• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Magical MMO where kids learn to become wizards

Why We Rated This for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

• Ease of play:

  Easy to play, but younger players may need help. This is a beautiful, colorful animated world, yet you only need low system requirements to be able to play.
• Educational value:

  Minigames include age appropriate memory games as well as shape and color matching games. Players will also learn that making friends and assisting others will yield greater rewards.
• Messages:

  Cartoon characters are human, teachers in the school range from the small plump fairy-like characters to animals to the stereotypical old wizard with long white beard. The game is about learning and adventuring and the teachers are helpful when assigning you quests.
• Role models:

  By playing this game, kids learn that other players can be helpful to winning the game and that you don't always have to game alone. The in-game teachers are good role models.

What to watch out for

• Online interaction:

  Free form chat is available but it is monitored and has a stringent automatic language filter.
• Violence :

  Cartoon Violence where enemies are blasted by magic. Some spells include a bat who spits green goo, a frog who oozes acid, and a creature who farts. Losing participants in a magical duel collapse in various ways and simply disappear or in the case of a skeleton, falls apart and disappear. Defeated players will return to the Wizard School to rest and regain health and mana (magical power). Playing mini-games can hasten health and mana recovery. No blood, gore, or any other visible violent actions.
• Language:

  In game chat is controlled by quick chat choices which are easily accessed via an icon and menu system. Free-form chat is available but even these and the forums are heavily moderated and boast a stringent automatic language filter.
• Consumerism:

  Gamers playing for free will encounter areas which are locked and players are asked to go to the website to unlock them by paying a fee. This is called a velvet rope model where kids start to play for free but then get roped into spending money.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

About Wizard 101

Families Can Talk About