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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 7.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Island-hopping adventure is hours of safe fun.

On this site kids can:   chat, play games, play in a virtual world
updated 08.31.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 7 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Kids can learn about history, art, and other subjects at different points on the islands.
  • User-created content:

    Not an issue.
  • Messages:

    Kids can complete missions by helping out characters on the islands, encouraging kids to work together.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    A few creepy critters (bats, snakes), but no violence.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Character names and chat phrases are prescripted, so there's no chance of profanity.
  • Consumerism:

    When we visited, there's was a prominent, recurring ad for Apple Jacks cereal that players pass as they walk through screens.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

How safe is it?

  • Personal privacy:

    Kids choose a username and password so they can reenter the game where they left off, but other players don't see that name; instead, the site assigns each kid a preselected name like Cool Starfish or Fearless Hippo. Kids can meet up with their friends online by getting their friend's room code.
  • Online interaction:

    All chat is prescripted.
  • Parental controls:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Poptropica

Parents need to know that this very popular virtual world and adventure game is fun, safe, and sometimes educational. Unlike many adventure games, players don't fight, get hurt, lose, or die. Kids can chat using prescripted phrases, and can challenge each other to play simple arcade-style games.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what a good amount of time is for playing online games, and draw up some guidelines for balanced use.
  • Families can also talk about how advertising on Web sites can sometimes look like content. Why do you think sites blend the two?

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Poptropica?
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See all 65 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Safety isn't an issue

    you sould all love the educational poptropica

    i loved it so much now i didn't know you were one who supported it i loved poptropica so much when i started i did all the islands in one day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • User content is age appropriate

    LOVE AT FIRST PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Poptropica is an educational wabsite online game by jeff kinney (creator of diary of a whimpy kid). You go to islands and solve the problem. As of lately you can buy items with credits you earn by solving islands. And now you can save. Finally there are no ads lately. Islands are released every so often. It is fun safe educational. Try it.

  3. I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • User content is age appropriate

    Popfunica

    OMG so fun! Poptropica is fun and exiting!

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • User content is age appropriate

    I LOVE poptropica! I started playing it when I was introduced to it by my friend.I love great puzzles that get me frustrated sometimes. I always seem to finish the islands in a week or so. I have three accounts and I love to go over the islands again.

  5. I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0

    good game

    this game is one of those games that you start playing and you dont get bored of. i started playing when i was like 9 and i still play

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