Game Safety Checklist for Parents

By the Setlifestyle editorial team · Last updated 2 November 2026

A bright, cartoon-style icon does not tell you whether a game is right for your child. Some of the friendliest-looking games let players chat with strangers, show frequent ads or nudge children toward spending money. Others are genuinely gentle and can be enjoyed in short, supervised sessions. The difference is rarely visible on the home screen, so it helps to run through a short checklist before you press Install. This guide walks through that checklist using real examples from the games we cover.

Start with the age rating and the content notes

Every game on Google Play shows an age rating, such as 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ or 18+ depending on your region, together with short notes about what earned that rating, for example cartoon violence, scary themes or in-app purchases. Read those notes rather than only the number. A game can be rated for young children and still include features you want to discuss first.

Two examples show why context matters. Hungry Shark Evolution uses a bright cartoon style, but the premise involves sharks eating fish and people, so some parents will prefer to wait until a child is older. Among Us has no realistic graphics, yet its whole idea is hidden roles, pretend eliminations and accusing other players of lying. Neither game is automatically unsuitable, but both deserve a conversation before the first match. Our listing pages mention points like these in the sections on who a game suits and on age suitability.

Find out who your child can talk to

For most families, the most important question is not what a game shows but who it connects. Ask three things. Can players send text messages? Can they add friends or join public lobbies? Can they share names, photos or links?

Games differ widely here. Sky: Children of the Light is built around meeting other players, using gestures and, once you become friends, text chat. Minecraft offers multiplayer servers and a paid private-server service, and public servers can include players of any age. Among Us has chat in public lobbies, although private lobbies with friends are available. By contrast, single-player games such as Alto’s Odyssey or Cut the Rope involve little or no contact with strangers. For a young child, look for settings that limit chat to preset phrases or switch it off, and prefer private games with people you know.

Look at how the game earns money

Free games are paid for by advertising, in-app purchases or both. None of this is wrong in itself, but young children find it hard to tell a game’s rules from a sales message. Watch for countdown timers, limited-time offers, random reward packs and pop-ups that appear right after a child loses. EA SPORTS FC Mobile uses player packs with random contents, and Clash Royale uses chests and timers. We explain these designs in more detail in our guide to free-to-play games and spending limits, which you can find in the footer.

Use the controls already built into the phone

Google Play includes parental controls that you can manage through the Family Link app or the Play Store settings. In general, you can restrict apps and games by age rating, require approval before purchases and see which apps your child has installed. Menu names change from time to time, so search for parental controls in the Play Store help if you cannot find them.

Two settings deserve a place on every family phone. First, require authentication, such as a password, fingerprint or PIN, for every purchase, so that an accidental tap cannot buy anything. Second, avoid saving a payment card on a child’s device if you can, because approval-based purchases or a prepaid balance give you more control.

Play it yourself first

Spend ten or fifteen minutes in the game before your child does. You will quickly notice whether the levels feel friendly, how often ads appear, how often the game asks you to buy something and how easy it is to find chat. For a location-based game such as Pokémon GO, you will also see how strongly it encourages walking outdoors, which is a good reason to agree on rules about roads, strangers and going out alone. Playing together once also gives you shared words for later conversations.

Agree on simple rules

Rules work best when they are short, visible and agreed in advance. Many families settle on four:

• Time: a daily limit and a fixed stopping time before bed.
• Money: no purchases without asking, and no sharing of passwords or one-time codes.
• People: chat only with friends you know in real life, and tell a parent if anyone makes you uncomfortable.
• Breaks: stop for a stretch and some water after about an hour.

Children are more likely to follow rules they helped to write. Make it clear that they will not be punished for reporting a problem, because fear of losing the game is the main reason children hide trouble from adults.

No list replaces your own judgement about your own child. If you have a specific concern about a game, the developer’s support page and the Report option in the Play Store are the right places to raise it. This article is general information and not professional advice.