Kongregate (http://www.kongregate.com)

common sense media says

Some games have mature content; iffy forums.


parents & educators say
  • 71% say language is an issue
  • 57% say it's educational

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this gaming site has a lot of other interactive features besides games. Users can register to create a profile, chat while playing games, and post in forums. The site has extensive guidelines for "good behavior," appoints moderators, and encourages users to flag inappropriate content, but some users get away with posting hateful (racist, sexist, or homophobic) comments on their profiles or in forums. (The chat feature censors profanity.) It's hard to keep tabs on the thousands of games -- some are violent shooters and feature a bit of blood, but most are fairly mild and fine for teens.

Educational value: Many games are mindless fun, but some (like puzzles) require logic or critical thinking. Teens who are advanced enough to create flash games can post them here.
Positive messages: As in many online communities, most people are respectful, but a few users are abusive and make racist, sexist, and homophobic comments.
Violence: Lots of shoot 'em up games (zombies are a popular target). Most of the violence isn't overly gory or realistic.
Sex: Some scantily-clad animated women; occasional sexual comments in forums and on profiles.
Language: A filter censors profanity in the chat rooms, but there's a fair amount of cursing (including some hate words) in forums and profiles.
Consumerism: There are ads, and some games are sponsored and link to other sites.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A few discussions about drinking and drugs in forums.

More on Kongregate

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about what a good amount of time is for playing online games, and draw up some guidelines for balanced use, since some of the games on this site can be very addictive. Families can also watch our video about online gaming. Parents should also review what kind of information is OK to post in a profile and what's not.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Most gaming portals are a mixed bag, but Kongregate's rating system -- and its policy of "hiding" games with bad ratings -- helps steer users toward the best offerings -- like the deceptively addictive "Dolphin Olympics" and the beautifully illustrated "5 Things" puzzle game (both of which, incidentally, are completely G-rated). Some of the forum threads (particularly "serious discussions") can get a bit heavy or hostile for teens, so it's smart to stick with what the site does best -- gaming.

This review was written by Susan Yudt
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13
Based on 7 parent & educator reviews:
  • 71% say language is an issue
  • 57% say it's educational
  • 57% say violence is an issue
  • 29% say there are positive messages
  • 29% say safety or privacy is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

Spartan-B312
teen, 16 years old
 
Not a Gaming site.
To me, I think Kongregate is an okay site. It has over 49,000 free games to choose from and a good start if you want to be a developer. However it feels more of a social site then a gaming site. Most of the users go on just to chat and most chatrooms have a lot of users that are mean, offensive or just use profanity. The moderates in this site also need to do their job better. Most just take the opportunity to gain more friends and not do the job at all. Some ignore the chat, go away for over hours and just ignore it and not help the users out. Since I tend to be a gamer it's not a site for me. I rather stick to playing games on console.

Chuggaaconroy
teen, 16 years old
 
Not a gaming site.
This gaming site is too disappointing in fact I don't even believe I can call it a gaming site more like a social site. Pros -Free games -Your own profile -Tons of games -Games come along with badges for users to get -Perfect place for game developers to start Cons - No rewards for users who have level up (Almost seems like leveling-up is pointless) - Not user friendly - So much profanity (Post up links to music video that contain sexual content or offensive profanity) - Forums are horrible (As well users post offensive profanity as well as a few moderates that I know) - Chat rooms are dead (By dead I mean silent or not too many active users - Some chat rooms need Moderates - Moderates need to do a better job (Some approve inappropriate links that are posted on user's shouts) - Security is an issue (Especially when it comes to kreds that you pay with credit card) -Not a gaming site at all (Most users log in just to chat and not to play games so hardcore gamers will not like this site) - Content and games are created by users (May contain inappropriate things, stolen games from other websites, and just plain horrible) 2/5 stars for this site. I believe that there are many other great free gaming sites on the internet. Most of the games here are bad due to lack controls, story, not enough verity or no game at all. (Perfect example Just Chatting/Trolling has 4 stars and no game at all as well as "Burn The Rope" took me only 30 seconds to play the game). The users are rude and it is not user friendly at all consider I've seen users post inappropriate link or picture and the moderates/admins don't do anything about and just let it slide.

 
Teens and up only ...
The chat rooms are not safe for kids and are pretty salty. Games have mature themes.

Thekidreviewer
kid, 11 years old
 
Why kongregate sucks!
violent things = laser guns,burning people corse language = some stuff messages = some stuff Saftey = BANNING DOESN`T WORK! User = A little of violent things on profiles My opinon is it sucks cause my username and me were made fun of.

