Among Us has become a worldwide hit, with players of all ages trying to figure out who the Imposter is. If you're wondering how old you need to be to join in on the space-themed fun, it's a good question to ask before jumping into a game.

So, how old do you have to be to play Among Us? The short answer is that official ratings suggest it's generally suitable for players aged 7 or 10 and up, depending on the rating system. However, the game's creators and many parents recommend it for slightly older kids, usually around 10 years old and above, mainly due to the social interaction and deception involved.

Different rating boards have slightly different age guidelines for Among Us. For instance, in North America, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) gives Among Us an E10+ rating, meaning it's suitable for "Everyone 10+" due to fantasy violence and mild blood. Across Europe, the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) board rates it PEGI 7, indicating it's suitable for ages 7 and up, citing mild violence. The Apple App Store also lists it for ages 9+, noting infrequent cartoonish violence and mild horror themes.

Why the Different Age Recommendations?

Even with these ratings, many parents and the game's developers suggest considering the overall experience. Here’s why:

• Social Deduction and Deception: The core of Among Us is about lying and figuring out who's lying. Imposters have to trick crewmates, and crewmates have to accuse others based on limited information. This requires a certain level of understanding and emotional maturity to handle, especially since kids need to know that lying is part of the game, not something to do in real life.
• Cartoon Violence: While the violence isn't gory, Imposters do "kill" crewmates with cartoon animations, like getting stabbed or shot, leaving behind a cartoon "dead body" for others to discover. These scenes are brief and stylized, but some parents might find them too intense for very young children.
• Online Chat and Strangers: A big part of Among Us is talking with other players to figure out the Imposter. If you play in public games, you might be interacting with strangers. The chat can sometimes expose players to inappropriate language, even with a censor option that isn't always perfect. Usernames can also be unsuitable.

I remember playing a round with my younger cousin, who was about eight at the time. She got super frustrated when she was falsely accused, even though it was just a game. We had to take a break and talk about how it's all part of the fun and not to take it too seriously. It really highlighted for me that the social and emotional side of the game is just as important as the visual content.

Chat Restrictions and Parental Controls

Among Us developers, InnerSloth, have put some rules in place to protect younger players. For example, their privacy policy states the game isn't meant for kids under 13, and users between 13 and 18 need parental permission to share personal info.

If you're under 13, you'll usually be limited to "Quick Chat," which means you can only use pre-set phrases to talk. This helps keep things safer by preventing exposure to inappropriate conversations. To use "Free Chat" (where you can type anything you want), players generally need to be 18 or older, or have parental permission if they're between 13 and 18. This is a good feature for parents to be aware of.

My own kids, who are a bit older, love playing with their friends and using the free chat. But I've definitely popped in on their games and seen some questionable usernames or quick comments from strangers in public lobbies, which makes me glad for the parental controls and the quick chat default for younger players. It's a good reminder to always keep an eye on what kids are doing online.

Ultimately, whether Among Us is right for a child depends on their emotional maturity and your family's comfort level with the game's themes and online interactions.

If you enjoy playing Among Us and want to grab some cool in-game cosmetics or other fun stuff, you can use Playstorm to redeem Apple or Google Play gift cards. These can be used to make in-app purchases and customize your character.