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Stephen Duetzmann

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that assigns ratings to video games based on their content. The ESRB rating system is designed to inform parents and consumers about the content and age-appropriateness of video games. The ratings range from “Early Childhood (which has since been retired) to “Adults Only” and are assigned based on factors such as violence, sexual content, and language. In this blog post, we will explain the ESRB rating system in more detail and provide tips for parents on how to use the ratings to make informed decisions about the video games their children play.

What Does the ESRB Stand For?

ESRB stands for the Entertainment Software Ratings Board.

What is the ESRB?

They are a non-profit organization that assigns content ratings and establishes advertising and privacy practices for the “software entertainment” (Read: video game) industry.

The History of the ESRB

Video games started with very simple graphics because of hardware and software limitations. The first home console was the Odyssey, which released in 1972. (source History.com) That changed over time as computers and consoles became much more powerful. Eventually, games like Doom, Wolfenstein, and Mortal Kombat were on store shelves. These games, and others like them, featured more realistic depictions of violence than ever before and it definitely ruffled feathers among parents, educators, and politicians around the globe. Up until this point the console manufacturers did their own ratings for the games on their platforms. This led to inconsistency and confusion among parents.

The US Congress took action in 1994 and introduced the Video Game Rating Act. Its listed purpose was “to provide parents with information about the nature of video games which are used in homes or public areas, including arcades or family entertainment centers.”

This by itself doesn’t sound bad, but video game companies immediately took action to present consistent rating information themselves in order to avoid handing the process off to the government. (It is worth noting here that the film industry did the same thing with the MPAA.)

First, the major players in the industry formed the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA). Then, the IDSA formed the ESRB later that same year with five rating categories and seventeen content descriptors. The goal was simple: to help consumers understand the content of the games they were buying and to help calm down the politicians. 

Why is the ESRB Important?

The ESRB is considered important because it helps to ensure that children are not exposed to inappropriate content by assigning ratings to video games based on their content. These ratings are prominently displayed on the game’s packaging and in digital storefronts, making it easy for parents and other consumers to determine whether a game is appropriate for children. The ESRB rating system assigns one of the following ratings to video games: Early Childhood, Everyone, Everyone 10+, Teen, Mature, Adults Only.

Additionally, the ESRB also provides detailed information about the content of a game on its website, including a content descriptor that indicates the specific types of content that prompted the rating. This information is intended to help consumers make more informed decisions about which games to buy.

Furthermore, the ESRB also offers an online service called “Privacy Certified” that helps developers to ensure that their games comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the ESRB Privacy Certified program requirements. This helps to protect children’s personal information from being collected and shared without their parents’ consent.

In summary, the ESRB is considered important because it helps to ensure that children are not exposed to inappropriate content, it allows consumers to make informed decisions about which games to buy, and it also helps to protect children’s personal information when they play online games. 

How does the ESRB Enforce Its Rating System?

Technically, participation in the ESRB rating system is voluntary. However, all of the major console manufacturers (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo), as well as all major retailers require that the games they sell be rated. This applies enough pressure to ensure that just about any game your kids want to buy will have been rated.

The ratings themselves are based on self-reporting though. This means it is technically up to the manufacturers to send complete information regarding the contents of the game. Failing to do so triggers different processes within the ESRB depending on whether the game is digital or physical.

Digital games are straightforward. The ESRB can rapidly update the rating information. This has proven to be a sufficient deterrent. These changes would be obvious and traceable which would create a PR nightmare for the manufacturers, and no one wants that. 

Physical games are a different beast. Updating the rating information can be costly, and very confusing. The ESRB discourages this with sanctions and significant fines (That can be up to a million dollars!).

Advertisements and Marketing

The ESRB also has an Advertising Review Council (ARC) that ensures that accurate and appropriate rating information is displayed on the packaging and in marketing materials like trailers and ads.  Publishers that participate in the ESRB rating process are contractually obligated to follow “Principles and Guidelines for Responsible Advertising Practices.”

The Principles are general rules that publishers need to follow with their marketing. None of them should really surprise anyone. They include things like: 

  • A requirement that advertising accurately reflects the nature of the game and its rating. 
  • A requirement that advertising for a game rated T or M may not be targeted to younger audiences. 

The guidelines get much more specific and list content that needs to be avoided in marketing materials. Some of these guidelines include things like:

  • Graphic and/or excessive depictions of violence
  • Allusions or depictions of acts of verbal or physical abuse toward children
  • Allusions or depictions of acts of sexual violence
  • References to illicit drug use and/or depictions of illicit drugs and any accompanying paraphernalia. 

The ARC performs what they call “compliance reviews” for marketing materials to ensure that the principles and guidelines have been followed. One key thing to note is that they don’t just perform these reviews with consumers in mind. They make their assessments with their eyes on the broader general public because public sentiment is important for the industry as a whole and no one wants an advertising campaign for one game to potentially impact another one.

The ESRB Rating Process

The rating process is detailed on their website (which you can find here), but largely consists of a group of trained reviewers looking over written documentation, early builds, and video footage of the most extreme examples of the content in the game. The game developers need to be careful to include everything; the ESRB makes rating decisions based on all of the content included on the game disks. This even includes game data that is locked out and unavailable for play.

After the content is reviewed, each game is designated with one of six rating categories and is assigned content descriptors. These descriptors document what parts of the game are responsible for the rating or may be a point of concern for consumers.

ESRB rating is not mandatory. There is no state or federal mandate (currently) demanding that all games go through the process. However, most major retailers, like Wal-Mart and GameStop, will not carry a game that has not been rated by the ESRB so it is encouraged in order to help games be commercially viable.

The Two Different ESRB Rating Processes

There are two different rating processes that the ESRB uses to rate games. The process used depends on whether the game will be released on a physical disc on store shelves or if it will only be released digitally.

