Gaming

Games are rated 3, 7, 12, 16 and 18 so you can easily see which ones are suited for your age. You can also look at the game’s content descriptors. These tell you more about the kind of things that you will see in a video game, such as violence and fear (horror).

Games with a higher age rating are more likely to contain bad language, violence or other adult content.

In the UK it is against the law to sell games with the highest age ratings (PEGI 12, 16 and 18) to anyone younger than those respective ages but it is not illegal for you to play them.

You can look at the PEGI website for more information on the age ratings and content descriptors.

Different parents/carers will have different opinions about whether their child should be allowed to play certain games. If your parent/carer isn’t happy with you playing a certain game, it is because they want to protect you, not because they want to deliberately ruin your gaming experience. Try explaining to them why you want to play the game and what you think you can gain from it but remember that it’s ultimately their decision.

There is no strong evidence to suggest that playing video games is bad for your health. In fact, some games can give you great experiences because of their exciting storylines or through puzzles that engage your brain. They can also be a good way to take a break from schoolwork or things that are causing you stress.

However, it is important to think about how playing video games makes you feel – if playing a game is causing you to worry, feel frustrated or stressed, then it might be time to take a break. It’s also important to balance the time you spend gaming with more physical activities away from the console.

Finally, you should think carefully about what time of the day you play games – playing games late at night could interrupt some well needed sleep.

Many young people tell us that playing and chatting with other people is an important part of their gaming experience. To stay safe, keep chat focussed on the gameplay, avoid sharing personal information and keep in mind that not everyone online is who they say they are. Remember that you can choose to stop talking to another player if they are making you feel uncomfortable in any way.

If someone is trying to offend, humiliate, threaten, harass or abuse you when playing a game online, then this is a form of bullying and is never your fault. ‘Banter’ can quickly turn into something more hurtful and many young people tell us that this can ruin their gaming experience.

You shouldn’t respond to the bully. If it has happened on a chat feature, take a picture of the hurtful comments and, if you are able to, report the harassment to the game’s administrators. If someone is harassing you through your headphones, you can usually mute them.

Make sure you also block that player and tell someone that you trust about what has happened. When you feel ready to, go back to playing the game that you love – a small few try to ruin gaming for people but there are plenty of other players who will play with you respectfully.

There are extra features in games that can be bought with real money and many young people tell us that these can make their gaming experience more enjoyable. However, it can be easy to spend more money than you should or want to.

Remember that games are often designed to encourage players to spend money and can be very clever at tempting you with small purchases. Always ask yourself “Do I really need this?” before making a purchase and give yourself time to make a decision before buying.

PlayStation, XBOX, Nintendo, tablets and most smartphones all have ways for you to better control your spending. If these features are not already set up, you may want to speak with your parent and carer about using them.

If you are feeling upset or uncomfortable because of another player, you should report their behaviour (if possible on the game) and block them.

If the game itself worries you (for example, because of the content) then think carefully about whether it’s a game that you want to continue playing.

Gaming should be a positive and enjoyable experience – if a certain game stops being enjoyable for you, it is okay to turn it off and do something else that you enjoy. It’s also important to speak to someone you trust such as a close friend or a parent / carer.