Agar.io
By Paul Semel,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Dot-eats-dot arcade game tame except for racy usernames.
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Agar.io
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Based on 24 parent reviews
right wing elitist
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Terribly Poorly Designed and Unfair Game.
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What’s It About?
As a super-simple arcade game, AGAR.IO doesn't have a story: You simple move around, absorbing smaller circles so you can get bigger, all while trying not to be eaten by players who are bigger than you. Players can choose a username that will appear on their circle, or they can buy special "skins" to decorate the circle. On the grid, which serves as the gameboard, players absorb dots and smaller players and can hide behind static, green circles called "viruses" -- but only if they are smaller than the virus. Because you get slower as you get larger, bigger players can split into smaller circles to more easily chase and absorb smaller players. There's no winning level or end to the game, so players who have logged in can save progress and play continuously across devices.
Is It Any Good?
Though really simple, this arcade game has enough challenge to make it super addictive, but its cutthroat nature and iffy usernames might not work for younger players. While the game itself is rather innocuous, you'll undoubtedly run into someone whose name is a curse word, or is sexually explicit, or makes a drug reference; however, there are no racy visuals, so if the words alone are OK in your family, then there's nothing to fear. Also, it's very easy to lose again and again, and it takes a lot of gameplay to level up and get really big, which means kids could play for hours with no clear end in sight. Parents may want to set limits before downloading and know that the game is also available online, which means kids could turn off the phone and continue to play on the computer.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about in-app purchases and your family's rules around them. Is it OK to spend real money on level-ups?
Talk about the appeal of this type of game. Why is it so popular?
Since there's no clear end to the game, talk about time limits or other ways to know when to stop playing.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Pricing structure: Free (with optional in-app purchases)
- Release date: January 27, 2016
- Category: Arcade Games
- Publisher: Miniclip.com
- Version: 1.2.2
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 6.0 or later; Android 2.3.3 and up
- Last updated: April 9, 2019
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