Physical Games

The long-form process starts when the game’s publisher submits two key pieces of data to the ESRB for review. They are (quoted directly from the ESRB website):

A completed ESRB online questionnaire detailing the game’s pertinent content, which essentially translates to anything that may factor into the game’s rating. This includes not only the content itself (violence, sexual content, language, controlled substances, gambling, etc.), but other relevant factors such as context, reward systems and the degree of player control; and a DVD that captures all pertinent content, including typical gameplay, missions, and cutscenes, along with the most extreme instances of content across all relevant categories. Pertinent content that is not playable (i.e., “locked out”) but will exist in the game code on the final game disc must also be disclosed.

Once this information is received a set of at least three ESRB raters review the content and they work together to decide what rating the game should be given. The ESRB staff will then review the information that the raters gave and might even do ANOTHER review to make sure there is parity between the recommendations.

Rating Summary

Shortly after this is completed the ESRB will generate a rating summary that goes into more detail and will include info about the contributing factors. This is where they get into the “why” behind the rating itself.

That rating is then returned to the publisher who has the opportunity to change the game to reduce their rating. If they choose to do so the process will start again. I would guess that HALO 5 went through a lot of these revisions as they deliberately went after a T rating.

Once the rating has been completed and the game is published the ESRB completes yet another review of the games to make sure that nothing snuck in and to ensure compliance with any of their changes. The packaging and the inserts are reviewed as well! (No stones are left unturned here!) A lot of the post-release review comes in the form of playtesting which is really similar to what we at EFG do when we review a game. They, however, are mainly focused on the content of the game and whether or not it matches up with what they were told in the pre-launch screening process.

Digital Games

The short form process is intended for games that will only be available for purchase online. It is aptly named as it consists mainly of a questionnaire that is made up of multiple-choice questions. The digital game’s publishers will answer questions similar to the above, but will also answer questions about location sharing, monetization, and if the user is granted unrestricted internet access through its use.  These responses are used to automatically generate the rating category, content descriptors,  and interactive elements.The short form process is intended for games that will only be available for purchase online. It is aptly named as it consists mainly of a questionnaire that is made up of multiple-choice questions. The digital game’s publishers will answer questions similar to the above, but will also answer questions about location sharing, monetization, and if the user is granted unrestricted internet access through its use.  These responses are used to automatically generate the rating category, content descriptors,  and interactive elements.


How Does the ESRB handle DLC?

Generally speaking, the rating of the “core product” applies to its DLC as well. However, publishers are expected to resubmit if it contains content that is different from the core game. 

The Four Parts of An ESRB Rating\

Rating Categories

This is the part we all know about. Each game reviewed by the ESRB is assigned a “Rating Category” that suggests its age appropriateness.

  • E (Everyone)
  • E10+ (Everyone 10+)
  • T (Teen)
  • M (Mature 17+)
  • AO (Adults only 18+)
  • RP (Rating Pending)

Content Descriptors

These descriptors are short phrases that identify what elements of the game caused an age rating to be assigned. Some examples might be Violence, Drug use, etc. These are, in my opinion, the most important part of the rating. Every family is different and every parent has different priorities regarding the kinds of content they want to let their kids see. These categories help with that!

Substances

  • Alchohol
  • Tobacco
  • Drugs

Blood/Gore

  • Animated Blood
  • Blood
  • Blood and Gore

Violence

  • Cartoon Violence
  • Fantasy Violence
  • Intense Violence
  • Violence
  • Violent References

Humor

  • Comic Mischief
  • Crude Humor
  • Mature Humor

Language

  • Language/Lyrics
  • Lyrics/Strong Lyrics

Nudity

  • Nudity
  • Partial Nudity

Gambling

  • Real vs Simulated

Sexuality

  • Sexual Content
  • Sexual Themes
  • Sexual Violence
  • Strong Sexual Content
  • Suggestive Themes

Interactive Elements

These are points of interest in the mechanics of a game that are noteworthy but don’t necessarily impact the age appropriateness of the game. Some examples of these types of elements are:

Online interactions

  • Online purchases
  • User information being available to other users

What if the ESRB Makes a Mistake?

Mistakes can absolutely happen in any system. This is especially true for any system that involves people. Fortunately, the ESRB has systems in place to make corrections in the event that a game hits retail with incorrect rating information. 

They also have processes in place to demand that a game be pulled from shelves in the event that the rating error was a result of a developer providing incomplete or misleading information

What if I disagree with the ESRB’s Rating of a Game?

The ESRB rating system doesn’t leave much room for interpretation on the part of the reviewers. They have a strict rubric for their ratings. It isn’t unreasonable to disagree with them though. I’ve gone on record as disagreeing with the ESRB’s rating of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. I feel pretty strongly that it should have been rated M instead of T based on the consistent adult language and a scene with strongly implied sexual violence.

They have a contact form on their website where you could ask questions about a rating. This would be a good opportunity to provide feedback if you have it.
The ESRB president, Patricia Vance, was on the What’s Good Games podcast and said pretty clearly that they intend for their ratings to be guidelines. They know that there will be differing opinions from house to house and even by region.

ESRB Rating Categories in Detail

ESRB E Rating Explained

This rating is fairly self-explanatory. The games themselves are generally appropriate for players of all ages.

They will contain no (or at the very worst: minimal) violence. Any violence that is depicted will be animated or fantasy violence. You might see Mario bouncing on a Koopa’s head, but you won’t see anything much more intense than that.

Most games that I would consider “family-friendly” will fall into this category by default. Board games, most mini-game collections, and most mascot platform games (eg: Mario and Sonic) fall here. Even the most conservative parents will have a hard time finding anything objectionable in these games. Many of them are tamer than an episode of Spongebob.

