Game · Medium risk
Is Pokémon Showdown safe for your child?
Age guide
8+
We advise Pokémon Showdown from age 8 and up. Overall risk 5/10 (medium risk).
- 5-8
- Younger players might enjoy the visual aspect of Pokémon Showdown and basic battling, but the strategic depth and text-based chat are generally too complex for this age group.
- 9-12
- Children in this age range can begin to grasp the strategic elements of team building and battle mechanics, often engaging in casual play and learning from the community without deep competitive focus.
- 13-15
- Teenagers often delve into competitive play on Pokémon Showdown, experimenting with advanced strategies, participating in tournaments, and engaging in more detailed discussions within specific chat rooms.
- 16+
- Older teens and adults frequently use Pokémon Showdown for high-level competitive practice, testing complex team compositions, and participating in community-run leagues and events that require extensive game knowledge.
Pokémon Showdown is a fan-made, online battle simulator for the Pokémon video game series. It allows players to build custom teams and battle against others without needing to own the official games or spend hours training Pokémon.
- Age guide
- 8+
- Overall risk
- 5/10
- Violence
- 2/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 4/10
- Stranger contact
- 6/10
- Addiction risk
- 7/10
- Language
- 3/10
- Influence
- 5/10
What parents should know
Pokémon Showdown is a fan-made, web-based battle simulator for the Pokémon franchise, allowing players to build teams and battle online without needing the official games. It's primarily text-based, involving strategic gameplay and a live chat feature during battles and in public rooms. The platform is generally well-moderated but requires parents to monitor chat interactions, especially given the competitive nature of the game.
What to do about Pokémon Showdown
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 Showdown is 8+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact Pokémon Showdown setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about Pokémon Showdown without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in Pokémon Showdown that mean it is time to step in.
Pokémon Showdown age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is Pokémon Showdown?
Parentwise puts Pokémon Showdown at 8+. We advise Pokémon Showdown from age 8 and up. Overall risk 5/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 2/10, language 3/10, stranger contact 6/10 and addiction risk 7/10.
Can a 10 year old play Pokémon Showdown?
Yes, 10 is at or above the age we advise for Pokémon Showdown (8+). Children in this age range can begin to grasp the strategic elements of team building and battle mechanics, often engaging in casual play and learning from the community without deep competitive focus.
Can a 12 year old play Pokémon Showdown?
Yes, 12 is at or above the age we advise for Pokémon Showdown (8+). Children in this age range can begin to grasp the strategic elements of team building and battle mechanics, often engaging in casual play and learning from the community without deep competitive focus.
Can a 13 year old play Pokémon Showdown?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Pokémon Showdown (8+). Teenagers often delve into competitive play on Pokémon Showdown, experimenting with advanced strategies, participating in tournaments, and engaging in more detailed discussions within specific chat rooms.
Is Pokémon Showdown appropriate for kids?
Pokémon Showdown is a fan-made, web-based battle simulator for the Pokémon franchise, allowing players to build teams and battle online without needing the official games. Parentwise rates Pokémon Showdown overall as medium risk (5/10), with stranger contact at 6/10 and addiction risk at 7/10.
Is Pokémon Showdown family friendly?
Pokémon Showdown sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. It's primarily text-based, involving strategic gameplay and a live chat feature during battles and in public rooms.
Pokémon Showdown parents guide: what should a parent know first?
Pokémon Showdown is a fan-made, web-based battle simulator for the Pokémon franchise, allowing players to build teams and battle online without needing the official games. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (6/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (7/10).
Is Pokémon Showdown safe for kids?
We advise Pokémon Showdown from age 8 and up. Overall risk 5/10 (medium risk). It's primarily text-based, involving strategic gameplay and a live chat feature during battles and in public rooms.
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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.