Children can quickly turn into hardcore players of an MMO – sometimes more so than their parents, so it is important to find safe and fun alternatives for the younger crowd to play. Luckily, game developers have created kid friendly MMOs that parents don’t have to worry about their children playing. Some of the most popular games are:
Kid Safe Online Games
1. Wizard 101: Wizard 101 is a game that both parents and children can enjoy together. Something like a Harry Potter game meets World of WarCraft, Wizard blends a distinct artistic style with easy gameplay. There is even an iPhone app called Wizard Blox that children can play for in-game prizes. Wizard 101 is free to download and play, but certain zones to require a subscription. Games like Wizard 101 are becoming very popular.
2. Club Penguin: Perhaps the best game for beginners, Club Penguin is flash based and requires no download. Some features are ‘free’ while others require a subscription. Based on Penguins in an arctic environment, the game is loaded with mini-games. Parents may find the play a bit boring, but will appreciate the non-threatening nature of the game. Distributed by Disney, there is also no need to worry about security issues with this game.
3. Toon Town Online: Another Disney offering, Toon Town Online is a serious attempt to create a MMO world for the younger crowd. The game can be a bit repetitive, like the ‘grind’ of adult MMOs, but it allows kids a safe way to experience the MMO world, complete with leveling and ‘jobs’ like farming. There is a trial version available for those who simply want to see what Toon Town Online is about.
4. Pop Tropica: This free game is available for children aged 6 – 15. The virtual world allows users to ‘pop’ to different areas of the game and includes loads of simple puzzles. Older kids will likely complete this game in just a few short days and parents who want to avoid game based advertising should avoid this offering.
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Another offering from Disney, Pirates of the Caribbean does attract an older crowd, so it may require a bit of supervision. That being said, most kids love the ability to pilot Jack Sparrow’s ship. The game is quest based, which can be boring for younger kids and there is some violence. All and all, it is one of the MMO’s better suited to teenagers. A free version is available.
There are other games like Wizard 101 available on the internet that are suitable for children and more a scheduled to be released in the near future. Lego apparently has something in the works that looks to top all of the current games.
Games like Wizard 101
As a rule kid friendly MMOs should fit a few simple guidelines. The game should be age restricted or allow parents to set the interaction level their kids have access to. All good child friendly MMOs keep violence to a minimum. Other than that, the MMO’s that attract children the most are not quest based and offer ‘instant gratification.’ In other words, if they solve a puzzle or perform some other task, there is an award.
With the right kid friendly MMO, there is no reason the younger set can’t begin to enjoy the world of online role-playing. By playing with a child at first, it's possible to guarantee the game is suitable.
Melinda Corley - I have been writing SEO based web copy for 5 years. I am currently living in Austin, Texas. I hold a Bachelor's degree in ...
Join the Conversation