One thing that I need to stress is that ERSB ratings are rating the CONTENT. They do not rate difficulty. The perennial Madden series is a great example here. These games are rated E for Everyone. But, the game has a steep learning curve because it is a professional Football simulator. Most 5-6-year-olds would have a difficult time navigating the menus and playing the game even if the content itself is appropriate for them.

There used to be a rating category labeled EC for Early childhood, but it was retired in 2018. There just weren’t enough games in the category to justify it. Instead, these games are rolled up into the E rating. 

ESRB E 10+ Rating Explained

Games that are assigned the E 10+ rating by the ESRB contain content that should be suitable for children 10 years and older. The content is often described as “moderate impact.” These games may contain minimal cartoon or animated violence. There may also be animated blood, foul language, and minimal suggestive themes. This roughly translates to the video game equivalent of most Disney films. You might see a fight, but it won’t be any more impactful than most Saturday morning cartoons.

Many games in this category can be classified as family-friendly. As I mentioned above, these games are rated as equivalent to most Disney films. If you are a more conservative parent, then it is best to check the content descriptors used on the back of the game’s box or on ESRB.com. You can use those descriptors to make decisions about what content you might want to exclude and what you find acceptable. For example, you may be fine with mild cartoon violence but push a game aside because it contains mild language.

Trivia: This rating was implemented on October 1, 2004 by the ESRB. The first game ever given this rating was Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. (Who knew?)

ESRB T Rating Explained

Games with this rating may contain content that is suitable for people age 12 and older. It is worth noting, however, that there is no restriction for children under the age of 12 from purchasing these games without an adult. The content in these games is a step above games rated E 10+ in that they have a stronger impact and often contain more intense violence, suggestive themes, and crude humor (like in a Simpsons or Futurama episode). These games can also include simulated gambling. These games are rated similarly to moves that are rated PG-13.

Many parents dismiss games rated T for Teen by the ESRB outright, and I don’t think that is necessary. Many of these games are perfectly acceptable for young children with parental supervision. The “More intense violence” descriptor places most games that involve any sort of combat to this category. 

I remember being a father with young sons and there was a wide selection of games that are rated T for Teen that I played with them. Some specific examples are Street Fighter 5 Ratchet and Clank, and Marvel’s Spider-Man. The key here is to make sure you focus on the content descriptors and make sure that you only exclude games that include content you find questionable.

ESRB M Rating Explained

Games with this rating are a significant step above games rated T for Teen. They often contain more/more realistic gore. They may also have more significant sexual themes and/or vulgar humor. These are the games that we hear about on the news for pushing the boundaries of “appropriate.” Some of the more significant examples that have reached the mainstream media are games like those found in the Mortal Kombat and Grand Theft Auto series.

Many major retailers have internal policies that bar the sale of games with this rating to any person age 17 or less without parental consent. It isn’t illegal though. The state of CA had passed a law making it illegal at one point, but this law was been deemed unconstitutional by SCOTUS. It is possible that CA or other states may attempt to pass similar laws in the future, but this ruling makes it less likely.

Perspective on M Games

I am regularly asked at what age-rated M games are appropriate for kids, and I always answer the same way: 

“You know your kids better than I do. It depends entirely on the maturity level of your child, and what you feel comfortable letting them experience.” 

Some parents feel comfortable watching slasher flicks with their young kids. Others wouldn’t dream of watching anything other than Disney films until their children are ten. Video games are the same way.

I would like to say that many rated M games are rated as such because they tackle serious issues and require a more mature perspective in order to really understand them. But, I’m not going to smokescreen you here. The vast majority of M rated games are patently inappropriate for most tweens and young teenagers because they are mindless examples of violence and sexuality. That’s not to say that they are never good games (many of them are excellent), but a lot of them aren’t substantially different from something like Scary Movie.

There are, however, a few that are legitimately thought-provoking. They can be used as tools to help discuss very serious subjects with your son or daughter if you feel they are mature enough to handle it. 

Example to Consider

My favorite example of this is the level “No Russian” from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (This was an Xbox 360 game… so I’m definitely dating myself here.) The players take on the role of a US agent who is deep undercover with a group of Russian terrorists. As the level progresses the player accompanies the terrorists as they assault a Russian airport that is teeming with innocent civilians. The player is not required to fire a single shot over the course of the mission, but they are forced to slowly walk through the airport while terrorist gunmen fire on, and kill, hundreds of civilians.

The media immediately attacked this level as soon as it was discovered for glorifying violence and allowing children to virtually commit heinous crimes against innocent people. They were technically correct but missed the point. I have played through the level and I felt suffocated. I was immersed at the moment, and imagined myself in that airport and wondered what it would be like near those victims. The level doesn’t glorify acts of terror. Instead, it shines a spotlight on what they mean. I can’t imagine any other form of media giving as complete of an image as a video game. These are prime opportunities to discuss these types of events… if you are talking to someone who can really understand it.

ESRB AO Rating Explained

I’m only mentioning this rating because I don’t want to leave anything out. These are games that contain content that has been deemed inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. They may include “prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual activity, and/or gambling with real currency.” 

There is good news about these games though. Games that are given an AO rating are not sold in any retail stores, nor are they sold on any of the major digital games marketplaces like Steam, iOS, or the Epic Game Store. You won’t be seeing them on your kids’ shopping lists.

It is not unheard of for some games to be given an AO rating initially, only to have the game adjusted by developers to bring it down to an M. This is a similar process to the one that movies go through when they perform additional edits or reshoots to get a PG-13 rating.

RP and RP Likely Mature 17+

Video games are often announced alongside a wave of marketing material years before they are officially released. The ESRB rating process happens very late in a game’s development. Publishers will denote games that are in this gap period with a placeholder rating. These ratings are placed on all prerelease marketing materials and will be replaced on any packaging materials once the official rating has been released.

There are two placeholder ratings that get used currently – RP and RP Likely Mature 17+.

