MeepCity

This virtual world's design is more nuanced than some Roblox games, and kids have a few tasks to keep them occupied -- but without spending some cash, they may run out of things to do before long. Kids can plant a flower in MeepCity, for instance, and check back in a few hours to see if it has bloomed. They also receive some free items to decorate their home. There are a lot of pushes to buy things, though, and it soon becomes clear that aspect is going to be a significant part of the game. Purchasing a Meep will pretty much wipe out the amount of currency you start out with. Kids are given money periodically just for playing -- but the amount, 50 coins at a time, doesn't add up fast, considering how a number of items are priced. An upgraded home, for instance, costs 1000 coins. You can fish and sell your catch to make some money, but you'll need to have enough coins to purchase a rod first.

Aside from decorating your home with some free items, fixing it up with purchases, and adopting a Meep, there doesn't appear to be a lot to do in the game. Meeps provide companionship, but don't really seem to offer much excitement. As kids wait for the coins they receive to accumulate so they can buy things, they may just end up walking around aimlessly and chatting with other users. Figuring out how to speak directly to other people you encounter is a little confusing. Kids can easily hop on a chat between all players that's going on constantly in a window that appears on the screen, though -- and while swears are blocked, that conversation isn't always kid-friendly. People tell each other to shut up, for example, and sometimes argue. While younger users might enjoy customizing an avatar and checking out the various areas at least once, parents may ultimately feel the contact with strangers and emphasis on spending real-world cash makes MeepCity a place kids probably don't need to visit.