ratings on:
  • ESRB.org
  • On the front and back of video game boxes in stores
  • On many retail websites (such as Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart)
  • On product detail pages on digital storefronts
  • In advertisements
  • Via the ESRB Rating Search App for iOS and Android.
• Update The Console – If you have time, it’s helpful to update the firmware for a console before you give it to your kids! Just like your phone, consoles receive regular updates that add new functionality, address bugs, update features, and more. While it’s very simple to do, it may not be the most fun first experience for your kids to wait for their new console to update before diving into a game. If there’s time, open the console, connect it to your internet (Wi-Fi or wired) and follow the prompts to update the console. This may also be a good opportunity to create child accounts for your children and activate parental controls. You can find more information about that below.
• Set Parental Controls – As mentioned above, every video game device has parental controls built in to help you manage what your kids play (based on the ESRB age rating), when they can play, for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend money on in-game purchases and new game downloads. However, each console’s settings have their own unique options and features, so be sure to explore how your new console can help you keep video games a positive experience for your family. If there’s time, hook up the console and set parental controls before you give your kids the new console. This way everything is set as soon as they unwrap their gifts. Visit ParentalTools.org for step-by-step parental controls guides.

Make sure you always check the ratings before you buy to make sure a video game is appropriate for your family.

• Visit the Family Gaming Guide – Our user-friendly guide has tips to help you manage your kids’ video game experiences. The Family Gaming Guide explores picking appropriate games, managing screen time, establishing household rules, keeping your kids’ personal information safe, and more! Check out the guide to maintain some peace of him around your kids’ video game experiences.
• Review the Online Safety Principles that Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox share to  help ensure  the safety of their players, especially those most vulnerable.  Those principles include:
  • Prevention: Empower players and parents to understand and control gaming experiences
  • Partnership: Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox commit to partnering with industry, regulators, law enforcement, and their communities to advance user safety
  • Responsibility: Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox hold themselves accountable for making their platforms as safe as possible for all players.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Shopping for Video Game Consoles appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

Is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Appropriate for your Kids?

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is rated T for Teen, with Content Descriptors for Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, and Violence. There is also an Interactive Element assigned for In-Game Purchases.

According to the assigned Rating Summary, players will enter the spider-shoes of Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they “attempt to save New York City from a new threat.” You can also expect characters that “punch, kick, and throw each other during fights,” with main characters using special abilities to battle criminals, villains, and other bad guys. Keep in mind that there are instances of blood, as well as references to drugs, and some mild language.

Where Can You Play Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and How Much Does it Cost?

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is available on the PlayStation 5 and costs $69.99 for the Standard Edition and $79.99 for the Digital Deluxe Edition that includes the game, unique spider suits for both Peter and Miles, and two skill points.

There is also a Collector’s Edition available for $229 that includes the game, a statue, and other physical and in-game items. You can find all of those details here.

As previously mentioned, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also includes a label for In-Game Purchases. This means the game may offer the ability to purchase additional content directly within the game.

What is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 About?

Following the events of 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man and 2020’s Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales players can once again swing into the webbed shoes of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. This iteration sees Peter and Miles join forces to protect Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn from various villains, including Kraven the Hunter, who sees the Spider-Men as his ultimate hunt. Also making appearances are classic Spider-Man villains like the Lizard, Venom, and more.

Like the previous Spider-Games, the spider-men’s secret identities play a big role in the sequel. When not webbing around the city, players will experience moments as Peter and Miles as they try to navigate their double-lives, while keeping their loved ones safe. Miles, for example, is now old enough to be considering his future education, along with all the pressure that comes along with that. Meanwhile, Peter’s best friend, Harry Osborne, is plagued by a serious illness, making Peter desperate to help.

How Does Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Play?

The first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of Spider-Man is swinging around New York City. This is a huge part of Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2, which gives players all of the tools to gracefully swing, wall-run, and catapult around a massive city at breakneck speeds. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also introduces the “Web Wings”, which allow the player to glide through wind tunnels to speed up travel and create variety in how the player can get from point A to point B.

But what would Spider-Man be without being able to save some citizens and beat up some bad guys. Combat is another pillar of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Peter and Miles have the ability to punch, kick, and pummel, all while leveraging their Spidey-sense (which appears as a colored wave above the characters’ heads) to dodge and parry enemy attacks. These standard fisticuffs can be further augmented with the use of gadgets, like little web grenades that grab multiple enemies to one point, and abilities, like Miles’ electricity powers (which he calls Venom powers… not to be confused with the bad guy named Venom) for additional options.

If you and your family are more into a stealthy approach, both Peter and Miles also have many opportunities to deal with situations quietly. The Spider-Men can use many of their abilities quietly to web up or knock out bad guys without getting into an all-out brawl.

Lastly, there are also some light puzzles that you and your kids may help Peter and Miles solve. After all… they’re scientists as well as superheroes, and sometimes the best way to solve a problem is with your brain!

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a single-player, open-world, action-adventure game. While only one person can play at a time, the game is cinematic and visually varied, making it fun to take turns and share with the whole family.

Managing Your Kids’ Superhero Adventures

Even when your kids are itching to save New York City it’s important to manage how they do so. Fortunately, there are a bevy of tools and tips to help you set reasonable limits on your kids’ video game experiences.

It’s always great to start by checking the ESRB-assigned rating information to make sure it’s appropriate for your children. If possible, we also recommend that you try the game out before giving your kids permission to play.