  • RP: This placeholder rating is applied to any game that is pending a rating from the ESRB. 
  • RP Likely Mature 17+: This placeholder rating is used for games that are more than likely going to end up rated M. There are some games that are intended to be rated M from the start of development (Like Mortal Kombat or Call of Duty). They get this placeholder to help avoid consumer confusion as the release gets closer. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ESRB rating system is an important tool for parents to use when assessing the suitability of video games for their children. By understanding the ratings and the factors that go into them, parents can make informed decisions about the games their children play and ensure that they are age-appropriate. Additionally, it is important for parents to monitor their children’s gaming habits and have open and honest conversations with them about the content of the games they are playing. By following these tips, parents can help ensure that their children have a safe and enjoyable gaming experience.


What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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Are you a fan of video games and board games? Look no further! Our free digital magazine is here to bring you the latest and greatest in the gaming world. From the Video Games of the Year 2022 to the Board Games of the Year 2022, we’ve got you covered.

Get ahead of the game with our Most Anticipated Video Games and Most Anticipated Board Games sections. Learn about the upcoming releases that everyone will be talking about in 2023.

Do you own a Nintendo Switch? There’s buzz about a new one on the horizon! We’ve got the scoop on what’s to come.

Are you ready to explore new worlds? PlaneScape is finally coming to Dungeons and Dragons and we’ve got everything you need to know.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is another highly anticipated release that we’ve got the inside info on.

Disney is entering the collectible card game market and we’ve got the first look! Get ready to be amazed by this exciting new game.

Download our free digital magazine now to stay up-to-date on all things gaming. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

  • Video Games of the Year 2022
  • Board Games of the Year 2022
  • Most Anticipated Video Games
  • Most Anticipated Board Games
  • Is a New Switch On the Horizon?
  • PlaneScape is Coming!
  • Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom feature
  • Disney is Entering the Collectible Card Game Market

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What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

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Minecraft is one of the biggest games in the world and will likely go down as one of the most influential games in history. One thing that is not often discussed when people talk about the Minecraft phenomenon is that there are two different versions of the game – Java and Bedrock. These two versions each have different features that can greatly alter you and your kids’ experience with the game. At the end of the day, they are the same game (Minecraft is Minecraft after all),  but there are a few key differences between the two versions that range from how multiplayer works to the availability of user-generated content like adventure maps

Multiplayer in Minecraft Bedrock vs Java

One of the most common ways that kids play Minecraft is with their friends. It has become just as much of a social gathering space as school playgrounds. This makes the version you are playing very important. 

It’s important because you can only play with people on the same version. This means that Java players can only play with other Java players and Bedrock players can only play with other Bedrock players. There isn’t any way around this limitation.

A picture of a player looking at a map while playing Minecraft

Hardware Availability for Minecraft Bedrock vs Java

Below is a list of the hardware that can play each version of Minecraft

Minecraft Java Edition

  • PC
  • Mac
  • Linux

Note: You can only buy the Minecraft Java edition from the official Minecraft website. 

Minecraft Bedrock Edition

  • Windows 10 and 11
  • Xbox One*
  • Xbox Series S and X*
  • PlayStation 4 and 5
  • Nintendo Switch
  • Amazon Fire OS/TV
  • Android
  • iOS 
  • Windows Mobile
  • Samsung Gear VR.

Note: Minecraft Bedrock edition is available on Xbox Game Pass.

Servers in Minecraft Bedrock vs Java

Another difference between the two versions is how one plays on multiplayer servers, online playspaces with special minigames and other things to play with others. Connecting to a server is very different between the two platforms. On the Java edition, you have to go into the multiplayer menu and connect to a server , by entering the server address, which will look like a link to a website. ON Bedrock, however, there is a separate tab when one is entering a world, by moving over to the servers tab, you can connect to a list of servers that are approved by Microsoft, and are moderated to be accessible and fun for all ages. 

User-Generated Content in Minecraft Bedrock vs Java

User-generated content is accessed differently in each version of Minecraft. This includes content like adventure maps, player skins, and texture packs. 

On Java edition most of those are free, and all you have to do is download them from the web, and put them into the game files. (this is hard to figure out unless you have a guide). 

It is easier to gain access to UGC on Bedrock edition. You simply buy them from the in-game marketplace using real-world currency. They are also guaranteed to be appropriate for children, because in order to be published on the marketplace they have to go through an approval process to check for things like inappropriate content, and to make sure they work as advertised. 

Mods in Minecraft Bedrock vs Java

Screenshot of the CurseForge application showing several Mod packs available for Minecraft.

Mods are a big deal for some players. This is especially true if they have spent a lot of time watching Minecraft on YouTube. Mods are pieces of code that can be added to the game files that change the way Minecraft functions. They can add items, change the appearance of the game, or make other significant changes to game mechanics and systems. (Warning: Some mods aren’t even for kids. See our report on the Minecraft Jenny Mod.)

Mods are only available on the Java edition. They require much more effort to get working but can make HUGE changes to the base game including things like adding new items to make the gameplay like Pokemon Legends Arceus. 

Bedrock players on PC have a similar feature called Resource Packs that are downloaded and added into the game through a simple menu. Resource packs are very limited in what they can do though. 


Minor Variations Between Java and Bedrock

The Minecraft Java Edition

Java edition can run shaders, and advanced texture packs, that change the graphics to look like a super high-end video game. Whereas the Bedrock edition cannot. The Bedrock version has to run on too many platforms to be able to support advanced graphics options. 

There is a difference in the way the two games are coded, whereas the Bedrock edition is less resource-intensive and less susceptible to crashing. whereas Java crashes more, and uses more resources, but can do more impressive things, with things like Redstone.

To Put It Simply

The simplest way to explain the differences is that the Java edition is more customizable, at the cost of having a limited number of people to play with.  The Bedrock edition is more controlled, but with the advantage of being able to play people on consoles and mobile devices more easily.


