A parent’s guide to Roblox

May 20 2024, 7:40

Oleh Cielolew

Slay dragons. Race cars. Solve a mystery. Rule the school. If you can dream it, you can play it – or build it – in Roblox .

Millions of kids spend their free time on this hugely popular gaming platform, exploring or crafting games with friends. But what should parents know about this wide-ranging world? We’ve got answers to your most pressing questions.

What exactly do you do in Roblox?

There are two sides to Roblox : playing and building.

Your onscreen avatar can jump into vibrant 3D games that span just about every genre – racing, adventure, combat, you name it.

You can also build new worlds entirely from scratch using Roblox ’s robust tools. This requires a Mac or PC and the free Roblox Studio, which lets kids create their own Roblox worlds and learn the fundamentals of coding, game design and 3D graphics.

Deliver pizza? Raise a pet? Roblox turns prosaic experiences into fun, social games.

What are the experiences like?

Adopt Me!, one of the most popular games, lets kids raise virtual pets and decorate a house. Super Striker League is a fast-paced version of soccer with playful power-ups.

In Royale High , explore a sprawling town and meet new friends at a magical high school. Work at a Pizza Place has you deliver the virtual pies you’ve baked.

And that’s just scratching the surface. There are thousands to play through.

Is the content appropriate for children?

The majority of Roblox games are family-friendly, but some, like the popular shooter Base Wars , are designed for players 13 and older . Because blood and gore is not part of the official Roblox toolset, there’s very little of it on the platform. However, it is possible to find objectionable content in non-curated games. (See below.)

How do I restrict the content my kids have access to?

Head to the Security section in the settings menu. Enable account restrictions and your child will only be able to access content Roblox has deemed kid-friendly.

Can my kids connect with strangers through the game?

Users can communicate via in-game messages that are broadcast to everyone in a game, as well as direct messages among friends. Built-in filters are designed to block offensive language. Your child’s name and email address are never made public.

You can limit who is allowed to contact your child – or turn off chat and messaging altogether – by going to the Privacy section of the settings menu.

Popular games like Super Striker League have no up-front costs.

How much does Roblox cost?

Roblox is free to download, and most of the games on the platform are free.

Devoted players can unlock additional content and features through a monthly subscription, and some games let you purchase items like pets, clothes, and cars using Robux, the currency of the Roblox universe. You purchase Robux in the app, or earn them by completing certain activities.

How do I keep an eye on what my kids are doing in Roblox?

Log in to your children’s accounts on Roblox.com to see what games they’ve recently played, their friends list, the messages they’ve sent and received, and the purchases they’ve made.

But a more playful way to get a sense of what your kids are up to is to create your own account, jump in, and experience the game alongside them. Whether you’re hatching chickens, casting spells, or hunting dinosaurs, there are nearly endless opportunities for fun family bonding.

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