That said, virtually every video game device has parental controls that allow you to manage what your kids play (based on the ESRB-assigned rating information), when and for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases. You can find step-by-step parental control guides at ParentalTools.org.

If you’re looking for more tips about video games and online safety, visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

So, what’s new in this iteration of the long-running series? We’re here to tell you everything you need to know to decide if it’s appropriate for your family.

Is Super Mario Bros. Wonder Appropriate for Your Kids?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is rated E for Everyone, with Content Descriptors for Mild Fantasy Violence and an Interactive Element for In-Game Purchases. This is a platforming game in which players control characters from the Mario universe as they try to stop the villain Bowser. Players traverse whimsical environments while jumping on enemies’ heads, throwing shells, and tossing small fireballs to knock them off-screen. Boss battles contain more involved combat against giant enemies that breathe fire and smash parts of the scenery.

As is the case with most Mario games, the content is cartoony and colorful, making it generally suitable for all ages.

Where Can You Play Super Mario Bros. Wonder and How Much Is It?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is available for the Nintendo Switch and costs $59.99 both physically and digitally.

As mentioned, Super Mario Bros. Wonder also includes an Interactive Element for In-Game Purchases. This means that the game may include offers to purchase additional content.

What is Super Mario Bros. Wonder About?

Mario and his band of best friends are helping Prince Florian regain the pretty and magical Flower Kingdom from the Bowser’s nefarious influence. Players select a character to play from a roster of much-loved characters including Daisy, Luigi, Peach, and Toad. It’s the first traditional 2D Mario platforming game from Nintendo in more than a decade.

How Does Super Mario Bros. Wonder Play?

If you’ve ever played a classic 2D Mario side-scrolling adventure like Super Mario Bros. then you’ll know what to expect. Players steer Mario and his friends through several colorful, increasingly challenging worlds of platforms, obstacles, power-ups. As you jump, stop, and “wah-hoo” your way through levels, you and your family will battle cartoonish enemies, including familiar foes like Goombas and new baddies like Maw-Maws – funny, walking mouths that eat anything in their path.

In this iteration, cute talking flowers help the player by giving tips, and cracking jokes. Special Wonder Flowers trigger strange changes to the world, like transforming static pipes into wriggly, worm-like forms that the player can ride, or temporarily suspending gravity, allowing Mario and the gang to jump higher. It all adds to the magical charm of the world, as well as the more unexpected puzzle-like aspects of the gameplay.

Collectible power-ups and badges also return, giving your character special abilities. In addition to mainstays like mushrooms and fire flowers, Mario and some other characters can turn themselves into elephants, making use of extra size and strength as well as a useful trunk that can swat away enemies and spray water.

Players can also turn themselves into bubble-blowing bosses, capturing enemies at a distance, or using the bubbles as temporary platforms to access hard-to-reach areas. There are sure to be other power-up surprises throughout the game, too.

Can I Play With Other People?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder can be enjoyed as a single-player game or together with up to four players on the same Nintendo Switch, making the game fun for the whole family to play together.

While Super Mario Bros. Wonder does include some online features, it is not traditional co-operative play. Instead, players will be able to see which levels their friends have beaten and enter races to see if they can complete the level faster. Players can also leave “standees” (which look like little wooden cutouts of characters) in levels. Should their friend be playing the same level on their own Nintendo Switch, they will see that standee from your family and receive a bonus from it!

Younger children can play as Yoshi or Nabbit, who don’t take damage, making it easier to complete levels and explore the world and overcome some of the more challenging platforming sections. If a player loses a life, another player can save them and bring them back into the game, adding another layer of accessibility for younger players or players that are still learning.

Managing Your Kids’ Games

Modern game consoles, including Nintendo Switch, feature a variety of parental controls that allow you to manage which games your kids can play, when and for how long, whether they can share content with other online, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases. You can find step-by-step guides on how to set parental controls at ParentalTools.org.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder can be enjoyed as a single-player game or together with up to four players

Additional Tips for Parents

While parental controls offer parents many great choices, there are always more steps you can take to ensure that your kids have appropriate video game experiences.

We always say that the best first step is to call a family meeting and establish some household rules around video game play. By discussing video game play in your home, while acknowledging the positives, you’re setting a precedent for an open-ended, judgment-free conversation about video games.

You’re also letting your kids know that, while you respect their love of playing games, there are parameters that the whole family needs to respect (including you!). Just remember to back up your household rules with parental controls if/when you need to!

It is always a good idea to check the ESRB ratings pages for the games your kids play, and to do your own research, by viewing game trailers and independent game reviews.

Visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for more information on household rules, parental controls, online safety tips, and more.

Colin Campbell is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Economist, The Guardian, Polygon, IGN, Gamesindustry.biz and more.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Super Mario Bros. Wonder appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

Tyler Jones, who began using Discord when he was 15, sums up the platform’s appeal to teens and young adults this way: “It’s fast, it’s reliable, it’s easy to use, and it offers so many features, like video calling, screen sharing and presenting, and customizations, that other sites don’t have for free.”

More than anything, Discord helps facilitate socialization among peers, especially in times when it’d be otherwise impossible to do so in-person.

“I’ve known a lot of young adults my age struggle socially, especially in a time like now, and have found Discord as a comforting place to make friends and keep up with them,” Jones said.

