Video Games and Responsible Parenting – Video Games are not (only) for Kids

You are wrong if you think that “games are for kids”. Majority of video games are not made for children. Just like any form of entertainment, video games tend to various audiences. There are games for kids, though. There are games for teens and mature audiences. There are games with mature content. Some of them have that Pixar/Nintendo quality of being good for everyone, but most of them don’t.

Blaming video-game makers for making something not suitable for children is an excuse for being a bad parent. Just like you know the difference between Disney and Tarantino or Ladybug and Playboy, you should know the difference between “Donkey Kong” and “Mortal Kombat”. It is your responsibility to educate yourself about the suitability of the games your child is interested in and decide how to act on it.

You should be worried about violence. But not ONLY violence

While most parents are mainly concerned about the violence in video games, which is why some catch a lot of flak, that is far from the only mature thing about them. “The Legend of Zelda” games feature cartoonish, toned-down violence, but can get scary as hell. “Catherine” is a game that plays like an old school arcade puzzler, but tells an extremely adult-oriented story about love and relationships in cut-scenes, tempting the player into making tough, morally ambiguous decisions.

There is a version of “Heavy Rain” with teen-rated violence, but that doesn’t avoid the fact that the narrative tackles tough subjects including loss of a child and drug addiction in a way many teens will find both disturbing and hard to understand.

How to evaluate the game for it’s content

If it was to me, there are two things I would pay attention to:

1) Game maturity ratings.

There are designated rating systems such as ESRB and PEGI that classify all games for the maturity of their content and they are doing a really good job. Game’s cover usually features one general rating sticker (usually E for everyone, T for teen or M for mature audiences), while the backside of the box reveals more information on why the game was given that rating.

When planning a game purchase, you can visit the ESRB’s website and search for a game to reveal more details on the rating, with detailed descriptions of the things you may or may not be concerned when making a decision about buying the game for your kid. Their smartphone app is a great tool for reviewing this data on the go.

2) Game’s IMDB page for in-depth tips provided by parents.

One of the most amazing lesser-known features of IMDB is its fantastic community of parents creating comprehensive parental guides not only for movies, but also for other types of entertainment – games included. Search for a game on IMDB, and look for the “parent’s guide” in the “Quick links” section on the right side.

Short ESRB experts’ opinions are great in most cases, but if you are looking for even more information on what a game your kid wants to play contains, other parents’ experiences on IMDB will probably be what you need. The reviews are also great in warning you about certain scenes that are not covered in maturity ratings, but may be disturbing or inappropriate for kids with specific personalities, or families with certain religious preferences.

However, content is not the only thing you should be concerned about

Online interactions and violent content are things most people are worried about, but some games that are suitable for kids on paper are simply meant to be played by adults. The amazing 2008 platformer “Braid”, for instance, is rated E10+, but deals with mature subjects and presents mind-warping puzzles that are out of most youngsters’ comprehension. “Legend of Zelda” games are rated mostly E10+, but their most unpleasant moments can give your kids serious nightmares.

The best thing you can do? Gaming with your children.

As with every other piece of entertainment content out there, being there to give parental guidance to your kid while they consume it is by far the most responsible way. There is no switch, timer or slider that can replace a careful parent by his or her side. If you are there to curate the content and provide the context and explanation, you can even slip a carefully selected slice of a game slightly above their maturity rating from time to time. It will make them feel respected as adults and create bonding moments. Being with your little ones while they play online will also help you protect them without making them isolated.