MatPat's Game Lab
Common Sense says
- YouTube
- Reality TV
- 2016
Parents say
Kids say
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Get it now on
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
We think this TV show stands out for:
A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that MatPat's Game Lab is a show on which YouTube gamers try to perform stunts from popular computer games in real life. Parents' primary concern may be safety: Players wear safety gear at times (but not always!), and host MatPat doesn't emphasize that players shouldn't try these moves at home. Some of the stunts could be dangerous, such as walking across a narrow ledge above concrete steps or riding ostriches. Some games featured also have violent and/or horror elements: scary animatronic animals, sword fights, and other fantasy battles. A different game is featured on each episode, with the game's name, logo, and publisher and clips from gameplay shown. Cursing includes "goddamn," "dammit," and some questionable language ("jeez," "that sucked"). The show takes pains to feature female gamers and gamers of color on each episode; they cheer each other on politely; and MatPat ends each show with conclusions about the reality (or lack thereof) of each game, valuable media-literacy lessons for both players and watchers.
Wondering if MatPat's Game Lab is OK for your kids?
Set preferences and get age-appropriate recommendations with Common Sense Media Plus. Join now
Stay up to date on new reviews.
User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
A fun show that is great for gamers that are ok with a tiny bit of violence and some language.
Clean, fun recreation of games.
What's the story?
YouTuber MatPat (Matthew Patrick) made a name for himself by analyzing computer games using actual math and science; on his YouTube Red show MATPAT'S GAME LAB, he makes the jump into the real world. On each episode, MatPat chooses a different computer game and invites a team of three well-known YouTube gamers to visit an expert on that game's focus: bombs, escaping otherworldly monsters, parkour, and so on. The gamers practice stunts modeled on the game, then are given challenges to accomplish, each illustrated by 3D CGI demos. Each player's attempt is scored, an episode winner receives his or her high-fives, and MatPat takes a moment to evaluate how realistic each game is -- and whether that really matters.
Is it any good?
Even if you don't have your own personal joystick, this MythBusters for the computer-gaming world is a gas -- and sneaks science and media-literacy lessons in, too. Matthew Patrick and his gaming friends are clearly having a great time as they vault over blocks, swing swords, and defuse bombs, and it's infectious, not to mention interesting. Can you really leap between two buildings with a single bound? Wriggle through an air vent? Conduct battles from the back of an ostrich? With help from experts in explosives, parkour, and many other game-friendly disciplines, MatPat and company gamely give it a shot.
But MatPat's Game Lab rises above Jackass-style stunt-pranks by taking time to analyze two crucial questions: How do the games stack up to reality? And are the gamers as good in real life as they are when they have a controller in their hands? By giving viewers a little to chew on, Patrick proves to be a savvy commentator who makes you feel smarter by watching.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how the gamers on MatPat's Game Lab show perseverance and courage by trying out stunts they've seen in games. Why are these important character strengths?
MatPat and his gamer guests sometimes perform stunts that could hurt them. Does that make you nervous? Does the show go far enough to warn viewers not to try the stunts at home? Does that warning even work?
At the end of each episode, MatPat sums up what was learned by trying out a game in real life. Does that enhance your appreciation of playing or detract from it? Do you have to have played a game to enjoy seeing it deconstructed? Should games be realistic, or is it OK with you if it veers toward the fantastic or unrealistic?
TV details
- Premiere date: June 5, 2016
- Cast: Matthew Patrick
- Network: YouTube
- Genre: Reality TV
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance
- TV rating: NR
- Available on: Streaming
- Last updated: June 19, 2019
Character Strengths
For kids who love experiments
Our editors recommend
Top advice and articles
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
Streaming options powered by JustWatch