A video game’s age rating tells you about the game’s content. It doesn’t tell you who your child will talk to online or what they’ll be asked to buy. This guide covers how to read ratings, what fits each stage from elementary through high school, and the console settings that cover what ratings don’t.
The short version: E and E10+ games, played offline or with friends only, suit most elementary schoolers. Teen-rated games like Fortnite and Roblox need settings and conversation. Mature-rated games are rated for 17 and up.[1][5]
Fast Facts About Video Game Ratings
- The ESRB’s ratings run from E for Everyone to M for Mature 17+ and AO for Adults Only 18+.[1]
- A rating covers the game’s content. The label “Users Interact” warns that players may see unfiltered content and messages from other people.[1]
- The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents of 5- to 10-year-olds to avoid Teen-rated games.[5]
- Fortnite and Roblox are both rated T for Teen, and Minecraft is rated E10+.[2][3][4]
- Gaming time among children 8 and under rose 65% between 2020 and 2025.[13]
How to Read a Video Game Rating
In the US and Canada, games carry an ESRB rating. Each rating has three parts: an age category, content descriptors that explain what earned it, and interactive elements that flag online features.[1]
| Rating | Suitable for | May contain |
|---|---|---|
| E (Everyone) | All ages | Minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, infrequent mild language |
| E10+ (Everyone 10+) | Ages 10 and up | More cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, minimal suggestive themes |
| T (Teen) | Ages 13 and up | Violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, infrequent strong language |
| M (Mature 17+) | Ages 17 and up | Intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, strong language |
| AO (Adults Only 18+) | Adults only | Prolonged intense violence, graphic sexual content, gambling with real money |
All rating definitions above are the ESRB’s own.[1]
What a Rating Doesn’t Cover
The online parts of a game change from day to day, so the ESRB flags them with interactive elements instead of rating them:[1]
- Users Interact: possible exposure to unfiltered content from other players, including chat and shared media
- In-Game Purchases: offers to buy digital items or currency with real money
- In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items): paid items where your child doesn’t know what they’ll get, such as loot boxes
- Shares Location: the game can show your child’s location to other users
- Unrestricted Internet: the game includes open access to the internet
Platforms full of user-made games get one more warning. The ESRB gives Roblox the descriptor “Diverse Content: Discretion Advised,” meaning some of what’s available may not suit all ages.[3]
Ratings for Popular Games
| Game | ESRB rating | App Store (US) | What to set up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft | E10+: Fantasy Violence, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases[4] | 9+[14] | Multiplayer and chat in your child’s Microsoft account |
| Fortnite | T: Violence, Suggestive Themes, Lyrics, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases[2] | 13+[15] | Epic parental controls: chat, purchase PIN, island rating limit |
| Roblox | T: Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)[3] | 13+[16] | A linked parent account, age check and chat settings |
Before buying a game, you can look up its rating summary on the ESRB’s website, which describes what’s in the game in plain language.[8]
Video Games by Age
Elementary School (Ages 5 to 10)
Many kids fall for video games and YouTube at this age, and they can easily reach content that isn’t right for them.[5] The American Academy of Pediatrics advises:[5]
- Avoid Teen-rated games, which have more gore and sexual content.
- Read reviews before you buy, and play new games together to see whether you like the messages and behavior they show.
- Use family settings and parental controls, which help even though they aren’t 100% effective.
- Put devices away at bedtime, and keep screens from becoming the default when homework gets frustrating.
What fits: E and E10+ games. Online play off, or limited to friends you know. Purchases need your approval.
Middle School (Ages 11 to 13)
This is often when Teen-rated games and online friends arrive. For young teens, the AAP suggests:[6]
- Checking ratings and reviews of games, and asking your child to be part of the process.
- Keeping phones and gaming devices out of the bedroom at night, because they’re linked with poor sleep.
- Teaching your child to use do-not-disturb or focus mode during school, homework and bedtime.
What fits: E10+ games, and Teen games case by case with settings in place. Chat limited to friends. Talk often about who they meet online, and about what to do if a new online friend asks to switch to another app. That move is a common warning sign of grooming.
High School (Ages 14 to 17)
Teens get more independence as they show they can handle it. The AAP advises keeping phones and gaming devices out of the bedroom at night, and watching for problematic media use: use that is compulsive, interferes with friendships or leads to frequent arguments.[7]
What fits: Teen-rated games, with your teen involved in setting the rules. Mature-rated games are rated for 17 and up, so playing them younger is a family decision.[1] Keep an eye on spending and on voice chat with strangers.