If you’re intrigued about Discord, the following will help you learn the basics about Discord, including how you can make sure your kids stay safe while navigating the platform.

What is Discord?

Discord is a free communications platform that lets users text, talk, video chat, and share screens with one another. It was initially used largely by gamers, but it’s since spread to other groups thanks to its ease-of-use and wide variety of useful functions, including to host book clubs, knitting groups, sewing circles, and all manner of gatherings, both personal and professional.

How is Discord Different from Other Social Media Platforms?

One of Discord’s biggest differentiators is that it has no ads. Discord also says it does not sell user data or share its data with third parties for advertising purposes, although it does offer a subscription that offers users various enhancements to the Discord experience.  And unlike many social media platforms, there’s no news feed.

Users can also engage with either public or private spaces. As implied by the name, the public servers (communities organized around a specific topic or group) are accessible to anyone, meaning whatever your kids post can be seen by anyone that happens across that space. Meanwhile, private servers are only accessible to approved users, giving your kids the opportunity to set up their own servers for people they know, or joining their friends’ servers.

This makes Discord a more personally curated platform.

Discord’s Vocabulary

Discord can be tricky for the uninitiated. Thankfully, there’s a glossary, as well as numerous beginner’s guides, including an official guide from Discord, an unofficial guide from PCWorld, and a manual put together by M.I.T. students on how to use Discord to collaborate with classmates on projects.

Some terms you may hear are:

• Server: Spaces where users can gather and communicate. Servers can be started by communities and friend groups and can be either public (meaning anyone can join) or invitation only. Any user can start a new server for free.
• Channel: Servers are organized into text and voice channels through which users can communicate. These are usually more limited in scope and dedicated to specific topics.
• DMs: Short for “direct message”. These are private messages (via text, voice, or video) sent directly from one user to another.
• GDMs: This is short for “group direct message”. While direct messages are between two people, users can invite others to a private conversation of up to 10 people. Users cannot join a conversation unless they are invited.

Users can also engage with either public or private spaces.

Can Children Use Discord?

Discord’s Terms of Service states that only users who are 13 years or older may use its service in the U.S. That said, there are children under 13 who use Discord. The company has said it is developing a “gate” that asks users to self-report their date of birth upon creating an account. If a user is reported as being under 13, Discord will lock the user out of their account until they can verify their age with an official ID.

Make sure your kids know to never lie about their age on Discord or any other platform!

Can Strangers Interact With My Children on Discord?

It depends on your child’s account settings. When your kids join a server, others in that server can send them direct messages. You can, however, disable this feature in the account settings under the Privacy & Safety tab (see more details below). You can also select who can send your child a friend request, for example, you can choose everyone, friends of friends, or only other server members.

Discord recommends that users accept friend invites only from people they know. Keep in mind that users do not have to use their real names on Discord, so it may take one extra step to confirm who’s sending an invite. There’s also an option to scan messages and delete those that have explicit content. Should your kids ever encounter someone behaving inappropriately, Discord allows you to block the person in question, which prevents them from sending your kids direct messages and hides their messages in any shared servers. You can also create an invite-only server and invite only people you or your children know personally.

How Can I Help Ensure My Kids Use Discord Safely?

Discord’s Family Center helps parents monitor how their kids use the platform. Using the Family Center will help you gain insight into your kids’ activity on the platform, but it will not provide a transcript of your kids’ conversations with others. Rather, the goal is to help you understand how your kids use Discord and to nurture an open-ended dialogue on appropriate/safe online behavior. As such, this is an opt-in tool, meaning both you and your kids must agree to be part of it.

You can also select who can send your child a friend request

To sign up for the Family Center your kids need to first share a QR code with you to begin the process. Once you scan that code, your child(ren) will be prompted to accept the connection and the Family Center will begin recording and reporting information. Discord notes that the Family Center will not include a “complete archive of activity” and will only populate activity occurring after your kids have opted into the program. To be clear, your child(ren) must invite you to use the tool. Without their invite there is no way to activate the Family Center.

Parents that are connected to the Family Center will be able to see when their kids add new friends, join and/or participate in new servers, and who they message or call in direct or group chats. All this information is accessible at any time via the Discord app. You can also receive weekly activity reports via email that highlight whom your kids have messaged and/or called, how many new friends they have (and who they are), the servers they’ve joined, and more.

As mentioned above, Discord also has safety and privacy settings to help manage what is visible to other users and how they can engage. The chart below highlights many of these features, as well as how you can activate them:

It’s important to remember that anyone with access to a Discord account login can change the settings at any time, including your kids. However, Discord emphasizes in its safety FAQ that it will not share user login details with parents who request access to their kids’ accounts. So, you’ll have to get access from your kids directly.

For additional information on the Family Center, safety settings, privacy, and more you can visit Discord’s Parent Hub.

Is There Inappropriate Content on Discord?

As with any social media platform with user-generated and contributed content, Discord can contain content that’s inappropriate for kids. The platform’s community guidelines require that servers with adult content include an “age-restricted” label.

More recently, Discord has updated its community guidelines to also prohibit harmful misinformation and in some cases examine off-platform behavior when assessing if a user has violated the guidelines. According to Discord, this is part of an ongoing effort to make sure the platform stays safe for its users.

It’s great when companies and platforms take steps to ensure the safety of their users, but there’s no substitute for having a conversation with your kids about what to do when they spot inappropriate content. You can do this not only when they use Discord, but when they interact with other social media platforms as well.