Which Version is Better?

There is no definitive answer to that question. It will just be a matter of opinion, personal experience, and priorities. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Minecraft is a popular and influential game that comes in two versions – Java and Bedrock. While the two versions are essentially the same game, there are some key differences between them that can greatly impact your experience with the game. These differences include how multiplayer works, the availability of user-generated content, and the ability to use mods. Java players can only play with other Java players and Bedrock players can only play with other Bedrock players. Additionally, the Java edition can run shaders and advanced texture packs, whereas the Bedrock edition cannot. Ultimately, the choice between the two versions will depend on your personal preferences and the devices you have available.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

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A lot of gamer parents ask us about how to get started with playing tabletop RPGs with their kids. In fact, we’ve given (and heard) so much advice that we thought we would just put it all down on a page and publish it here on EFG!

This list isn’t the be all and end all for playing RPGs with your children, but this is going to be a great place to start. Take a look below, and make sure to let us know in the comments if we missed anything.

Note: Most of the text here will refer to Dungeons and Dragons, but the majority of these tips will be applicable to any tabletop RPG out there.

Start with a Kid-focused RPG

Lots of gamers have dreamed of playing Dungeons and Dragons and other tabletop RPGs with their kids for years. It stands to reason that some of those gamers would design their own games to help fill in that void. Darcy Zalewski from the Stay at Home Gamers suggested playing some of those games first!

Some examples include:

Hero Kids

No Thank You, Evil by Monte Cook Games

The Tales of Equestria Tabletop RPG

Establish The Ground Rules

Lots of tabletop RPGs are full of rules, charts, and tables to search through to help understand how to play the game. But, those aren’t as important as the general rules for playing at your table.

You will likely have your own rules, but some suggestions are below:

  1. Respect is key. Make sure to respect your fellow players and the DM.
  2. Be courteous.
  3. Don’t draw in, or rip up game books that are loaned to you. Treat them like your own toys.
  4. No cussing or inappropriate jokes.
  5. If everyone isn’t having fun, then no one is!

Focus on Shared Storytelling

A lot of folks assume that the story comes from the DM, but that’s actually untrue. At the end of the day tabletop RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons are collaborative storytelling games. This means that everyone is working together to make an interesting story. I think it is important make sure kids understand that.

The story isn’t just happening TO them. It is happening AROUND them. Let them describe their actions whenever possible. Encourage them to talk about how their character does the things they are doing. That adds layers to the experience for everybody!

Let Them Drive (Unless They Aren’t)

It is important to let the kids drive the bus. They might take wrong turns, get hyper-focused on something weird, or kick your sandbox over in any number of cruel, unusual, and exciting ways. Let them do it. As long as they are engaged and enjoying the experience you have won!

With that said, Dungeons and Dragons depends on the players to direct the action. The stories expect the players to move forward, find clues, and discover the solutions. Kids (and even inexperienced players) can have trouble with that. Which means their indecisions can stagnate the experience for everyone. You, as the DM, are the only person who can fix that.

There are lots of great Dungeons and Dragons Products out there, and lots of them have previews online. Make sure to check out what they can add to your campaign!

Keep It Short!

Adults that play Dungeons and Dragons can play for hours without real breaks. We often brag about marathon gaming sessions. That isn’t going to be possible with younger kids. They just don’t have the attention span to focus on these games for long periods of time.

Instead, make sure to plan for your gaming sessions to be more compact and to take more breaks. You won’t make as much “progress” through stories (especially if you are using adventure modules), but they will be more engaged in the experience.

If You’re Going to Go Big – Bring a Co-GM

Rob Kalajian of A Pawn’s Perspective regularly runs a game for ten kids. (WHOA!) He loves it, but he has found that it would be impossible without the help of his wife who co-DMs with him. This lets him focus on the story and the creatures while his wife helps make sure the kids are ready to take their turns. It minimizes downtime and ensures that kids get more direct attention from a GM.

Have (Quiet) Fidget Toys!

Kids will often have a VERY difficult time sitting still for a long time without fidgeting. Dice are terrible fidget toys because they are loud, and they can get lost easily. (Nothing is more distracting than a handful of kids rolling dice and dropping them on the ground.)

Make sure you have a small collection of quiet fidget toys on hand to give them something to fuss with. Some great suggestions are fidget spinners (that you can probably get for super cheap since the fad is over) and Play-Doh.

Simplify The Game!

Dungeons and Dragons is pretty complicated. You can take steps to simplify it though. Some examples of things you can do are:

  • Only give them the dice they need. A player will very likely only needs 2-3 different dice in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition (the most recent one).
  • Create a cheat sheet to go along with their character sheet that explains in simple terms what they should do when the
You don’t need to invent your own adventures either! There are plenty of pre-made adventures available!

Don’t Make Them Manage Their Stuff

Kids are notorious for losing things or failing to take care of them correctly. And, nothing can set a game back like a player having to find a new mini or to craft a new character sheet. The best way to solve that problem according to John Christopher over at Wooden Shoe Games is to collect their character sheets at the end of the session. That keeps organization nice and simple.

You could even store all of those character sheets in a binder with some sheet protectors. They’ll be virtually indestructible.

Make Sure the Villain Is AWESOME!

Treavor Bettis and Allie Deutschmann from the Difficulty Class Podcast both emphatically told me that villains for kids need to be cool. They don’t necessarily need to be interesting and nuanced like villains for adult players though. They can, and should, be completely over the top!

What do you all think? What tips do you have for playing tabletop RPGs with kids? Let us know in the comments!

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Minecraft mods on PC number into the thousands, especially if you’re playing the Minecraft Java Edition. The vast majority of the mods available to download from places like CurseForge – a modification repository that’s used for a number of popular games, including Minecraft, World of Warcraft, and Kerbal Space Program – are, for the most part, fairly innocent.

