Fortnite-You've have absolutely heard of it. The game was released by Epic in 2017 and has gained over 200 million players from the UK to China to America. This game has gained a reputation as one of the most fun, challenging and exciting games out there. This game has been remarkably popular on Twitch, TikTok and YouTube, and if your kid has a gaming console, I am sure they have asked or mentioned Fortnite once or twice. This game has maintained an age rating of 12+, most likely because it centers around guns. However there is a misconception about this game. Many parents believe it is full of blood and violence. This couldn't be further from the truth. The game is very family-friendly, with a non-violent death animation. Obviously, in a game of guns it is not completely free of elements that may scare or worry your child; however, very few people would struggle to cope.

Main Worries

There are a few major worries or misconceptions some people have about Fortnite.

1. Online Gaming 

   We  completely understand many parents' problems with online gaming. Having your child exposed to strangers is always comes with concerns and risks. However, there are many ways of limiting their access to other people. First of all, you can disable their voice chat. You can block friend requests from others and view over other privacy settings. At the end of the day, this game is designed for kids, so it does have safety features in place. Please look at the video linked below for the first important privacy setting on Fortnite.

2. Addiction 

   We've all seen videos of kids addicted to Fortnite. This is indeed a major with games in general. We know many parents don't enjoy taking away kids access to screens, as often times they can be helpful. Before allowing your child to play Fortnite, set  clear time limits. You could say 3 matches per day (each taking about 20-30 minutes). You can set a window, say from 4-6:30.  limiting screen time from the start is crucial. But parents, NO, YOU CANNOT PAUSE AN ONLINE GAME.  This is a common misconception, but if they say, "I'm just in the middle of a game," odds are they've already spent a good 15 minutes getting to this point. Let them finish the game as they have been working hard towards this.
3. Money
4. Yes, Fortnite is free; however in-game costs often put parents off.  The way of getting around this issue is setting a limit once again. Every season( which lasts around 3 months on average ), there is a battle pass costing about £6 worth of in-game currency. This gives them exclusive access to all the skins and items for that season. Maybe agree to get them that every time, or say you will not spend any money on the game but any money they get they are perfectly free to use.
5. Now for our rating

Fortnite is an entertaining and creative game for kids and adults alike. We believe a12+ is too  high. Therefore, because of the relatively non-violent nature, and the way it can teach your child teamwork and creativity, our rating is 8+.