Minecraft might look safe for young kids and children, but it doesn’t carry the lowest age rating. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) deems the game inappropriate for some people, plus specifies how many years old users should be. So, how old do you have to be to play Minecraft? Here’s the lowdown on the minimum appropriate age for a Minecraft player.
What is the minimum age to play Minecraft?
According to the ESRB, users have to be at least 10 years old to play Minecraft. Minecraft isn’t appropriate for small kids and children due to featuring “fantasy violence” and online interactions with strangers.
There isn’t a set age to play online with others, though, due to the random nature of encounters, the ESRB doesn’t rate online interactions within Minecraft. As a result, young players could encounter foul language and other inappropriate behaviors over the internet. There’s an in-game reporting system to try and cull such acts, though it can be widespread due to the game also having adult followers.
Keeping the above in mind, any parent or guardian wondering how to make a Minecraft account for their child might want to consider a Realms Plus subscription. Minecraft Realms Plus is a premium service that gives users access to a private multiplayer server; this means that no strangers can interact with them, though they can invite up to nine friends to play. It costs $8 per month, though also grants subscribers access to exclusive new in-game content each month.
ESRB ratings are just guidelines, so, ultimately, the decision lies with the parents. How old a person has to be to play Minecraft is subjective; if a young child can handle minor violence, guardians may allow them to play under the age of 10. The biggest potential risk is playing Minecraft over the internet, though that can be mitigated with a Realms Plus subscription.
In recent gaming news, the Nintendo Switch (OLED model) is a new version of the console with a better screen and various other improvements. Xbox Series S might give it a run for its money, however, as the next-gen console is going portable thanks to its xScreen peripheral.