Discord provides training materials for its users on how to moderate communities, while also spending resources to monitor and enforce compliance with its guidelines across the platform. In fact, every six months, it releases a Transparency Report highlighting how many users were reported for community guidelines violations, why the reports were submitted (harassment, spam, cybercrime, graphic content, etc.), the actions taken by the trust and safety team, and more.

Discord provides training materials for its users on how to moderate communities, while also spending resources to monitor and enforce compliance with its guidelines across the platform. In fact, every six months, it releases a Transparency Report highlighting how many users were reported for community guidelines violations, why the reports were submitted (harassment, spam, cybercrime, graphic content, etc.), the actions taken by the trust and safety team, and more.

What Else Can Parents Do to Monitor What Their Kids Are Doing on Discord?

As with all social media and online game platforms, parents should nurture an ongoing, open conversation with each of their kids about their use of those platforms. Showing interest by regularly checking in and asking them to share what they’re doing on Discord in a non-judgmental way is a not only a great way to understand how the platform works and how your kids are using it, but also ascertain any potential risks.

For more information and tips about how you can help protect your kids’ personal information visit our Family Gaming Guide.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Discord appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

The open-world sandbox game is filled with the kind of exploration, creation, and community that appeal to adults and children alike. Odds are you’ve been hearing about Minecraft for quite some time. Maybe you’ve learned a lot about it through your kids, or maybe you’re just getting acquainted with it now. Either way, if you’re wondering about what more you need to know about the risks and rewards of your child playing Minecraft, read on.

What is Minecraft?

At its core, Minecraft is a game where players place blocks and go on adventures. This includes anything from crafting simple items like containers or weapons, to building structures like houses, castles, and cities, or even making complex mechanical devices, all within the game’s world. Think of it like an endless world of complex, programmable LEGOs that allows players to imagine, design, and create anything they dream up.

Gameplay in Minecraft is split into two different modes: Survival mode and creative mode.

Survival mode is almost like a campaign, where players must forage for food and fend off incoming enemies with various weapons such as swords or pickaxes. Players have to be resourceful when exploring their environment, as they could be attacked by mobs of threatening creatures (such as the iconic Creeper).

The ultimate goal is to use materials to build equipment and structures like houses or gardens to stay safe from the elements. Unlike many similar games, the path to victory is entirely up to the player. The open-world structure invites many different playstyles and encourages experimentation and exploration when dealing with the crafting mechanic. For those that want a structured challenge, the Ender Dragon is the main threat within this mode, and players can try and vanquish it, though it’s not an easy task!

Creative mode offers a more open-ended experience, where players do not have to worry about hunger, health, or being attacked by enemies. In creative mode, players can fly and have access to an unlimited amount of in-game resources. With a full arsenal of materials to use, players create and explore to their heart’s content. Some players opt to create simple structures, while others create vast works of art and engineering. The possibilities are endless!

Is Minecraft Appropriate for Kids?

Minecraft is rated E10+ (Everyone 10+) with a Content Descriptor for Fantasy Violence. It also has Interactive Elements for Users Interact (meaning players can communicate online if they choose) and In-Game Purchases (meaning the game offers the ability to exchange real-world currency for in-game currency or items).

Minecraft does not have violent or gory content in the base game. Enemies and other creatures will simply vanish when defeated, and while players can kill non-threatening animals for food sources, these displays are not glorified. That said, the ability to create and share content means that some other users may publicly share content that your kids may not be ready to engage with. Fortunately, there are parental controls available to help manage (block, limit, etc.) access to user-created content.

Materials like pickaxes and dynamite are used to explode terrain and enemies, but these are blocky and cartoony in nature. In survival mode, players can perish from starvation, burning, drowning, falling, or being attacked by hostile creatures, among other fates; however, these aren’t shown, and players can simply respawn after succumbing to the elements.

Community Features

Players can also join private servers that are set up by independent members of the community and are not controlled or moderated by Mojang Studios. Servers may host some users with whom parents may not be familiar. Players can “block” or “mute” other players who bother them. Many servers are set up by default to censor profanity in text chat; however, some servers – which is an individual player’s “world” – are set up by their host to allow more explicit or objectionable content subject to the specific community guidelines they establish. Voice chat is not available in the PC version of the game, but players can use other platforms like Discord to chat while playing. Meanwhile, those playing on game console platforms, like Xbox and PlayStation, do have access to in-game voice chat. Of course, you can block or limit with whom your kids’ can communicate via parental controls.

Parents should monitor which Minecraft server(s) their children are participating in to determine if the user base is appropriate. You can also create a private server for your kids called a Minecraft Realm, which allows you to individually approve or deny who is permitted to enter. Microsoft parental controls also enable parents to set up a child account to manage online communications, not just in Minecraft but in other Windows PC and Xbox games.

You can find step-by-step parental controls guides at ParentalTools.org.

Differentiating Versions of Minecraft

You may notice that there are two different versions: Minecraft Java Edition and Minecraft Bedrock Edition. The major difference between these versions hinges on the platforms on which they are available. Java Edition is available on PC, Mac, and Linux computers, whereas Bedrock is available on Windows 10 and 11, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Fire OS/TV, Android, iOS, Windows Mobile, and Samsung Gear VR. Players using the Java Edition cannot play with players using the Bedrock Edition, so if your child plays Minecraft on a PC and wants to play with their friends online, it would be important to find out which version their friends use.