Divine_Munchie_99
teen, 17 years old
 
Not very good.
There was a funny page with Chuck Norris stuff, but that's it. There's a dragon game where you end up KILLING your character(the dragon). It made me sad. :(

WarDemon1oh2
teen, 14 years old
 

Hokage4354
teen, 17 years old
 
The features and variety on the site as far as games, community, and options is amazing. Plenty of resources, user-to-user communication, and well-intended games. I suppose some of the games (Appx. 20%) are inappropriate for anybody under the age of 13 (the site requires you to be 13 anyway), as well as the Serious Discussion forums (Which is intended for people mature enough to discuss drugs, religion, ect.), and some messages other users might send you (problems in all social sites). Overall, the site is wonderful, and doesn't expose anything an average 13 year old isn't already exposed to. I mean- if you learn about drugs and sex-ed in grammar school (Around ages 11 and 12), then you should be well aware of it by the age of 13 (middle school.)

IAMNGIN
kid, 1 year old
 
perfect for everyone over the age of 13
Best vidya gaman website ever. 5/5

mrcolereviewer
kid, 11 years old
 
Great Website!!!!
Some games are good, some games are bad. Some people on the fourms make me mad!

eelee
parent of 12 year old
 
OK for 9+
I think it's pretty fun on Kongregate. Most users are nice and will be curteous, but some like to be mean and say curse words and that kind of stuff. But that's mostly just in chat or forum. Though there are some bad games on there, Kongregate's mostly clean. I'd say...anybody under 11 can play most games on Kongregate. Anyone 9 or under will need supervision to avoid exposure to bad stuff on there. The user content is great, too, but mainly the bad stuff on Kong is the mean/heavily cussing users. Most people on Kong are very clean and may only curse occasionally. Some people, however, tend to curse and talk stuff unsuitable for most people under 13-14.

Tortellini
teen, 16 years old
 
great for teenagers but probably not much younger.
The games on this site seem fine for teenagers. The site says it's for 13+ and you have to be 13 to sign up but I started using it when I was 12. The only problem I see is the chat rooms which can be a serious concern. I would suggest either using a mostly safe chat room with lots of moderators (such as mostly harmless) or justnot letting your kids use the chat.

 
Good, but not great.
This site is good, for older kids. The profile slant can be definitely addicting, as certain achievements garner "badges". The all consuming hunt for badges is what drives most of the gamers on the site. Also, the chat feature can reveal some good or reasonable character, but it also can lead to kids jauntily sidestepping the profanity filter with the use of periods, spaces, misspellings and dashes. A few games on the site are actually educational, like Globetrotter XL, a geography game that is actually fun, and Notecatcher, which teaches classical music with beats. But some games are violent, featuring zombie shooting, and some use of magic in the role-playing games. However, political games that jab at politicians, and sexually oriented games are never uploaded. The gamers on the site are encouraged to review games, and the uploader/developer will get points for how his game does, which prevents games that are not from being uploaded. Overall? Just be careful about when they get on unless they are at least fourteen. This is the YouTube of flash games, and like YouTube, it can get iffy at times or places. Watch the forums, as well.

benandlucy
teen, 13 years old
 
Its ok
I 've been going on kongregate ever since i could remember. Yah there is some bad games up there, but thats pretty rare. Most are just fun ol flash games that are very amusing.

lewaphantoka
teen, 17 years old
 
Ok younger kids and tweens should be watched
Kids 12 and under need to be watched by an adult or older child when on site.Other than that have at it my favorite game site though I never get on forums.

 

darkshadow45
kid, 13 years old
 
great website
kongregate is a gaming site made by gamestop there are plenty of games that are great and gamestop puts up challenges to unlock special content in upcoming games so kongregate is great for console gamers too for the free content

 
There are so much positive and negative contents on Kongregate, the way you should use the contents is to dodge the Negative things, simple, and the users below 13 years old should be watched by their parents and it's should be okay if they're behave properly on messages, game comments, reviews and forums.

Iwie
adult
 
By far the best site for free online gaming i've come across in the many years of playing i've had. Some occasional bad chatrooms, but can easily be turned off or switched. By playing the user uploaded games you earn badges and points by accomplishing certain achievements. Some really great games which can help make a boring evening at home a very enjoyable experience.

 
NOTHING THAT INAPPROPRIATE FOR KIDS UNDER 10
Oops. I meant except for the idiots. Monchoman45 is there, and he's a pure f**ker.

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age