What are Mods

Mods that are available through Minecraft Bedrock Edition, which is probably the version of Minecraft that your kids are playing on console, mobile, and PC, are vetted by the Mojang team at Microsoft to ensure that they are both high quality and family-friendly.

Not all mods are made equal, mind you, and CurseForge ensures that all of those mods are available to download… for good and ill. One of these not-so-great mods is the Jenny mod that’s available through CurseForge on PC and via APK (Android Application Package) for Android OS devices. In theory, you can also purchase a version of this mod through in-game currency.

The Minecraft Jenny Mod

The Minecraft Jenny mod is a NSFW (not safe for work) unofficial Minecraft mod that introduces an in-game “girlfriend” for Minecraft players that simulates adult interactions. Yes, those kinds of adult interactions. It’s becoming an increasingly popular mod that runs in “Creative” mode. Now, Jenny can be your “bestie,” but that’s not why parents need to be paying closer attention to children downloading this particular mod, of course.

Minecraft Bedrock Edition doesn’t allow unofficial mod installation, so the best way to ensure that kids aren’t going to download and install Jenny is to make sure that Bedrock Edition is the version of Minecraft that they’re using. Java Edition has some excellent mods, including the Redstone mods on CurseForge, but it does require extra intervention. There are no parental controls available on CurseForge, so use discretion.

Jenny might be available for bestie status, but she certainly wasn’t coded just for those purposes. Be cautious.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

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We talk a lot about flashy video games and freshly released board games on EFG, but today I want to take a moment to share the instructions for one of my family’s absolute favorite card games. We spend a lot of time playing Frustration Rummy as a family, especially on family vacations. We laugh. We yell. We talk a lot of trash. (Of course, we do. I’m there.) Frustration Rummy is a rummy-style card game where players compete to complete different steps (often called contracts) that each involves a different combination of cards.

Cards Required to Play Frustration Rummy

  • 4 players – 2 standard playing card decks with 4 jokers
  • 5-6 players – 3 standard playing card decks with 6 jokers
  • Wild Cards – Jokers and Deuces

The Rules For Frustration Rummy

  • Deal 11 cards to each person for each hand. (This is how we play as taught by my Pop Pop, but some versions have you draw 13)
  • A player’s turn begins by drawing the top card from the deck or the discard pile.
  • The player may then “meld” if they have the appropriate cards for the step they are on
  • Then they discard a card from their hand. Note: A player MUST have a discard at the end of their turn. There are no exceptions.
  • If a player “melds” and completes a step they will then be playing to “Go Out.” This ends the hand.
  • Each Step must be made by a player during a hand to advance to the next step. For example, if a player completes a step and then goes out and you did not, then you will remain on the same step and they will move forward.
  • All 11 steps must be completed to win – if more than one player completes the 11 steps during the hand, the lowest-scoring hand wins.

Frustration Peg Boards

You can definitely play Frustration and keep track of what step you are on using paper. (That’s what my mother insists we do.) But, there are very cool peg boards that help you keep track of things. You can buy them all over the place, but this is a very nice handmade one sold on Amazon.

Steps (Contracts)

Book – Groups of cards of the same number. The suit does not matter.

Run – Groups of cards where the numbers are in descending or ascending order. They must be in the same suit.

Note – You must have more natural cards in a book or run than Wild cards. You cannot even have the same number.

Step 1
2 Books of 3 cards
Step 2
2 Runs of 3 cards
Step 3
1 Run of 4 cards and 1 Book of 3 cards
Step 4
2 Books of 4 cards
Step 5
1 Run of 5 cards and 1 Book of 3
Step 6
3 Books of 3 cards
Step 7
1 Run of 7 cards
Step 8
1 Run of 6 cards and 1 Book of 3 cards
Step 9
2 Runs of 4 cards
Step 10
2 Books of 5 cards
Step 11 1 Run of 9 Cards
Table of the steps/contracts in Frustration Rummy

Notes and Reminders

  • A wild card may be replaced in any run (but not books) with the card it represents, but only if the wild card can be used to meld in that turn.
  • Additional melds of 3 cards can be played and more cards can be played on other melds after a player has completed their step meld.

Cards Games Similar to Frustration Rummy

Rummy is an old game that has been played the world over. As a result, there are countless variations. Some of the more popular versions are:

Phase 10 – This is a commercialized version that is packaged like Uno (and you’ll probably find them right next to each other). The biggest difference is that steps and contracts are referred to as phases.

Aggravation – The rules of Aggravation are similar to Frustration. The difference is that once you have completed your contract you can immediately start to work on the next one without waiting until the next hand.

Gin Rummy – This is more of a distant cousin with a focus on accumulating points as opposed to merely completing steps. You can find the complete rules for Gin Rummy here.


What do you think? Are you going to play our family favorite? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

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The Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017 and has gone on to become one of the best-selling consoles of all time. Part of that success is thanks to the quality of its library of games. The rest of that success stems from Nintendo releasing multiple iterations of the console.

This is nothing new. Nintendo has done this with their handheld systems ever since the wild success of the Game Boy Color in 1998. (Other console manufacturers have done it as well. The PlayStation 2 had several different versions over its life cycle.) This is great for Nintendo’s bottom line. But it is super confusing for parents who want to buy a Nintendo for their kids. 

Fear not though because we’ve got the solution! Below is a handy guide to the three different versions of the Nintendo Switch console and our thoughts on each one!

What is the Nintendo Switch?

The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid video game console that can serve as both a handheld device (like the Nintendo 3DS) and as a home console (like the Nintendo WiiU).

The console itself is a tablet that features detachable controllers that Nintendo called “Joy-Cons.” Most versions of the console come with a special dock. You can use the Switch dock to charge the tablet OR use it to display your game on the TV.

This was completely unheard of when Nintendo announced and, while there have been some competitors on the market since then, it has remained a market leader.