Parents should monitor which Minecraft server(s) their children are participating in to determine if the user base is appropriate.

There are a number of other differences between the two versions, including how players access user-created “mods” or downloadable content like skins and maps for the game. In the Bedrock Edition, mods are curated and only accessible in the Minecraft Marketplace, which means the quality will likely be more limited but consistent. The Bedrock Edition enables cross-play across a much broader variety of platforms, whereas the Java Edition is limited to playing with other PC users. You can find more on the differences between Minecraft Java Edition and Minecraft Bedrock Edition here and here.

How Much Does Minecraft Cost?

Minecraft is available for almost every modern console, smartphone, tablet, and computer, but the price of the game differs depending upon the platforms your kids use.

Regardless of the version, “Minecoins” (Minecraft’s in-game currency) can be used to purchase add-ons and skins in the Minecraft Marketplace. Note that any add-ons are completely optional, and the game is playable without needing to make any additional purchases. Minecoins aren’t available for purchase on all platforms, so it may not even be applicable in your home.

Remember that all gaming devices have parental controls that allow you to restrict or limit the ability to make in-game purchases. Remember to visit ESRB’s step-by-step parental control guides at ParentalTools.org to help manage how much your kids can spend on new games and in-game purchases, which games your kids can play, with whom, and when/for how long they can play.

Using Minecraft in Schools

Minecraft also has a special version created specifically to facilitate learning in a fun and engaging way. Minecraft: Education Edition is built to help kids learn things like collaboration, creative problem-solving, STEM skills, and more! Education Edition has also been evolving into creating lessons to help kids better navigate online environments. This includes how they can stay safe online and to help teach them how to keep their personal information private.

Minecraft: Education Edition is available for free for anyone with an Office 365 Education account. If you (or your kids’ school) aren’t eligible, you can still try Education Edition with a free Hour of Code.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Minecraft appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

What is Roblox?

Roblox has an ESRB-assigned rating of T for Teen, with a Content Descriptor for Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, and Interactive Elements including Users Interact and In-App Purchases. This may be the first time you notice the Content Descriptor for “Diverse Content: Discretion Advised,” which means that the app or platform in question “offers access to a variety of content. Some content may not be appropriate for all ages.” While Roblox’s millions of users are free to create and play a wide range of games, some may be inappropriate for kids. For example, a streaming platform like Disney+ (T for Teen) offers both Bluey and Logan. This is not a one-to-one comparison since video games are inherently different experiences compared to TV and movies, but most parents may be hesitant to let their younger kids watch Logan, which is rated R by the MPAA, while being perfectly fine with their kids watching Bluey, an animated series produced for kids and rated TV-Y.

What Is Roblox Studio?

Although likely to be too challenging for younger kids to master, Roblox Studio tools are easy for novices to learn. Most importantly, Roblox provides a digital playground for kids who are interested in developing their own games. Roblox Studio’s controlled environment provides a non-threatening space in which kids can experiment, create, fail, try again, and ultimately succeed in developing a real game!

The main purpose of Roblox is for kids to have fun, but there are other benefits, including teaching kids the basics of coding, game design, and (for kids that want to try their hand at selling their creations) entrepreneurism. Who knows, it may even inspire a career in STEAM when they grow up!

While Roblox’s millions of users are free to create and play a wide range of games, some may be inappropriate for kids.

It’s also sometimes possible to make Robux – Roblox‘s in-game currency – and even real money by creating and selling content on the platform (more on Robux later). While this may be a fun goal, it’s dependent upon creating an experience or item that is purchased (with Robux) by a significant number of people. You can imagine that, with so many active users and established creators, this can be a challenge! That said, it doesn’t change the fact that practical skills can be learned from creating and developing unique experiences on the Roblox platform.

How to Mitigate Risks in Roblox

Roblox proactively monitors the content created on its platform, but with hundreds of millions of active users a month it’s essential that you stay involved with your kids’ Roblox experiences to ensure that they remain appropriate. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to maintain peace of mind while helping to make sure your kids are having fun on Roblox.

First and foremost, make sure that your child’s registration in Roblox includes an accurate birthdate! This will enable automatic content filtering and other protections specifically designed to protect children under the age of 13. Because Roblox primarily consists of user-created content, the development team has integrated a variety of parental controls directly into its Account Settings, a topic further explored in the Roblox parents guide and in the Roblox FAQ.

The main purpose of Roblox is for kids to have fun, but there are other benefits, including teaching kids the basics of coding, game design, and (for kids that want to try their hand at selling their creations) entrepreneurism.

Roblox also groups games into four age-based categories to indicate appropriateness: All Ages, 9+, 13+, and 17+. The platform’s parental settings give you the ability to curate the content your kids may have access to when playing based on these age groups with Allowed Experiences controls. These also allow you to restrict voice chat to approved friends or disable voice chat entirely. You can learn how to enable those settings here.

Roblox also allows your child to block and report annoying or disruptive players that they may encounter when playing online. Make sure they (and you) know how to do so. This is also a good opportunity to remind your kids that they can come to you if they encounter another individual that is rude or making them feel uncomfortable – no matter what! While you can also create a curated and approved friends list for your kids, remember that you can also disable communication entirely if you’re kids aren’t ready to engage with others online yet.

Another basic internet safety rule is to never share personal information or passwords online. This means no sharing your real name with strangers, where you live, where you go to school… nothing! If someone says they need this information to have a good time, then the best course of action is to simply block and report them. Again… no matter what.