Take the Game Danger Check
Twelve yes-or-no questions about the game your child plays most: its rating, its settings and who your child plays with. You’ll see your result right away, and it’s emailed to you too.
Parental Controls on Every Console
Every major console has free controls for the things ratings don’t cover: time, spending and who can contact your child.
| Console | Where | What you can control |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 | Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app | Daily play time limits, which games can be played by ESRB rating, communication with other players, posting screenshots to social media, and spending on the Nintendo eShop[9] |
| Xbox and Windows | Xbox Family Settings app, or account.microsoft.com/family | Screen time, content filters, online purchases, and who can communicate with your child. Kids can request access to content, and you approve or decline it.[10] |
| PlayStation | PlayStation Family app | Playtime limits for each day of the week, age restrictions, spending, and approval requests for extra playtime, restricted games or in-game communication[11] |
Games with their own accounts, like Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft, have their own settings on top of the console’s. Our Roblox parental controls guide walks through one game setting by setting.
Warning Signs Gaming Is Becoming a Problem
Most kids who love games are fine. The World Health Organization says gaming disorder affects only a small proportion of people who play.[12] It defines the disorder by three features, usually present for at least 12 months:[12]
- Trouble controlling how much or how often they play
- Gaming taking priority over other interests and daily activities
- Continuing or playing more even after it causes problems
Video games can be designed to keep players going for hours at a time.[5] If you’re worried, our video game addiction test takes a few minutes, and our guide to screen time by age covers how to set limits that hold.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does E10+ mean?
E10+ means Everyone 10 and older. The ESRB says the content is generally suitable for ages 10 and up and may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language or minimal suggestive themes.[1]
What does a T rating mean for a video game?
T means Teen: generally suitable for ages 13 and up. Teen games may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and infrequent strong language.[1]
What video games are appropriate for an 8-year-old?
E- and E10+-rated games are the usual fit, ideally played offline or with friends you know. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises avoiding Teen-rated games for children 5 to 10.[1][5]
Do ESRB ratings cover online chat?
No. A rating covers the game’s content. Online features are flagged with labels instead. “Users Interact” means your child may see unfiltered content and messages from other players.[1]
What age is Fortnite for?
Fortnite is rated T for Teen, generally suitable for ages 13 and up, and the App Store lists it at 13+. Younger players start in a Cabined Account with chat and purchases off. See our Fortnite age rating guide.[1][2][15]
What age is Roblox for?
Roblox is rated T for Teen with Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, and the App Store lists it at 13+. Roblox gives younger children separate, more limited account types. See our Roblox age rating guide.[3][16]
Are online games safe for kids?
They can be, with settings in place. A rating covers the game’s content but not chat with strangers or in-game spending, and every major console and popular game has controls for both.[1][9][10][11]
Related Guides
- Is Minecraft Safe for Kids?
- Fortnite Age Rating and Safety
- Roblox Age Rating and Safety
- Roblox Parental Controls
- iPhone and iPad Parental Controls
- Screen Time for Kids by Age
- Kids Online Safety
Sources
- Entertainment Software Rating Board. (n.d.). Ratings Guide.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board. (n.d.). Fortnite Battle Royale.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board. (n.d.). What Parents Need to Know About Roblox.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board. (n.d.). Minecraft.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024). Kids and screen time: 5 C’s questions for school-age children. HealthyChildren.org.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024). Kids and screen time: The 5 C’s questions for young teens. HealthyChildren.org.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024). Kids and screen time: The 5 C’s questions for older teens. HealthyChildren.org.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board. (n.d.). Search ESRB game ratings.
- Nintendo. (n.d.). Parental Controls.
- Xbox. (n.d.). Xbox Family Hub.
- Sony Interactive Entertainment. (n.d.). The PlayStation Family app.
- World Health Organization. (n.d.). Addictive behaviours: Gaming disorder.
- Common Sense Media. (2025, February 26). Digital childhood starts at age two: Landmark study shows evolution of young children’s media use.
- Apple. (n.d.). Minecraft on the App Store (age rating 9+). Accessed October 2, 2026.
- Apple. (n.d.). Fortnite on the App Store (age rating 13+). Accessed October 2, 2026.
- Apple. (n.d.). Roblox on the App Store (age rating 13+). Accessed October 2, 2026.