The Parent’s Guide to Roblox You Want to Read
“Mom! I just won my class spelling bee! Guess how I did it?! I knew all the hard words from playing Roblox!” Yes, this was an actual conversation I had with my 4th grader just a few weeks ago. While kids don’t play Roblox to expand their vocabulary, it definitely hasn’t hurt our son’s knowledge of totally random and useless facts.
Our son has, over the course of the past couple of years, played Roblox with his best friend. Since they couldn’t see each other in person due to the COVID pandemic, they were able to connect online and play Roblox together, which is what prompted me to create this guide for parents new to Roblox and online gaming.
(If you are looking for video games you can play together as a family, check out “5 Best Family Video Games for a Fun Game Night“)
Roblox, the incredibly popular game released in 2006, continues to rise in popularity. This online multiplayer game has proven to be a major hit with kids of all ages with a bevy of unique games available.
Roblox isn’t a linear game, but rather a hub of hundreds if not thousands of player-made games. That’s right, all of the games on Roblox are made by Roblox players for Roblox players.
As Roblox continues to gain traction with younger audiences, it is important parents know what to expect of the game, especially with it being an online multiplayer game.
Following is everything you as a parent need to know about this free, mega-hit game.
Parent’s Guide to Roblox
Robux
Roblox does feature in-game microtransactions in the form of Robux. Robux can be purchased with real money and exchanged for items in the game.
Additionally, many maps feature pads and buttons that will prompt players to spend Robux, so be wary of that if you have a credit or debit card linked to the account.
Robux can also be used in the games cosmetics store, where players can buy aesthetic accessories for their character.
In-Game Violence
Because Roblox’s games are made by gamers, it should be no surprise that many of the maps feature violence and gunplay to a certain degree. There are several maps featuring themes such as criminal justice, gang warfare, and military combat.
However, none of these games have blood or gore, and when the player loses health they simply fall apart like LEGO characters.
Additionally, the weapons in the game range from realistic to comical, but it all depends on the individual game. There are plenty of games that have nothing to do with violence on Roblox but be warned that a good chunk of them do.
Basic Roblox Vocabulary
Roblox, like many games, has developed a loyal following in its decade-plus run. As such, many players have gaming jargon they use in the game which can be confusing to new players. Following are some quick technical terms for Roblox and their meaning.
Obby
An obby is an obstacle course, players will have to jump, climb, and crawl to the end on these fan-favorite maps.
Noob
A new player, derived from the term “newbie”. Noob can be used as an insulting term or as a neutral term. Noob can be used to describe players who are new or players who are bad.
MOB
A computer-controlled enemy, usually a monster. MOB’s can be a variety of monsters that may attack the player or other MOB’s.
NPC
Non-Player Character, a computer character that can interact with players. NPC’s are docile and don’t do a lot other than help guide the player or offer ambiance to a map.
Game Modes
There are many different types of game modes, all with their own goals and objectives. Following are some of the most common types of games, and an explanation for them.
Tycoons
Players start off with little to no money (the money is specific to this game and does not need to be purchased with real-world currency) and must expand their business to gain more money.
Work at a(n) X
Similar to Tycoons, but with more emphasis on the employee aspect rather than the business owner aspect.
Role Play Servers
Role Play Servers allow players to take on a specific role and interact with other players in a controlled setting, such as a city, military base, or high school. Roleplay servers can incorporate aspects of PvP and Work at an X server.
PvP Servers
Player versus Player servers, where gamers can duke it out against one another in a variety of ways. Players may engage in gunplay or melee combat, scoring points and moving up the leaderboards.
As mentioned before, the violence is tame even with realistic-looking guns. Players have health bars and will fall over if the bar reaches zero, with no blood or gore to accompany it.
Online Communication
Roblox heavily restricts vulgar or otherwise inappropriate language in its chat. In addition, there are multiple chat settings available to gamers in the profile settings.
It should be noted, however, that some players will attempt to work around profanity filters, so gameplay should be monitored by a parent. While profanity and inappropriate language are rare, they can happen as in all multiplayer games.
Additionally, the game offers emotes that players may use to perform a variety of actions, such as dancing. These are all heavily monitored by Roblox, and need to be approved before they can be used.
Themes of Horror
Due to its extensive map maker, many players use Roblox to create maps geared to older kids and adults. Some players make horror-themed maps, where you may be chased by some creature or monster. The games are always exaggerated and cartoony, but players can place objects that look like blood, or weapons in their maps.
Additionally, games may contain creepy music or locations such as abandoned houses or sewers. Parents should be advised that these maps may not be appropriate for younger kids as they can be somewhat scary.
The Rundown on Roblox
While Roblox can be a great and fun game, it does present some issues for parents, especially for parents of younger kids. Being that most of the game’s content is made by other players, it isn’t always appropriate for everyone.
If you are looking for video games you can play together as a family, check out “5 Best Family Video Games for a Fun Game Night“.
Parents will need to moderate the game, especially if they have younger kids playing it. With themes of horror and violence present in some games, there are certain parts of Roblox parents may wish to keep their kids away from.
On the other hand, there is plenty of fun and completely safe games that your kids are sure to love. Roblox sometimes gets a bad reputation, but it cannot be understated the amount of time, skill, and creativity that goes into some of the player-made games.
With these tips, you as a parent can be better educated about your child’s gaming interests, and help keep them safe on the internet. Roblox isn’t for everyone, but as long as you stay safe, you can have a really fun time.