TL;DR
If you are currently being worn down by requests for Grand Theft Auto VI or Call of Duty, you aren't alone. The jump from Fortnite to Mature-rated titles is the biggest hurdle in digital parenting. Before saying yes, distinguish between stylized violence and realistic trauma, and prioritize muting online lobbies over banning the game entirely.
Quick Links for the "I'm not ready for M-rated" crowd:
- Spider-Man 2 (Teen-rated action masterpiece)
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Challenging combat without the grit)
- Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (Playable action movie vibes)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (The gold standard for open-world exploration)
In the gaming world, the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) "M" rating is the equivalent of an R-rated movie. It stands for Mature 17+.
When a game gets an M, it’s usually for one of three things: intense violence (blood and gore), strong language, or sexual content. While we might be okay with our 14-year-old seeing a PG-13 Marvel movie, M-rated games are a different beast because they are interactive. There is a psychological difference between watching a character do something and being the one pressing the button to make it happen.
It’s rarely about the "mature" content itself. Most kids aren't seeking out Grand Theft Auto VI because they want to simulate a life of crime; they want it because:
- Cultural Currency: If every kid in the 8th-grade group chat is talking about a "clutch" play in Call of Duty, not playing feels like social exile.
- Technical Sophistication: M-rated games often have the highest budgets, meaning the graphics look "real" compared to the blocky world of Minecraft or the "Ohio" memes of Roblox.
- Autonomy: These games often offer massive open worlds where kids feel a sense of freedom they don't get in their highly scheduled real lives.
Here is the no-BS reality: the most "mature" part of an M-rated game isn't the story written by the developers. It’s the unfiltered voice chat in the online lobbies.
You can be playing a relatively "clean" round of Call of Duty, but if the person on the other end of the headset is a 25-year-old using every racial slur and misogynistic insult in the book, your child is being exposed to far more harm than a digital blood splatter.
Ask our chatbot how to disable voice chat on PlayStation and Xbox
If you feel your child is outgrowing "kid games" but you aren't ready to let them roam the streets of Los Santos, these titles offer high-quality gameplay with a "Teen" rating.
This is the ultimate "I'm a big kid now" game. It looks incredible, the combat is fluid and satisfying, and it deals with complex themes of friendship and responsibility without the nihilism of M-rated titles.
While it’s a first-person shooter, Halo has historically stayed in the Teen territory. It’s sci-fi violence—mostly shooting aliens with blue blood—rather than the gritty, realistic military violence of Call of Duty.
If they want a massive open world to explore, this is it. It features "mechanical" violence (fighting giant robot dinosaurs), which is visually stunning but lacks the "human-on-human" trauma that many parents want to avoid.
For kids who want a deep, 100-hour story with incredible graphics, this is a masterpiece. It’s rated Teen for some language and fantasy violence, but it’s high art compared to the "brain rot" content often found on YouTube.
Every family has a different "line," but here is a general framework based on community data and developmental stages:
- Ages 10-12: Generally a hard no on M-rated games. Stick to "T" rated titles like Fortnite or Destiny 2.
- Ages 13-15: This is the "Grey Zone." Some parents allow M-rated games with the sound in the living room (no headsets) or with specific content filters turned on (many games now allow you to turn off gore or "f-bombs").
- Ages 16+: Most kids this age are already playing these games at friends' houses. This is the time to shift from "gatekeeper" to "consultant." Talk about the themes and the toxic culture of online gaming.
Grand Theft Auto VI is going to be the biggest media event of the decade. The marketing will be inescapable.
If you decide to say no, be specific about why. Don't just say "it's bad." Say, "The way this game portrays women and rewards killing civilians doesn't align with our family's values." Kids respect a logic-based "no" much more than a "because I said so."
Also, be aware of "copycat" games. On Roblox, there are thousands of user-created games designed to look and act like Grand Theft Auto. They might have "blocky" graphics, but the gameplay loop—stealing cars, shooting police—is the same.
Instead of a lecture, try a "Test Drive."
- Watch a "Let's Play": Go to YouTube and search for "GTA VI gameplay no commentary." Watch it with your kid for 15 minutes.
- Ask Questions: "What do you think about that scene?" or "Why do you think the developers put that in there?"
- Discuss the Lobbies: "If someone starts saying weird stuff in the chat, what's your plan for muting them?"
Mature-rated games aren't inherently "evil," but they are designed for adults. If your child is begging for one, they are likely looking for the social connection or the technical "wow" factor.
You can often satisfy that craving with high-end Teen-rated titles. If you do choose to cross the M-rated line, do it with eyes wide open—specifically regarding online interactions. The pixels won't hurt them nearly as much as the person on the other end of the microphone might.
- Audit their current library: Check if they’ve been "sneaking" M-rated content via Roblox.
- Set the "Headset Rule": No headsets for M-rated games so you can hear the vibe of the lobby.
- Explore "Cozy" alternatives: If the stress of M-rated games is causing behavior issues, look into Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing: New Horizons for a dopamine reset.