If you have a gamer in the house, do you know exactly what they are playing?

video game review

Since you can only gather so much from the box cover or screenshots, you may feel in the dark about the games that consume so much of their time and attention.

And if you aren’t a gamer yourself (or, in fact, “hate video games”), you are definitely not very likely to play it for a few hours to get the feel of it.

So you try Googling “game reviews.” Whoa.

Suddenly you are plunged into a world of game fanatics (because “enthusiasts” is way too tame.) Most of these sites are geared toward those trying to pick the next third-person shooter or simulation.

Fortunately for the non-gamer moms and dads, there are a few places you can turn to get the best video game reviews and insights specifically aimed at parents.

Video Game Rating Systems

Before diving into the in-depth reviews, you can usually just check the ratings assigned to the game as a starting point.

It is important to understand that these ratings were not assigned after reviewers played the game for hours. Usually, the rating was chosen based on the information the company chose to share with the ratings board. Still, it can give you a heads-up as you decide on the game’s appropriateness for your kids.

Here in the U.S., the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) maintains a system for educating “consumers, especially parents” by offering guidance and information about each game. The rating system includes a basic rating (six categories from Early Childhood to Adults Only), content descriptions, and a list of interactive elements.

Great Britain maintains a similar, age-bracketed system called the Pan European Game Information (PEGI). Australia has its own Classification Board.

It also bears noting that the ESRB and most other rating systems are clear that they don’t, or can’t, rate the online, interactive elements of a game. This would include a chat feature where gamers can communicate via text or speech.

Video Game Review Sites

Going beyond a simple rating, video game reviews for parents can better guide us to make the best decisions for our families. Here are five video game review sites to reference.

CommonSenseMedia game reviews

One of the best review resources for all things media, CommonSenseMedia has some of the most detailed reviews on video and mobile games.

For each game, you can see a “star rating” broken down into multiple categories (positive message, violence, sexual content, consumerism, etc.) Reviews also include a section on specific things parents should know about the game, and a list of practical suggestions in the “Families can talk about…” section.

PixelKin

A good portion of this site is gaming news, such as new releases and announcements for the gamers. But there are really solid reviews on a range of games.

This source also has a bunch of ways to sort and filter to see the games that are the most relevant, including by gaming system, genre, or age. A search tool at the top also helps you find a specific game.

 

AskAboutGames

Use the search box at the top to find a lot of articles and reviews about specific games. They also publish stories about families and their experience with games and gaming.

Check out the Advice tab at the top for some great parent guides to popular games as well as weekly “top chart” articles that list current games and their ratings. Based in Britain, they reference the PEGI system in their reviews.

PluggedIn

Produced by Christian organization Focus on the Family, PluggedIn is best known for their movie reviews. They also have a good number of reviews of current and popular games. The reviews are more narrative than the bullet points or sliding scales you would get in the other sites, but some parents may prefer the thoughtful, detailed reviews you’ll find here.

Everybody Plays

Also based in Britain, Everybody Plays offers a good set of articles, guides, and reviews. They have a handy Game Finder feature allowing you to turn filters on and off to find appropriate video games based on various criteria.

The reviews themselves are detailed and geared toward gamers, not parents. Many of the reviews, however, have a link (at the very bottom) to a well-written parent’s guide. Here, they offer helpful descriptions, and they weigh in on the mature content and the ease of play for the game.

You don’t have to play the video game to learn it

Sometimes digital parenting is more about educating yourself than immersing yourself in the same world where your children live. If you aren’t a gamer, or like me, you grew up playing very different games than those our kids are playing, you may feel like you’ll never really know what they are up to on their Xbox or PS4.

Ask them about their games. Be interested in the story that the game is telling. Seek out why it is so enjoyable to them. Or ask them why they think they want that game so badly.

Then, use the sites and tools you now have to dig a little deeper. A little knowledge goes a long way in making good choices about your kids’ media.

What are your experiences when it comes to the games your children play? Any other tools you’ve found helpful?

21 Responses

  1. На данном сайте АвиаЛавка (AviaLavka) вы можете купить дешевые авиабилеты по всему миру.
    Мы подбираем лучшие цены от надежных авиакомпаний.
    Простой интерфейс поможет быстро подобрать подходящий рейс.
    Авиабилеты Прямой Рейс
    Интеллектуальный фильтр помогает выбрать самые дешевые варианты перелетов.
    Бронируйте билеты в пару кликов без скрытых комиссий.
    АвиаЛавка — ваш надежный помощник в поиске авиабилетов!

