Ten Ton Hamster

The number of games you can play grows more every day! Now more than ever it pays to be smart when you shop, and when you borrow games, too. Don't rely on your friends' advice - ask your parents if you aren't sure, and find the best games to play for your age.

There is a special group called the ESRB - Entertainment Software Rating Board - who take the time to review each and every game with their rating put onto it to keep kids safe. What you and your parents decide you should play is what is best for you at every age - as you get older this might change but it is important to remember these guidelines are there to keep you safe and happy in games. Games for an older audience may show things no one should see, or be too tough to play and frustrating to understand.

Unfortunately, not ALL games sold in North America require this rating. The system is voluntary which means you might be playing a game that has not been rated. If you feel a game is too tough to play or too mature for you, let your parents know so that they can share that information with your friends' parents, too.

The best thing to do if you find a game to play that has no rating is to let your parents or an older brother or sister take a look at it first. Ask what they think. Many MMOGs online for play right now do not have ratings. Some are great for kids! Many are not, because they have free or open chat in which people can say anything. Mean things. Rude things. Even dangerous things. Stay away from games like this. They aren't fun if anyone is being insulted or kids can be in danger. With hundreds of games to choose from, let's give our support to the ones who get rated and stay safe.

Here are the types of ratings you can find on the games rated by the ESRB, as described on their Official Website:

RATING PENDING
Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. (This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game's release.)

EARLY CHILDHOOD
Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

EVERYONE
Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.

EVERYONE 10+
Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.

TEEN
Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.

MATURE
Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older.

ADULTS ONLY
Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older.

If you see a friend playing a game rated M or Ao, perhaps suggest to them they play a game made for kids their own age. Games that are rated E, E10+ and even some T games are the right level of content and skills needed for kids these days. With so many to choose from, you'll never run out of things to play and you and your parents will be happy with your smart choices!