Parents' Guide to RuneScape

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Common Sense Media Review

By Jean Armour Polly , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Medieval multiplayer game isn't for all kids.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

age 11+

Based on 52 parent reviews

Parents say that while the game can be enjoyable for older kids and offers educational benefits like skill development and basic economics, it also has significant concerns such as exposure to swearing, sexual content, and predatory microtransactions. Some parents caution against younger players due to the game's online interactions, potential for bullying, and the risk of gambling-like mechanics, advising close monitoring or limiting gaming time.suitable for older kidsrisks of online interactioneducational benefitsconcerns about microtransactionsexposure to inappropriate content
Summarized with AI

age 10+

Based on 129 kid reviews

What's It About?

Before you enter RuneScape's virtual world, you'll have to be trained on Tutorial Island, where you learn a few essential skills such as fire making, fishing, cooking, mining, slaying monsters, and throwing spells. Once you've completed the tutorial phase, you're free to wander anywhere you like. You may be sent on a quest to find ingredients for a cake, or you may be asked to go on a spy mission. Successful completion of a quest brings a reward. Two versions of RuneScape are offered: one is free, while the other requires a paid subscription of a few dollars per month. Paid members get access to additional lands, skills, and quests. In the game, avatars represent players. You choose your avatar's appearance from a limited selection. As you watch the movements of other players' avatars, you'll notice many have rich clothing or heavy armor. Items can be won, bought, or traded with other players.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 52 ):
Kids say ( 129 ):

Teens and tweens, especially boys, will be fascinated by this role-playing game. But parents should look over their shoulders and see what's really going on. Is the player slaying dragons or other humans? It is possible to play this fascinating game without the murder and mayhem, so RuneScape gets a cautionary yellow for "know your kid."

Online interaction: There's lots of online interaction in this immensely popular, global massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Swearing is discouraged, if not outright forbidden. The interactions can be impassioned -- borne of a love of the game -- but aren't mean-spirited.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the pros and cons of this game. What do you learn that may be valuable in the real world? How do you feel about the violent aspects of the game?

  • Families can also talk about online chat. Should parents give kids under age 13 permission to use the site's full chat features? Why or why not?

Website Details

  • Genre : Gaming
  • Pricing structure : Free
  • Last updated : September 26, 2024

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