Many parents also tell us that screen time is often top-of-mind. Fortunately, whichever device your child uses to play Roblox includes parental controls settings you can activate to manage when your kids can play and for how long. Even better, many devices provide a solution to manage parental controls from your mobile device, either via a dedicated app or an online portal. For example, Apple’s Screen Time feature is built into Apple devices, while Google’s Family Link also helps parents keep an eye on things from a distance. Microsoft also offers the Xbox Family Settings app, which can control both Windows PC and Xbox devices.

Roblox’s parental controls are great, but you can also set parental controls directly on your kids’ devices. These controls can help manage what your kids play based on the ESRB-assigned rating information, when and for how long they can play. with whom they can communicate, and whether they can spend money on in-game purchases or new games. Visit ParentalTools.org for step-by-step parental controls guides to help.

Where Can You Play Roblox?

Roblox is free to download and play on smartphones, tablets, Amazon Fire devices, computers (both PC and Mac), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. There is also a VR version of Roblox available for the Meta Quest 2/3, Meta Quest Pro, HTC Vive, and Valve Index.

Roblox on the Microsoft Store for Windows and Xbox

How Much Does Roblox Cost?

The cost of purchasing Robux in Roblox

While being free to download, the game offers optional in-game currency called “Robux.” Purchasing Robux is not at all a requirement to play, and many players enjoy the game without spending a dime. That said, players can use Robux to obtain new clothes, accessories, gear, and more (depending upon the experience) for their avatar. You can also purchase special abilities, bonus in-game content and access to certain user-created games. There are a number of ways to obtain Robux, but the most straightforward way is to simply purchase it. The smallest amount you can purchase is 400 Robux for $4.99. The “exchange rate” is slightly more favorable if you decide to purchase more. Alternatively, a paid monthly subscription to Roblox Premium includes a monthly deposit of Robux along with a variety of bonus features. Roblox Premium ranges in cost from $4.99 per month to $19.99 per month.

As mentioned, don’t forget to set parental controls to manage how much your kids are allowed to spend (or block spending entirely).

Additional Tips for Parents

While Allowed Experiences and parental controls offer parents many great choices, there are always more steps you can take to ensure that your kids have appropriate video game experiences.

We always say that the best first step is to call a family meeting and establish some household rules around video game play. By discussing video game play in your home, while acknowledging the positives, you’re setting a precedent for an open-ended, judgment-free conversation about video games. You’re also letting your kids know that, while you respect their love of playing games, there are parameters that the whole family needs to respect (including you!). Just remember to back up your household rules with parental controls if/when you need to!

Visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for more information on household rules, parental controls, online safety tips, and more.

The post What Parents Need To Know About Roblox appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

How Do I Know If a Game Has In-Game Purchases?

First step, check the ESRB-assigned rating information. Games rated by the ESRB have three parts:

• Rating Categories suggest age appropriateness.
• Content Descriptors indicate content that may have triggered a particular rating.
•  Interactive Elements highlight interactive or online features of a product, including if purchases of digital goods or services are offered in-game or users can interact with each other.

When it comes to making purchases with real world money, we have two Interactive Elements to look out for:

• In-Game Purchases lets you know when a game contains in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premiums
• In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) lets you know when a game contains in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premiums with an element of randomization (meaning the player may not know exactly what they’re getting)

When checking a game’s rating, you can find the In-Game Purchases or In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) Interactive Elements when searching by game title on ESRB.org’s rating search or the ESRB rating search app, and displayed on the back of video game boxes or, for digitally delivered games, on a game’s product detail page:

Note that we started assigning the In-Game Purchases Interactive Element in 2018, and In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) was introduced in February 2020. Games rated prior to these dates will likely not display these notices, even if they do offer in-game purchases. If you’re not sure, we recommend that you do a quick search online to find out if the game in question offers in-game purchases of any kind, especially if it is a mobile or online game.  Most app and online stores provide upfront notice when there are in-game or in-app purchases.

What Can Be Purchased In-Game?

In-game purchases typically augment or personalize the content of a game. Regardless of the type of in-game purchases, it’s important to remember that they are never mandatory. Here are the key types of in-game purchases that are often offered to players:

In-Game Currency
Some games offer the ability to purchase in-game currencies that can be exchanged for content. For instance, your children may ask to purchase 1,000 “Crystals” for $10, which can then be used to buy other virtual in-game items. In many cases, you can purchase a quantity of these currencies through an online store connected to the game. However, in other cases you can also earn in-game currency just by playing.

Pay-to-Continue
Some free-to-play or free-to-start games – typically available on mobile devices – offer the ability to purchase “lives” with in-game or real currency. Most of the time lives will recharge over a period of time, but by purchasing lives players can keep playing without having to wait.

Pay-to-Win
Some games offer the ability to purchase specific items or power ups to make progress easier. Games can even offer the ability to pay to skip levels for those struggling. Of course, the player can still progress through the game without making a purchase, but it could require significantly more time.

Cosmetic Items
Lots of games allow players to create their own unique character and customize them with in-game items that reflect the player’s personality. While many games include these options, some offer the ability to purchase specific items with in-game or real-world currency. These items – which generally do not influence gameplay and are simply a visual alteration – are often referred to as “cosmetics.”

