🕹️ Games and platforms kids play
Pokémon GO
By Scopely Explore (formerly Niantic, now part of Scopely). Visit Pokémon GO
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A phone game played by walking around the real world. The map shows Pokémon, PokéStops and Gyms at real places; kids walk to them, catch Pokémon with a flick, hatch eggs by walking, and team up with nearby players for raids. Friends can trade and send gifts. It gets families outside, but it needs the phone's location the whole time. Niantic's games business is now run by Scopely under the name Scopely Explore.
Our take: A fun family walking game when a parent plays along; not one to hand to a young child to wander with alone.
| Ages it suits | about 6-16 (with a parent for young kids) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Pokémon GO is open to all ages, but a child (under 13 in the US, under 16 in parts of Europe, under 14 in Korea) needs a parent to verify their identity and consent, usually through a Kids @ Scopely Explore or Pokémon Trainer Club account. Scopely's other apps, such as Monster Hunter Now and Campfire, do not allow children at all. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Free to play; PokéCoins, raid passes and event tickets are sold in-game (Oct 2026). Purchases of virtual money and goods are final. |
| Works on | iPhone and iPad, Android |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
| The AI in it | No AI in play that the maker describes. |
What's good
- Gets kids walking and outside
- Good for family outings and shared goals
- Parent consent required for child accounts
Watch for
- Constant location tracking, including in the background if turned on
- Meeting strangers at raids and events in real places
- Safety risk of looking at a phone while walking near roads
- Paid raid passes, event tickets and coins
Data and privacy
The game collects device location as you play, and with background tracking on, while you are not playing. Children need verified parental consent; ads in the app are non-targeted sponsored gifts and sponsored real-world locations, with targeted ads for the apps only outside the US. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No study of learning found; the maker's claims are about getting outside and walking.
Alternatives to Pokémon GO
Desk researchPaidNo ads
7 Billion Humans
Tomorrow Corporation · ages about 10 and up
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.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Among Us
Innersloth · ages about 9-16
A good family or friends party game in private lobbies; keep younger kids out of public lobbies.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Nintendo · ages about 6-14
A calm, creative pick for younger kids; keep online visits to known friends.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Brawl Stars
Supercell · ages about 10-16 (App Store 13+)
Fine for tweens whose phone blocks purchases; skip if a child struggles with spending pressure or time limits.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Clash Royale
Supercell · ages about 9-16 (App Store 9+)
A real thinking game for strategy-minded tweens; lock in-app purchases on the phone first.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
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://pokemongo.com/en
- https://explore.scopely.com/terms
- https://explore.scopely.com/privacy
- https://explore.scopely.com/gameresources
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.