Game · Medium risk
Is Pokémon GO safe for your child?
Age guide
8+
We advise Pokémon GO from age 8 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk).
- 5-8
- Younger children can enjoy catching Pokémon and spinning PokéStops with direct parental supervision, focusing on the collection aspect.
- 9-12
- Children in this age group often engage with Gym battles and Raids, which involve basic strategy and teamwork with other players.
- 13-15
- Teenagers might participate in community days and special research tasks, requiring more independent exploration and social interaction within the game's friend system.
- 16+
- Older players can delve into advanced competitive play, including Trainer Battles and managing extensive Pokémon collections for specific league requirements.
Pokémon GO is an augmented reality (AR) mobile game that encourages players to explore the real world to catch Pokémon. Players interact with virtual creatures overlaid onto their real-world environment using their phone's camera.
- Age guide
- 8+
- Overall risk
- 4/10
- Violence
- 1/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 3/10
- Stranger contact
- 4/10
- Addiction risk
- 9/10
- Language
- 2/10
- Influence
- 6/10
What parents should know
Pokémon GO encourages physical activity and exploration, but it also has social features like friend lists and proximity-based gameplay. Parents should monitor in-game interactions and location settings to ensure a safe experience. Discussing real-world safety, like not meeting strangers or sharing personal details, is crucial for players of all ages.
What to do about Pokémon GO
Free with a Parentwise account. The age-by-age verdict needs your child's age, which is why it lives behind the account.
- The age-by-age verdict
What we advise for under 8, 8-12 and 13+ - our age guide for Pokémon GO is 8+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact Pokémon GO setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about Pokémon GO without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in Pokémon GO that mean it is time to step in.
Pokémon GO age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is Pokémon GO?
Parentwise puts Pokémon GO at 8+. We advise Pokémon GO from age 8 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 1/10, language 2/10, stranger contact 4/10 and addiction risk 9/10.
Can a 10 year old play Pokémon GO?
Yes, 10 is at or above the age we advise for Pokémon GO (8+). Children in this age group often engage with Gym battles and Raids, which involve basic strategy and teamwork with other players.
Can a 12 year old play Pokémon GO?
Yes, 12 is at or above the age we advise for Pokémon GO (8+). Children in this age group often engage with Gym battles and Raids, which involve basic strategy and teamwork with other players.
Can a 13 year old play Pokémon GO?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Pokémon GO (8+). Teenagers might participate in community days and special research tasks, requiring more independent exploration and social interaction within the game's friend system.
Is Pokémon GO appropriate for kids?
Pokémon GO encourages physical activity and exploration, but it also has social features like friend lists and proximity-based gameplay. Parentwise rates Pokémon GO overall as medium risk (4/10), with stranger contact at 4/10 and addiction risk at 9/10.
Is Pokémon GO family friendly?
Pokémon GO sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. Parents should monitor in-game interactions and location settings to ensure a safe experience.
Pokémon GO parents guide: what should a parent know first?
Pokémon GO encourages physical activity and exploration, but it also has social features like friend lists and proximity-based gameplay. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (4/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (9/10).
Is Pokémon GO safe for kids?
We advise Pokémon GO from age 8 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Parents should monitor in-game interactions and location settings to ensure a safe experience.
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Release and popularity data comes in part from RAWG, TVMaze (CC BY-SA) and Wikidata (CC0). Safety guidance is written by Parentwise.