Wizard 101 used to be an excellent game for kids. I bought a one year subscription for my 9 year old last year. He loved the game. I also played along with him. But the game has changed recently, alas for the worst. - Too much commercialization. It costs real money (crowns) to experience almost all parts of the game, even if you have a fully paid subscription. My kid whines constantly, asking for crowns. The fun experience of playing the game has turned into a negative one will all the commercialization in the past few months. - Gambling. A new feature in the game, introduced a few months ago, encourages gambling with real money (crowns). After winning a fight, kids are presented with a treasure chest, which will give them additional random rewards if they pay money (crowns). The cost goes up with each try. This is teaching gambling to kids at too early an age - I have seriously started thinking about canceling my yearly subscription (if only I were not afraid of the tears from my addicted 9 year old). - Slow game engine. Many recent changes have made the game buggy and slow. Most of the changes were made to increase revenue, encouraging kids to spend real money at every turn of the game.
Wizard 101
(2008, Online Video Game - Massively Multi-player Online Game (MMOG), Rated E10+, Play it on: Windows)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Magical MMO where kids learn to become wizards
In this game kids can: battle others, live vicariously, play in a virtual world, play multiplayer games
updated 07.03.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 10 and Up
The good stuff
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Ease of play:
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Educational value:
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Online interaction:
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Violence:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Wizard 101 was written by Carolyn Koh
Parents need to know that this is an engaging massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) for kids set in a fantasy world involving wizards. Kids will duel using magic spells that have some crude humor including the release of farts. Wizard 101 is COPA compliant and there are several ways to pay for this game. The download of the game is free and there are free areas for children to try out the game, including the ability to play all the minigames. Family plan subscriptions are $6.95 (per account) a month and general subscriptions $9.95. A micropayment plan beginning at $1.00 is also available to obtain permanent access to particular streets or areas within the game. Game gift cards are also available at various retail outlets. This allows parents to structure a reward system for their kids and many families do play this game together. However, it is also a game that ropes kids in for free, and then dangles additional compelling content in front of them to encourage them to become consumers.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about how this online world encourages you to spend money. For talking points, parents might want to check out Money Lessons in Online Worlds Tips.
- Do you like playing as a fantasy avatar with others who are really other people?
- Do you find yourself playing this game longer than you think you should? How might families set time limits?
- Does this game remind you of Harry Potter's world?
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More on Wizard 101
What’s the Story?
WIZARD 101 is a massively multiplayer online game where children take on the role of wizards while playing this game over the internet. Children begin by creating a character, selecting gender, hair, face, skin color, and the color of their clothing. Names are selected through a combination of first names and a two part last name. Children can take a fun quiz to determine the school of magic they are most suited for, or make the selection themselves. Then its off to Ravenswood Academy, to enroll in the various schools of magic. As young wizards, you will run errands and go on quests to earn skills and to obtain new spells, equipment, and gold to purchase more items.
As a wizard, kids can use various magic spells to defeat enemies. These spells are represented in game by Trading Card Game style cards showing a graphic of the spell and icons representing the different schools of magic. Most spells will bring up some form of cartoon animal representation, such as a Fire Cat, Lightning Snake, Unicorn, etc. that actually blasts the enemy with magic clouds or sparkles. Combat is carried out by duel and each participant goes in turn. Little Wizards can also team up against enemies or jump in and assist each other. Defeated Wizards are sent back to the school and can go to the faire and play minigames to replenish their depleted health and mana (magical power). High scores attained in these games are displayed at the end of each game.
Is It Any Good?
This game will appeal to children who enjoy Edward Eager or JK Rowling's magical stories. Apart from combat, little Wizards can earn enough gold in-game by playing minigames and dueling to buy new clothing, accessories, Treasure cards, as well as Houses and housing items to place in their house. As with any MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game), Wizard 101 is constantly changing because it provides regular and free updates to the game giving players more things to do. This is a fun game for parents to explore with their kids. They can even team up with their children in duels.
Publisher’s Details
Developer: Kingsisle Entertainment, Inc.
Released on: 9/2/2008, Price: $Free & Subcription, online enabled
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Crude Humor, Mild Fantasy Violence
Released on: 9/2/2008, Price: $Free & Subcription, online enabled
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Crude Humor, Mild Fantasy Violence
Our Members Say
See all 525 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
An excellent game has taken a recent turn for the worst
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
it's good
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
LOVE WIZARD 101!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
i'm a member of wizard 101.i had another account and she won.she beat the monsters!my new account username is:aly2990 i love wizard 101 still,i'm a member.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
Good for everyone 7- 100!
IT IS AWESOME! I guess the only thing bad would be you have to pay to go to new worlds.Still if you think, $10 for one month? You CAN go buy a DS WII XBOX game for around $29-$60 but it IS sort of cheap. For $50 you can get a 6 month subscription or tons of crowns. With the one month you can lvl up to around 21. My guy's name is Eric GhostStalker, add me to your friends ( I am in krockotopia right now (the second world) Over all it's a great game
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
GO TO THIS WEBSITE!!!!
This is the best website I have ever been to in my entire life! The Negative Stuff - I think for kids ages 6 or lower, it would be a bit hard, but for frightening purposes, it has very little stuff like ghosts, ghouls, zombies, pixies, trolls, and cyclops, but all in which were drawn so little kids will not be afraid of them. A few voices might sound a bit scary for ( again ) little kids, but not at all a big concern. The Positive Stuff - People give you quests to do stuff for people which is rather saying something to another person, defeating a villain and so on. ( Also, for quests, they give you an arrow/compass to point you in the right direction that your supposed to go.) When you complete that quest, that person will give you a prize such as dueling cards, gold/ money that you can spend, clothing, furniture, or pets! When you make a friend, you can chat with him/her using a chat box with sentences you can say or ask! For kids who can't read, voices were built into the system so you can hear voices of peaple talking to you and only you. You will see places blocked off because you have to buy crowns/points. It is a really good bargain and it is worth it! In my opinion, this is a very user friendly website!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 37% | of parents feel the site is safe |
| 37% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 37% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 30% | of parents say they notice product placement |
| 26% | of parents say it's educational |
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