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Parents' Guide to

RuneScape

By Jean Armour Polly, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Medieval multiplayer game isn't for all kids.

Website http://www.runescape.com/
RuneScape Poster Image

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Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 51 parent reviews

aeslin
aeslin Adult
April 7, 2012
age 18+

21 + game since the addition of the Squeal of Fortune

The game has this new wheel added that has flashy lights and such, and they encourage you to buy more spins without having to reenter your credit card information. This could lead a parent who has signed their child up for a paid membership to go into debt before they realize it. It looks like promoting gambling to me, yes I understand all sorts of moral things in the game, but this one charges real money and has a limit of spending $200 per day. They say it is not gambling because you win a prize everytime. Others argue that the items have no real value outside of the game. If you don't want your child begging you for more spins or have unsuspecting charges on your credit card, I would no recommend this site for anyone under 21 or for anyone with habitual tendencies.
loves_coffee
loves_coffee Adult
March 3, 2011
age 17+
Jagex (runescape) changed since Febr. 1th. The filter was removed and I can see cybering/more than bad language in game. Changing the wildy gave luring, scamming, pj-ing and is allowed by Jagex. Jagex even made a t-shirt: I pk-ed ur mom. It turned from a safe into a bad game. If you like dishonesty, lack of ethics, competing against 1000's of botters you might like this game. It is absolutely not suitable for 16 yr and younger and not fun to play for the adults who seek for fair play.
See all 51 parent reviews

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What’s It About?

Before you enter RuneScape's virtual world, you'll have to be trained on Tutorial Island, where you learn a few essential skills such as fire making, fishing, cooking, mining, slaying monsters, and throwing spells. Once you've completed the tutorial phase, you're free to wander anywhere you like. You may be sent on a quest to find ingredients for a cake, or you may be asked to go on a spy mission. Successful completion of a quest brings a reward. Two versions of RuneScape are offered: one is free, while the other requires a paid subscription of a few dollars per month. Paid members get access to additional lands, skills, and quests. In the game, avatars represent players. You choose your avatar's appearance from a limited selection. As you watch the movements of other players' avatars, you'll notice many have rich clothing or heavy armor. Items can be won, bought, or traded with other players.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (51 ):
Kids say (139 ):

Teens and tweens, especially boys, will be fascinated by this role-playing game. But parents should look over their shoulders and see what's really going on. Is the player slaying dragons or other humans? It is possible to play this fascinating game without the murder and mayhem, so RuneScape gets a cautionary yellow for "know your kid."

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

  • Families can also talk about online chat. Should parents give kids under age 13 permission to use the site's full chat features? Why or why not?

Website Details

  • Genre: Gaming
  • Pricing structure: Free
  • Last updated: November 15, 2019

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