Look, RuneScape is a piece of internet history. Many of us have fond memories of playing it in middle school computer labs. But let's be honest: it's aged like milk.

The game itself offers genuine freedom and a complex world, which is cool. But the safety concerns are real and significant. Unmoderated chat means your kid is exposed to everything from scammers to worse. The microtransaction model (despite what the technical specs say) has gotten increasingly aggressive over the years. And the core gameplay loop is designed to be addictive—endless grinding that keeps you coming back without necessarily building real skills.

If your teen is begging to play because their friends are on it, fine—but set clear boundaries around chat, spending, and screen time. Better yet, steer them toward more modern games with actual parental controls and less predatory design. This one's a pass for most families.