Expansions
“Expansions” vary in size and cost, but tend to be bigger chunks of new gameplay, mechanics, and/or items that extend the lifespan of a game. These usually cost less than the initial price of the game and can add just a few hours of additional gameplay, or dozens of hours of content depending upon the game.

Season Passes
When you buy a season pass for your favorite football team (in real life) you’re getting seats for every home game of the season. Buying a “season pass” for a game is similar, only instead of a seat, you’re paying for a “season” (which depending upon the game can last for weeks or months) of additional content that will gradually be released over time.

Playable Characters
Some games offer the ability to purchase new playable characters to download after the game’s initial release. Sometimes you can purchase a season pass (see above) to get all of them, while other times you can buy them individually or in “character packs.”

Loot Boxes
“Loot boxes” are like locked treasure chests that contain an array of random virtual items that can be used in the game once unlocked. “Loot box” is a catch-all term that can refer to a number of similar randomized purchases, such as item packs, card packs, prize wheels, treasure chests, etc. Many games may have different branded or in-game names for these concepts, but the core premise is the same. In some games, loot boxes can be earned through gameplay and/or can be purchased using either real money or in-game currency. In most cases, you can’t see the items, characters, weapons, etc. before you make the purchase.

Gacha
“Gacha” mechanics are designed around Japanese “Gachapon”, which are vending machine capsules. Think of it like the machines you may have found in a local arcade or at a movie theater where you put in a quarter, spin a knob, and out pops a little toy. In games it is similar, though the player will “insert” digital currency for items of varying rarity. This could take the form of new playable/usable characters, more in-game currency, power ups, in-game items, etc. These are very similar in design to loot boxes, and the terminology is somewhat interchangeable. In most gacha games players can gain in-game currency through both regular play and/or additional purchases with real money.

How Can I Tell If a Loot Box Will Have an Item that I May Want?

No two loot boxes are the same, and games often implement loot boxes differently depending upon the overall gameplay loop. Some games list which loot boxes guarantee better (rarer) items. Meanwhile, other games may identify the relative rarity of individual items using standard terms (such as Common, Epic, Rare, Legendary), a color code and/or symbols like stars.

Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony along with Apple and Google, all require that game publishers on their respective platforms publicly disclose “drop rates” for loot boxes. Drop rates outline the probability that a player will receive items of an in-game rarity.

Understanding “drop rates,” is simpler than it appears at first blush. The higher the “drop rate” or percentage displayed, the higher the probability that you will get a rare item from a loot box. For example, a drop rate of 25% for an “Epic” item means that the player has a 25% chance of getting an “Epic” item (or better). A drop rate of 100% for a “Rare” item means that you will always get a “Rare” item (or better).

It’s worth remembering that more often than not drop rates do not detail every possible item. They will list the chances for different tiers.

How Can I Manage How Much My Child Can Spend?

If you’re looking for peace of mind, you can take advantage of the parental controls available on virtually every game device to manage in-game spending.

Many devices, including the Xbox Series X|S, and the PlayStation 5, smartphones, and PCs have the ability to set spending limits, which I like to think of as an allowance. Other devices, like the Nintendo Switch, enable you to block purchases entirely, or require parental approval for every purchase. Some popular games, like Fortnite offer special child accounts and/or parental controls in-game to restrict or block spending in only that game.

Make sure you visit ParentalTools.org to find instructions for setting up parental controls.

What Else Do I Need to Know About In-Game Purchases?

Remember that parental controls can help you manage more than just spending. You can also manage which games your kids can play based on the assigned ESRB rating, set play time limits, manage communication with other players, and more.

Before you activate parental controls, we highly recommend that you meet as a whole family to establish some house rules that everyone can follow (that means you too, parents). 92% of parents have some kind of rules around in-game purchases for the young gamers in their household.

Tips on setting household rules, managing online play, protecting your kids’ privacy, and more visit the ESRB Family Gaming Guide.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Loot Boxes (and Other In-Game Purchases) appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

Is Final Fantasy XVI Appropriate for Your Kids?

Final Fantasy XVI is rated M for Mature, with Content Descriptors including Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, and Violence. There are no Interactive Elements assigned.

As mentioned, Final Fantasy XVI is the first numbered entry (i.e., mainline game) in the series with an M rating assignment. It’s important to note that there is a wide spectrum within each age rating category, especially as you go up in rating categories. Some kids may be ready for an M-rated game, while others may need more time. As such, it’s a good idea to read the ESRB-assigned Rating Summary, which provides more context around why Final Fantasy XVI received an M rating. For example, the Rating Summary for the game notes that: “Blood-splatter effects frequently occur when characters are slashed and killed. Cutscenes depict additional acts of violence and blood…” as well as; “… some sexual material: a character caressing and straddling a man in bed; references to prostitution—sexual moaning sounds in a brothel,” and more.

It is not unheard of (though it is relatively uncommon) for a game in a long-running series to receive a different Rating Category assignment than previous entries. This is almost always a clear choice made by the developer or publisher from early on in development. Still, it’s another reason to always check the rating and understand what’s in a game before you decide to purchase it for your kids. This even goes for when it’s a new entry in a series your kids are wild about.

If you search for Final Fantasy on ESRB’s Rating Search you will find literally decades of ratings precedent. You’ll notice that there have been two previous Final Fantasy games with M ratings – Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin and Final Fantasy Type-0 HD – both of which are spinoffs and only tangentially related to core entries in the series.

