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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    This medieval multiplayer game isn't for all kids.

updated 09.16.09

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–15

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
  • User-created content:

    Not an issue.
  • Messages:

    Overall, this is a supportive community whose passion for the game can verge on the fanatical. The site makes a real effort to ban abusive behavior and to encourage families to play together.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    The game involves combat between monsters and other players.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Occasional mild swearing could come up on the forums, but mostly this passionate community is interested in playing and discussing the game, not trash talking. Swearing during gameplay is bleeped out by a filter. Offenders are banned.
  • Consumerism:

    There are ads on the site, but its main support comes through subscriptions -- although you can play for free.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Ale, stout, wine...but drinking it does affect your combat skills.
 

How safe is it?

  • Personal privacy:

    The game is not intended for children under 13, although the site acknowledges that there are players younger than 13 on the site. These players can't use the free chat feature and are limited to QuickChat, which allows them to converse with pre-selected language.
  • 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.
  • Parental controls:

    Parents who want to allow kids under 13 to use the site must complete a parental consent form.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Runescape

Parents need to know that the discussion forums can be read by anyone, but only paying members can post messages. Some of the topics contain barely disguised vulgarities and sexual references, though there are moderators that keep an eye on things and who can ban users who get too out of line. Under the terms and conditions agreed to at sign-up, players must use the chat feature only as an extension of their role-playing activities. The terms and conditions document warns against inappropriate behavior, and extensive instructions are given to help the user block unwanted communications using the built-in game functions. Combat and dueling is an important part of the game; however, according to passionate discussions in the forum, there is a lot of cold-blooded murder going on, too.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk 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?

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See all 297 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Safety is an issue

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    Addicting

    This game causes most kids to have an addiction. First of all 99 percent of people who play this right away think it's fun. They play it 1 hour. Then 2 or 3. Then 8 or 9. The main point of this game is to master in many skills. In this game you can kill innocent people. The violence isn't close to being graphic. Still killing humans makes me sick. For example one of the skills is wood cutting. All you do is click on trees for hours and hours until you get to level 99 which takes forever. Same with all the other skills. Another skill is thieving which is not good. No tobacco or drug stuff but you can drink. You don't get drunken, all it does is boost your health, but there are drunken characters in the game. People can actually type curse words and leave a letter or two out and it will still show up. Not safe. People give their accounts a lot of the time. This game is fun but boring after a while.

  2. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 7 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    Looking at a different angle

    It might make the kids more independent if you look at it from a different angle.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    Be Mature About It

    This game is great! Just be careful what you say to other players as they are quite sensitive at times. If the game was not an MMO, the game would be perfect for all ages. It shows teamwork, fighting alongside other players. Great game for 10 and up!

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages

    Perfect for tweens, but iffy for kids

    RuneScape is built for teens and tweens, but accepts kids too. I like how it has puzzles in it to help a player's strategy thinking go at the speed of light. I don't like the negative messages, such as how you can kill innocent bystanders or in some quests you help evil win over good. The violence is a natural part of the game. There are demons and werewolves that would certainly make me wet my pants if I was 5-8 and in some dungeons and areas are torture devices and dried blood. The only drinkable liquids in the game are potions and alcoholic beverages. Also, the community can be both supportive, but sometimes cruel and using sexual innuendos like "Why not whack it once or twice"

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