Guide · Families

Online PC games: a guide for families

Many households share one computer, and many young people play online games on it. This page is for the adults in those households. It covers how to read a game's rating, which settings deserve attention on a shared PC, and which Canadian organizations offer reliable help. It is general guidance, not a substitute for knowing your own child.

Our position. Coravend is written for adults. We do not present any game as suitable for children, and we do not present any game that sells randomized items or simulated gambling as suitable for anyone under 18. The game we link to is described on its own profile page in those terms.

Reading a game's rating

Many games sold in Canada carry a rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). A rating has three parts, and all three are useful:

Rating category: The age-based label shown on the store page or box, such as E (Everyone), T (Teen) or M (Mature).
Content descriptors: Short phrases that explain what led to the rating, for example the type and intensity of violence.
Interactive elements: Notes about features that are not part of the game's content as such, including whether players can interact with each other and whether the game sells items, with a separate label when those include random items.

The ESRB's ratings guide explains each category, descriptor and element in full. We do not restate the age thresholds or attach a rating to any game on this site; the store page or the publisher's site is the place to check the current rating of a particular game.

Online games carry an additional caveat. A rating covers the content the publisher created, but not what other players say or do in chat. That is one reason to look closely at communication settings, discussed below.

Questions to ask before a young person starts an online game

What is the game's rating, and what do the descriptors and interactive elements say?
Does the game sell anything? Does it sell items with random contents?
Can players talk to strangers by text or voice, and can that be switched off or limited to friends?
Does the game's own terms of service set a minimum age for holding an account?
Whose email address and payment method will the account use?
How long are typical matches, and does leaving part-way through carry a penalty?
Where will the computer be when the game is played, and who else will be around?

A game's terms of service often set a minimum age that is separate from its content rating. Both are worth checking, since an account held in breach of the publisher's age rules can be closed.

Settings that matter on a shared computer

Separate user accounts

Windows, macOS and most Linux desktops support separate user accounts. Giving each person their own account keeps logins, saved passwords and purchase details apart, and it means a game signed in for one person is not automatically signed in for another.

Operating system family controls

Desktop operating systems include family or screen-time settings that can limit which programs run, set time limits and require approval for purchases in their own stores. The options differ between systems and versions, so the operating system's own help pages are the right place to look. These controls generally do not reach inside a game's own store, which is why the next point matters.

In-game and launcher settings

Many games and launchers have their own settings for chat, friend requests, profile visibility and purchases. Look for options to restrict chat to friends, block messages from strangers, hide online status and require a password for purchases.

Payment methods

The simplest spending control is not to attach a payment card to a young person's account at all. If you want to allow some spending, a prepaid card or a gift card with a fixed value enforces a limit without relying on anyone's willpower. Our spending guide covers this in more detail, along with what to do about an unexpected charge.

Talking about online contact

Settings help, but conversation does more. Young players benefit from knowing a few simple rules: personal details stay private, nobody from the game should ask for photos or for a move to another app, and it is always fine to come to a trusted adult about something that felt wrong, even if they broke a household rule along the way.

MediaSmarts, a Canadian non-profit focused on digital media literacy, publishes resources for parents and educators on online games, communication and media in general. If a child has been approached or exploited online, Cybertip.ca, Canada's national tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children, accepts reports and offers guidance for families. In an emergency, contact local police or call 911.

Spending and young players

The features that make in-game stores easy for adults to use, such as stored payment details, currency bundles and timed offers, are the same ones that can lead to unexpected charges from a young person. Random items deserve particular care because the result of a purchase is uncertain by design.

What to watch out for

A payment card saved to the game account or launcher without a purchase password.
Requests from other players to trade items or accounts outside the game.
Websites or videos offering game currency at no cost in exchange for a login, which are a common phishing pattern.
Statements with several small charges from a game or store you do not recognize.

Time and balance

Most families find that a predictable routine works better than ad hoc limits. Agreeing in advance on when games are played and how a match is finished at the end of a session avoids the familiar argument about stopping in the middle of a round. Knowing the typical match length of a game helps with that, which is one reason we suggest checking it before a game is installed; see how to choose an online multiplayer game.

If you notice gaming crowding out sleep, school or other activities, a family doctor or school counsellor is a good first point of contact. MediaSmarts also has material on healthy media habits that can help structure the conversation.

Playing alongside them

One of the most effective ways to understand an online game is to watch it being played, or to play a match or two yourself. Ten minutes alongside a young player usually tells you more than any description: how fast matches move, what the chat looks like, how often the store appears and what the game encourages players to do between matches. It also gives you shared vocabulary for later conversations, which makes it easier for a young person to raise a problem. If you do not play games yourself, asking them to explain the game to you works nearly as well. Most enjoy being the expert, and the questions you ask along the way often surface the settings or habits that are worth discussing.

Personal information and young people

Games collect information when an account is created and while it is used. If you have questions about how a company handles a child's personal information, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada explains individuals' privacy rights and how to raise a concern with an organization or with the Office itself.