Beyond the above, there are several themes and complex plot-beats that may also pose some difficulty for children of younger ages. This includes themes of inequity, the evils of slavery, weapons of mass destruction, and more. Continue reading for more information about these story-related themes.

Where Can You Play Final Fantasy XVI?

Final Fantasy XVI is available on PlayStation 5.

It is not unheard of (though it is relatively uncommon) for a game in a long-running series to receive a different Rating Category assignment than previous entries

How Much Does Final Fantasy XVI Cost?

Final Fantasy XVI costs $69.99 for the standard version.

There is also a Deluxe Edition for $99.99, which includes a different case and a physical map of the in-game continent, Velisthea. If you and your family are superfans, there is a Collector’s Edition for $349.99 which includes additional physical items, such as a statue, a pin collection, bonus in-game weapons, and more.

 What is Final Fantasy XVI About?

Final Fantasy XVI is a third person (meaning the camera is behind the main character) action role-playing-game (RPG) from publisher Square Enix. Players will step into the boots of Clive Rosfield, an enslaved prince, as he departs on a journey  to solve a mystery core to his character. Throughout the game, your family will join Clive as he traverses the continent of Valisthea.

Valisthea is dotted by mountains of crystal (called Mothercrystals) that allow denizens to take advantage of magick (which is just a fancy way of spelling “magic”). The story uses these crystals to explore themes of inequity. Some denizens of Valisthea have open access to crystals, and therefore magick. This offers the ability for these individuals to create wealth and comfort for themselves by leveraging the power of the crystals. Meanwhile others are left without, which naturally puts them at a stark disadvantage in some respects.

To complicate matters more, some gifted individuals – including Clive – can use magick at will without the need of Mothercrystals. These Valistheans are called “Bearers”. While one may assume that these individuals would be high status, they are often branded with a face tattoo and forced into slavery or indentured servitude to – for lack of a better phrase – save costs for the wealthy. Bearers are often seen as inhuman, but they are in fact, just like everyone else.

In addition to themes of inequity and slavery, Final Fantasy XVI contains allusions to weapons of mass destruction and the concept of mutually assured destruction. Valisthea is home to the Eikons (pronounced “Icons”): The most powerful and potentially destructive creatures in the world. Eikons are under the control of individuals called “Dominants”, who can use the Eikons’ power however they see fit. Each of the six Realms (which are kingdoms or countries) has access to a Dominant, and by extension the power of an Eikon. As the game begins, it’s clear that this balance of power has contributed to a tenuous peace across the six Realms. But this precarious peace is tested as decades of bad blood festers and a mysterious Blight begins appearing across the land.

How Does Final Fantasy XVI Play?

Final Fantasy has typically been known for complex stories and strategic combat. These staples remain in Final Fantasy XVI.

Players are ushered through the story with fast-paced, combo-driven action. Clive has access to a growing repertoire of sword techniques, magicks, Eikon abilities, and more to battle enemies. These various abilities can be combined and chained together for flashy and destructive combos.

Despite the frenetic pace, strategy still plays a core role in combat. Players can decide which abilities to use in any given combat scenario, depending upon the strengths and weaknesses of an enemy. Furthermore, players will have the opportunity to upgrade abilities throughout the story to take on greater challenges and better align Clive with a more personal play style.

Final Fantasy XVI does not have a party system like many previous games in the series. That said, Clive’s journey is not a solitary one. He is joined by his loyal dog, Torgal, who can attack, heal, and combo with Clive. Torgal is a good dog.

Clive is also occasionally accompanied by other non-dog characters. Unlike Torgal, players do not have any direct control over these allies.

Between the fast-paced action of battling, players should expect a good deal of story told via cutscenes (in-game clips that progress a game’s story). Speaking of story, players will also be able to consult the Active Time Lore feature in this new iteration of Final Fantasy. Active Time Lore allows you to pause the game during any cutscene and consult a context-sensitive story glossary.

In addition to lots of story content and flashy combat, players will be free to explore some areas of Valisthea, complete quests, discover rewards, and create a more powerful Clive.

Managing Your Kids’ Video Game Play

You have a lot of options to help you manage your kids’ video game experiences. This often starts with making sure your kids do not play a game that they’re not quite ready for (yet).

Start by checking the ESRB age and content ratings when your children ask for a game. Even if it’s a game with a long history of age-appropriate content you may find that one installment is making a change. If possible, it’s also a great help to grab a controller and preview a game yourself! In the case of Final Fantasy XVI, there’s a demo available now on the PlayStation Store, which will give you an impression of the content of the game and the context in which it’s presented to the player. Of course, this isn’t always an option, so remember that you can always find trailers online that may give you an idea of what the game may offer.

One of the most important steps to managing your kids’ video game experiences is to establish household rules for the whole family. Engage in an open conversation with your kids about what they can play, when and for how long, with whom, whether they can spend money on new games/in-game purchases. Don’t forget to discuss why these rules are important. From there you can nurture an ongoing dialogue with your kids about the video games they’re looking forward to and adjust the rules as they grow. You can visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for helpful tips highlighting what you may want to discuss.

It’s also helpful to activate parental controls on your kids’ game devices to back up your household rules and gain some additional peace of mind. Parental controls are available for virtually every device on which your kids can play games. Visit ParentalTools.org for step-by-step parental controls guides to help walk you through the process.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Final Fantasy XVI appeared first on ESRB Ratings.