Parents' Guide to Vainglory 5V5

In many ways, this MOBA is as much fun as its PC competitors, but as with any game played with real people, there's a high potential for abuse. Vainglory is certainly more accessible: Its comprehensive tutorial spells out all the basics, and its diverse range of characters caters to every kind of player. The graphics, artwork, and animations are all top-tier, and the game plays well even on older devices. With Vainglory becoming increasingly prominent in the world of esports, casual matches can contain pro-level players who regularly trounce newer players, and that can be discouraging. Worse still, inexperienced players and losing teams can receive harassing messages from opponents and teammates alike.

The new 5v5 mode with its three-lane map ups the competitive ante even more, since it adheres more closely to the larger esports-level standard. The new mode also cranks the difficulty up a notch, requiring a greater degree of teamwork, more familiarity and skill with hero abilities, and a thorough understanding of individual player roles. Chat isn't a prominent part of the game, but since players do use it to share personal information, teens should understand what's OK -- and not OK -- to share. Even with the chat risks and the added complexity of 5v5 mode, Vainglory remains a fun, friendly, accessible way for new players to experience MOBA gameplay.