  2. На данном сайте вы можете купить лайки и фолловеров для Instagram. Это позволит повысить вашу известность и заинтересовать больше людей. Мы предлагаем моментальное добавление и надежный сервис. Выбирайте подходящий тариф и продвигайте свой аккаунт легко и просто.
    Накрутка просмотров рилс в Инстаграм

  3. Центр ментального здоровья — это пространство, где каждый может найти поддержку и профессиональную консультацию.
    Специалисты работают с разными запросами, включая повышенную тревожность, эмоциональное выгорание и депрессивные состояния.
    http://etheridgecompany.biz/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=empathycenter.ru%2Fpreparations%2Fo%2Fokskarbazepin%2F
    В центре используются современные методы лечения, направленные на улучшение эмоционального баланса.
    Здесь организована безопасная атмосфера для доверительного диалога. Цель центра — помочь каждого клиента на пути к душевному равновесию.

  4. На этом сайте представлена полезная информация о лечении депрессии, в том числе у пожилых людей.
    Здесь можно найти методы диагностики и советы по улучшению состояния.
    http://adw.email/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=empathycenter.ru%2Farticles%2Fniktofobiya-krayniy-strakh-nochi-ili-temnoty%2F
    Особое внимание уделяется возрастным изменениям и их связи с психическим здоровьем.
    Также рассматриваются эффективные терапевтические и психологические методы поддержки.
    Материалы помогут разобраться, как правильно подходить к депрессией в пожилом возрасте.

  5. Центр ментального здоровья — это место, где каждый может получить поддержку и квалифицированную консультацию.
    Специалисты работают с различными проблемами, включая стресс, эмоциональное выгорание и психологический дискомфорт.
    https://bifold-doors40593.blogminds.com/not-known-facts-about-marketing-30266932
    В центре применяются эффективные методы лечения, направленные на улучшение внутренней гармонии.
    Здесь создана безопасная атмосфера для доверительного диалога. Цель центра — помочь каждого обратившегося на пути к душевному равновесию.

  6. Its such as you learn my mind! You seem to grasp so much approximately this, like you wrote the e book in it or something.
    I think that you simply could do with some % to
    power the message house a bit, however other than that,
    this is wonderful blog. A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.

  7. На данном сайте вы можете приобрести виртуальные телефонные номера различных операторов. Эти номера подходят для регистрации аккаунтов в различных сервисах и приложениях.
    В каталоге представлены как долговременные, так и одноразовые номера, которые можно использовать чтобы принять SMS. Это простое решение для тех, кто не хочет указывать личный номер в сети.
    виртуальный номер
    Оформление заказа очень простой: определяетесь с подходящий номер, оплачиваете, и он сразу будет доступен. Попробуйте сервис прямо сейчас!

  8. Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to your blog before but
    after browsing through some of the articles I realized
    it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll
    be book-marking it and checking back frequently!

  9. Good day very cool blog!! Man .. Excellent ..
    Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds
    also? I’m glad to search out so many helpful information right here
    within the submit, we need develop more techniques
    in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  10. Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide credit and
    sources back to your website? My blog is in the exact same area
    of interest as yours and my visitors would really benefit from a lot of the information you provide here.
    Please let me know if this ok with you.
    Thanks!

  11. I’m curious to find out what blog system you’re
    using? I’m experiencing some small security issues with my latest website and I would like to find something more secure.

    Do you have any suggestions?

  12. I blog often and I truly thank you for your content.
    Your article has really peaked my interest. I’m
    going to bookmark your website and keep checking for new information about once per week.

    I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.

  13. Magnificent items from you, man. I’ve keep in mind your stuff prior to and you’re just extremely magnificent.
    I actually like what you’ve acquired right here, certainly like what you’re saying
    and the best way by which you are saying it. You make
    it enjoyable and you continue to take care of to keep it smart.
    I can not wait to learn far more from you. That is really a great
    web site.

  14. My brother suggested I might like this web site.
    He was totally right. This post truly made my day.
    You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this info!
    Thanks!

  15. Hi there would you mind letting me know which web host you’re using?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this blog
    loads a lot faster then most. Can you recommend a good web hosting provider at a reasonable price?
    Cheers, I appreciate it!

  16. На данном сайте вы можете приобрести виртуальные телефонные номера разных операторов. Эти номера могут использоваться для подтверждения аккаунтов в различных сервисах и приложениях.
    В каталоге представлены как постоянные, так и временные номера, которые можно использовать для получения SMS. Это простое решение для тех, кто не хочет использовать основной номер в сети.
    как зарегистрироваться в ватсапе без номера телефона
    Процесс покупки максимально простой: выбираете необходимый номер, вносите оплату, и он сразу становится готов к использованию. Попробуйте услугу прямо сейчас!

  17. Please help! I’m looking for parent reviews & age minimum for Trapper’s Delight. I’ve searched on all your featured sites & nothing comes up. Thanks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *