TL;DR: "Free" games aren't free; they are built on psychological tricks designed to get your kid to spend money. Between Roblox "limiteds" and Fortnite item shops, kids are being conditioned to view digital items as high-stakes social currency. The goal isn't to ban spending entirely, but to move from "accidental charges" to "intentional digital budgeting."
Quick Links for the "Big Spender" Games:
- Roblox - The king of user-generated microtransactions.
- Fortnite - Home of the FOMO-driven Item Shop.
- Brawl Stars - Fast-paced, high-pressure loot box mechanics.
- Genshin Impact - A "Gacha" game that is essentially gambling for characters.
In the "old days" (like, 2010), you bought a game for $50 and you owned the game. Today, most popular games for kids are Freemium. They cost $0 to download, but they make billions by selling "microtransactions"—small, incremental purchases made within the game.
These usually fall into three buckets:
- Cosmetics (Skins): Items that change how a character looks but don't affect gameplay.
- Utility/Power-ups: Paying to skip a wait time, buy a better sword, or get more "lives."
- Loot Boxes/Gacha: Paying for a chance to get a rare item. This is the one that looks most like gambling.
Learn more about the history of loot boxes and why they are controversial
It’s easy to dismiss a $10 digital hat as "brain rot" or a waste of money, but for a middle schooler, that skin is their identity.
In games like Fortnite, being a "default" (using the free, basic skin) can actually lead to social exclusion or teasing. Kids use these digital items to "flex" (show off) their status. If everyone at school is talking about the new Travis Scott skin or a rare Roblox accessory, your kid feels the same social pressure you felt about wearing the "right" sneakers in 1998.
Game developers employ "Dark Patterns"—design choices meant to trick users into doing things they didn't intend to do. Here’s how they get into your kid’s head (and your wallet):
1. Currency Obfuscation
Games rarely show prices in dollars. They use V-Bucks, Robux, or Gems. By adding a layer of abstraction, the brain doesn't register that 800 V-Bucks is actually $8.00 of real-world money. It feels like "game points," which are much easier to spend impulsively.
2. The Battle Pass & FOMO
Games like Clash Royale and Fortnite use a "Battle Pass." You pay a flat fee for a "season," but you only get the rewards if you play a lot. This creates a "sunk cost" fallacy: "I already paid for the pass, so I have to play three hours today or I'm wasting money."
3. Limited-Time Offers
The "Item Shop" in most games refreshes every 24 hours. If your kid sees a skin they like, they know it might be gone tomorrow and might not return for months. This creates a state of artificial emergency.
Check out our guide on how to talk to kids about FOMO and advertising
Roblox isn't one game; it's millions of games. This means the spending rules change constantly. Some creators are ethical; others build "pay-to-win" traps.
- The Risk: "Limiteds" (items with a fixed supply) can be traded and sold, turning the game into a high-stakes stock market for 10-year-olds.
- The Cost: Robux can be bought in packs or via a monthly subscription.
- Parent Tip: Set up Roblox parental controls to require a PIN for any spending.
Fortnite is the gold standard for "Cosmetic-only" spending. You can't pay to win, but you can pay to look cool.
- The Risk: The social pressure to have the latest crossover skin (like Marvel or Star Wars) is intense.
- The Cost: V-Bucks.
- Parent Tip: Read our guide to Fortnite safety to understand the "Item Shop" cycle.
This is a mobile "hero shooter" that is massive with the elementary and middle school crowd.
- The Risk: It uses a lot of "flashing lights" and loot-box-style mechanics that trigger dopamine hits. It’s very easy to accidentally spend $2.00 here and $5.00 there.
- The Cost: Gems and Coins.
Don't let the "board game" brand fool you. This app is a masterclass in aggressive microtransactions.
- The Risk: It uses "near-miss" psychology to make you feel like you're just one roll away from a big win, encouraging you to buy more dice.
- The Cost: Rolls and Money packs.
Ages 5-8: The "No Money" Zone
At this age, kids don't understand the value of money, let alone digital money.
- The Strategy: Turn off in-app purchases at the OS level (iOS/Android settings).
- Recommendations: Stick to "one and done" games like Toca Life World (which has IAPs but is more manageable) or subscription services like Apple Arcade where there are zero microtransactions.
Ages 9-12: The "Digital Allowance" Phase
This is when the social pressure starts.
- The Strategy: Give them a fixed "Digital Allowance." Use gift cards (physical or digital) rather than linking your credit card. When the $10 of Robux is gone, it’s gone. This teaches them to prioritize which skins they actually want.
- Recommendations: Minecraft (Marketplace spending), Pokemon GO.
Ages 13+: The "Budgeting" Phase
Teens should be managing their own spending, but with transparency.
- The Strategy: Discuss the "Cost Per Hour" of entertainment. If they spend $20 on a Hades (a full game) and play for 60 hours, that’s a great deal. If they spend $20 on a skin they use for a week, is that worth it?
When you sit down to talk about this, don't lead with "You're wasting money." Lead with curiosity.
Try these prompts:
- "I see you really want that skin. What makes that one cooler than the one you have?"
- "Do you know how many V-Bucks you could get for the price of a real-world pizza?"
- "Have you noticed how the game tries to make you feel like you're 'missing out' if you don't buy something today?"
The goal is to build their "internal filter" so they can recognize when a game is trying to manipulate them.
Ask our chatbot for a script on how to talk to a kid who spent money without permission
If you're tired of the nickel-and-diming, look for "Premium" games. You pay once, and you get everything.
- Stardew Valley - $15 for hundreds of hours of wholesome farming.
- The Wild Robot by Peter Brown - (Okay, it's a book, but if they want a great story, start here).
- Tears of the Kingdom - A massive, beautiful world with zero microtransactions.
- Catan - A physical board game where the only "expansion" is a box you can actually hold.
Microtransactions aren't going away—they are the economic engine of the modern internet. Our kids are the first generation to grow up in a world where "money" is often an invisible, digital number.
By treating Roblox or Fortnite spending as a training ground for real-world financial literacy, you turn a potential conflict into a life lesson. It’s better they learn the pain of "wasted money" on a $5 digital hat now than on a high-interest credit card when they're 19.
- Audit your settings: Ensure your App Store/Play Store password is required for every purchase.
- Switch to Gift Cards: Stop the "direct pipe" from your bank account to the game.
- Take the Screenwise Survey: Understand how your kid's spending compares to other families in your community.