🕹️ Games and platforms kids play
Genshin Impact
By HoYoverse (Cognosphere). Visit Genshin Impact
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A free open-world fantasy adventure in an anime style. Players explore a large world, fight monsters, solve puzzles and follow a long story with a party of characters. New characters and weapons come mostly from "Wishes," a paid random draw (gacha) using in-game currency bought with real money. Friends can join each other's worlds in co-op. It runs on phones, PC and consoles.
Our take: Better suited to older teens with firm spending rules; skip for kids who are drawn to chance-based spending.
| Ages it suits | about 13-18 |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | You must be an adult in your country to accept the terms; a minor may use the game only if a parent or guardian reviews and accepts the terms and takes legal and financial responsibility. In the US, accounts of children under 13 are deleted unless a parent gives verified consent, and players under 16 need a parent's consent before buying with real money. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Free to play; in-game currency for random Wishes and a monthly pass are sold in-game (Oct 2026). No prices on the maker's site. |
| Works on | iPhone and iPad, Android, Windows |
| Account | The child's own account |
| Ads | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
| The AI in it | The privacy policy says HoYoverse may train AI models on user input such as chat, but not on data from US users identified as children under COPPA. |
What's good
- Large, beautiful world to explore
- Can be played entirely free
- Story and puzzles, not only combat
- Under-16 purchases now need a parent's consent
Watch for
- Built around paid random draws (gacha), a gambling-like mechanic
- FTC penalty over misleading kids about odds and costs
- Targeted advertising and broad device tracking
- Long play sessions and daily login rewards
Data and privacy
Collects device and advertising IDs and uses them for targeted ads and ad measurement. The policy says it may train AI on chat input but excludes US children under COPPA, and players can opt out in settings. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
In January 2025 the FTC said the maker broke children's privacy law and misled players, including kids, about loot-box odds and real costs. It agreed to a $20 million penalty, to block under-16 purchases without parental consent, and to show real-money prices and odds.
Alternatives to Genshin Impact
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A great buy for puzzle-loving kids 10 and up who are ready to think like a programmer; younger children will do better with block-based coding games.
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A good family or friends party game in private lobbies; keep younger kids out of public lobbies.
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Animal Crossing: New Horizons
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A calm, creative pick for younger kids; keep online visits to known friends.
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Brawl Stars
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Fine for tweens whose phone blocks purchases; skip if a child struggles with spending pressure or time limits.
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Clash Royale
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A real thinking game for strategy-minded tweens; lock in-app purchases on the phone first.
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Fortnite
Epic Games · ages about 10-18
Suits tweens and teens whose parents set up Epic's controls; skip for young kids who are not ready for combat games or social play.
Where these facts come from
- https://genshin.hoyoverse.com/en/
- https://genshin.hoyoverse.com/en/company/terms
- https://genshin.hoyoverse.com/en/company/privacy
- https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/genshin-impact-game-developer-will-be-banned-selling-lootboxes-teens-under-16-without-parental
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.