Why is the Switch so Popular?

Nintendo handhelds are almost always popular. Families have more than thirty years of experience buying Game Boys and the like. for their kids. The Switch may not be a traditional handheld, but it does fit that bill. I can’t help but think that momentum plays at least a small part in that.

There can be no doubt though that the Nintendo Switch has a fantastic library of great games helping it along as well. The Switch’s launch year included The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (which is one of the best games ever made) and Super Mario Odyssey. They are both on our EFG Essentials list five years later.

The Three Current Switch Models

Nintendo has released a new Switch model every other year since 2017 so we’ll probably need to update this article in 2023. Until then… here are the details on the three existing models.

The Original Nintendo Switch

MRSP: $299.99

Release Date: March 3, 2017 Weight: .66 lbs or .88 /w Joy-Cons Screen: 6.2 in LCD Screen @ 1280 x 720 pixels Resolution: 1080 p resolution to TV // Up to 720 p in handheld mode

Battery Life: 4.5 – 9 Hours /w up to 3 hours max charge time

The original model of the Nintendo Switch is still available and is a great system. Generally speaking, the OLED edition (listed below) is the better option for new adoptees. But, this is worth grabbing if it is available!

Nintendo Switch Lite

MRSP: $199.99

Release Date: September 20, 2019 Weight: .61 lbs (integrated Joy-Cons) Screen: 5.5 in LCD Screen @ 1280 x 720 pixels Resolution: (Implied up to 720 p in handheld mode but not listed on the site)

Battery Life: 3 – 7 Hours /w up to 3 hours max charge time

The Switch Lite is interesting because it doesn’t “Switch.” This is a handheld-only version of the console. It eschews the dock and TV gameplay for longer battery life, a lower price, and a smaller form factor.

It is lighter, less expensive, and perfect for younger kids who are looking for a replacement for a 3DS. It plays almost all the same games with less of an investment. 

Nintendo Switch OLED Edition

MRSP: $349.99

Release Date: October 8, 2021 Weight: .71 lbs or .93 /w Joy-Cons Screen: 7 in OLED Screen @ 1280 x 720 pixels Resolution: 1080 p resolution to TV // Up to 720 p in handheld mode Battery Life: 4.5 – 9 Hours /w up to 3 hours max charge time

The most recent edition to the Switch line is the OLED model that was released in 2021.

It functions similarly to the original model in that it can be used both handheld and docked to play on the TV. This newer model includes an OLED screen that is brighter and clearer so playing games in handheld mode looks better. 

I’m not sure what market niche Nintendo was hoping to move into with this model, but this is NOT a “pro” version of the Switch that some fans have been asking for.

That isn’t necessarily a problem. But, it is something to keep in mind while making purchasing decisions.

What Are Joy-Cons Again?

Joy-Cons are what Nintendo calls the proprietary controllers that attach to the side of the Nintendo Switch tablet. They come in a wide variety of colors and you can even mix/match them.

It’s worth noting for parents that they are relatively small and expensive so you’ll want to have a plan for keeping track of them when you buy a Switch.

Our Official Switch Recommendations

The Switch is approaching the end of its life cycle. Industry insiders have been talking about the arrival of a Switch successor for years. We don’t have it yet (we don’t even have an announcement yet), so we can’t recommend waiting for a new system just yet.

All three models have value right now, but the real decision is between the OLED version and the Switch Lite.

If you are buying a new Switch, then the OLED model has better battery life and a slightly larger screen that is MUCH brighter.

Parents buying a Switch for younger gamers should consider the Switch Lite. It is less costly than other models and is smaller and lighter for smaller hands.

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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Live-streaming, whether it be video games, cooking, or conversations, has never been more popular. More and more of us, and our kids, are hopping into live stream channels every day on websites like Twitch and YouTube or in apps like TikTok and Instagram.


These live streams are more akin to like concerts or sporting events than they are watching a movie at home. There are standards of behavior to follow when you are out in public. It is our job as parents to teach our kids how to behave in these virtual spaces.


Don’t worry though. We’re not going to lay that responsibility at your feet and walk away. That would be super rude and not our style. Instead, we’ll talk about what live streaming is and give you some tips on how to guide your kids.

What is Live-Streaming Anyway?

Live streaming is the practice of streaming live video across the internet without it editing. Technically speaking, when you watch Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime… you are live streaming that. Those types of broadcasts have happened for a long time. They may be live, but they aren’t (often) very interactive.


Twitch.tv launched in 2011 and changed everything.


Now, individual “streamers” can broadcast just about anything. Twitch streams include everything from playing video games and recording podcasts to baking cookies and painting miniatures. It isn’t only a broadcast though! Viewers can interact with both the streamer and each other! This allows communities to form and turns each stream into a live performance.


This technology is everywhere now. Creators can start live streams on dozens of different platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and even TikTok.

How Interactive are Live Streams?

In short: Very. That’s the entire point. It gives viewers an increased level of access to the streamer and a chance to communicate with them as well as their other viewers and fans.


The key lesson to remember is that while live streaming does create a more personal connection between a streamer and their audience that doesn’t mean that the streamer is their audience’s “friend.” In fact, they don’t have a relationship at all (at least not in the way we think of them).


The term “parasocial relationship” was first used all the way back in 1957 in a paper involving people who felt they had personal relationships with radio and television personalities. The phenomenon happens with streamers all the time.


At the end of the day, they are not much different from a radio DJ or a TV weatherperson. The difference is that they have an easier time responding to people thanks to the technology they use. That ease of response can give viewers a sense of comfort in the stream’s chat. This can lead to some embarrassing results.


Guidelines for Watching Live Streams

Below are some guidelines for how to interact with streamers that you can give to kids.

No Real Names

Don’t call a streamer by their first name unless they tell you that you can. This implies a level of familiarity that your child doesn’t have. You should encourage your child to use the streamer’s screen name or handle instead. This goes both ways though. Your kid should be using a screen name as well.

Subscriptions

Many live-streaming services allow viewers to subscribe to a channel. You need to make sure that your kids know that subscriptions buy entertainment. They do not buy access. There are those on the internet that believe that subscribing to a channel on Twitch or to a user on Patreon should grant them more access to the content creator. Sometimes they even think that it makes them “friends.” This isn’t the case. A Twitch subscription grants you access to more content from the creator, but it doesn’t mean that they should give you more access to their personal life.

Read The Rules

The very first thing your child should do when they start to watch a new stream is read the rules. This will let them know what kind of channel they are in, what the expectations are of them, and what the environment will be like. This will be a great way for your child to know if the chat will be safe for them. You should tell your child to be wary of streamers with no rules. These streamers can have pretty toxic communities.

Don’t Be a Moderator

Every channel has different rules for how to behave there. If your child spends time in those channels they will learn those rules. They should not, however, try to enforce those rules unless they have been chosen to be a moderator by the streamer. This can add to the confusion in the chat and make it harder for the moderation team to do their work and interrupt the stream for everyone else.

Talk to Everyone (Except the Streamer)

Teach them to interact more with the chat than they do with the streamer. The streamer is performing for a group of people and shouldn’t be expected to talk to everyone. Instead, the community is supposed to form around the streamer and talk amongst themselves.

The below video is a panel hosted early on during the pandemic in 2020. It features a diverse group of streamers with years of experience. They talk a lot about how users should behave while watching streams and talk a lot about the experiences they have had. It is an enlightening video for anyone who watches regularly.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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Every week the EFG staff will be defining a gaming term that is either confusing or ill-defined. Please leave a comment with any terms you are confused by and we will try to include them in future editions!


The gaming definition this week is a term that is applicable to many video games, as well as Movies, TV shows, Plays, and Musicals: The Fourth Wall

The fourth wall is the barrier between the audience and the character (or actor). It is also the perspective from which we (as the audience) view the experience.

Storytelling in games has been getting more and more advanced as the games industry matures. One thing I’ve noticed is that a lot of the games I’ve been playing have been breaking the “fourth wall.” The important thing about the fourth wall is that the audience (and the narrator, or even classically the chorus) are meant to be outside the story informing the audience. In “serious drama.” they are invisible. 

“Breaking the fourth wall” traditionally has been considered an act of comedy, though in more contemporary settings it can be more serious. This is where the characters in the story address the audience directly; often ignoring the story that is happening on stage. This type of storytelling device is often shorthand for making a reference or showing the internal thoughts of a character without having to involve the story that is going on. 

Examples in TV and Stage

Remember all of those times in Saved by the Bell where Zack would call a time-out and talk to the camera? He was breaking the fourth wall.

A more recent example is the Musical Hamilton. At the end of the show, Eliza Hamilton is telling the end of her story and gasps after the song ends. The gasp is considered her breaking the 4th wall.

Video Game Examples:

  • Guacamelee
  • The Secret of Monkey Island
  • Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

Additional Resources

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

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Essen Spiel 2022 took place from October 6-9, 2022 in Essen Germany. It is one of the biggest board game conventions in the world and is a big opportunity for publishers to showcase their offerings ahead of the Holiday season! We didn’t make it to the show this time, but publishers have been shouting to the mountaintops about their games! Below is a list of nine games from the show floor that we are very excited to play!

Gummiland

(Age 6+, Blue Orange Games)

Gummiland is a deck-building game meant for younger kids. The components are adorable to begin with, but the premise definitely suits it. Players are competing to capture all the Gummiz using adorable fruit cards.

Mech A Dream

(10+, Blue Orange Games)

Mech A Dream is a worker placement, engine building game set in a far flung future where humans and robots live side by side. Robots don’t have dreams in this world and this game is all about building machines that make dreams for the robots! I love the graphic design on the components that have been revealed so far.

Mist Over Carcassone

(8+, Z-Man Games)

We love Carcassone (and all tile laying games for that matter), over here. A new version with a spooky theme just seems like an absolute win. I’m particularly intrigued by the cooperative elements as they haven’t been a part of the Carcassone world before.

Turing Machine

(14+, Le Scorpion Masqué)

I have no idea if this game will even be fun, but The Turing Machine includes an “analog computer” that does calculations using perforated cards. Its a deduction game where you either cooperate as a team or compete to crack codes using the computation that are only possible using the computer within the game itself. I’m absolutely fascinated by how this could work to the point of distraction.

Evergeen

(8+, Horrible Guild)

Evergreen is a board game from the same designer as Photosynthesis and shares some of the same themes. This one is all about planting trees and placing other objects to help build a complete ecosystem. The components look lovely and I always appreciate a science themed game. Linda, our managing editor of board games, is very excited for this one.

Peter Pan

(Age Unknown, Zatu Games)

Peter Pan is a deduction game where each player knows the location of both a lost boy and one of Captain Hook’s pirates. Players can only share that information to each other via picture cards that provide clues. Then players venture through Neverland trying to find the lost boys and avoid the pirates.

Animals of Baker Street

(10+, IELLO)

Animals of Baker Street is a deduction, puzzle solving game featuring cure animals and a Sherlock Holmes theme. It is a cooperative game with a limited number of puzzles to solve, but it looks like there should be enough content in the box to keep it entertaining for a while.

Starship Captains

(12+, Czech Games)

Starship Captains is a 1-4 player eurogame that combines action selection and engine building. You manage a crew and operate a starship as you go on adventures and face different challenges. This is one that I absolutely must play as someone who loves Star Trek and other similarly themed games.


Those are just a few of the games that were featured at Essen this year. We’re sure that we missed some. Let us know in the comments if you found any that didn’t make it onto our list!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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