Call of Duty and Kids: Is the Game Too Mature?
When it comes to video games, there is a wide range of age ratings. And one of the most popular video games amongst boys is Call of Duty, a game that embraces modern warfare and violence.
So, it leaves parents questioning the Call of Duty age rating and if it’s safe for their kids to play.
Contents:
- What is Call of Duty?
- What is the Official Call of Duty Age Rating?
- Is Call of Duty Safe for Kids?
- Call of Duty Parental Controls
- What Parents Say
- How to Set Boundaries if Your Kid Plays Call of Duty
- FAQs
What is Call of Duty?
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Call of Duty is a highly popular video game series for PlayStation and Xbox that plunges players into intense, military-themed settings. It offers both single-player campaigns and multiplayer modes, allowing gamers to experience gripping storylines while competing or collaborating with others online.
What Are the Famous Games in the Call of Duty Series?
The Call of Duty series is vast, with games catering to different tastes. Each game offers a unique setting and storyline, ensuring there’s something for everyone in this franchise.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Known for its engaging storyline and cinematic gameplay, this game redefined the series with its realistic military tactics and missions.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops. This game introduced a thrilling Cold War-era setting and became famous for its intriguing story and multiplayer options.
- Call of Duty: World at War. Exploring World War II combat, it featured intense battles and introduced the beloved Nazi Zombies mode.
- Call of Duty: Ghosts. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, this installment offered unique gameplay mechanics and advanced weaponry.
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Known for its futuristic warfare with exoskeletons, this game offered advanced technology and a gripping narrative.
- Call of Duty: WWII. A return to World War II roots, it captured the historical authenticity and immersive combat scenes.
- Call of Duty: Vanguard. Featured on multiple WWII fronts, it expanded the series with diverse missions and atmospheric storytelling.
What is Call of Duty Mobile?
Call of Duty Mobile brings the intense action of the popular franchise to your smartphone. With its release in 2019, it offers classic maps, weapons, and characters from the series, allowing players to enjoy the adrenaline-pumping gameplay on the go.
This free-to-play game includes various modes, such as a Blackout-style Battle Royale, ensuring an immersive experience for fans of the series anywhere, anytime.
What is the Official Call of Duty Age Rating?
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What age is Call of Duty appropriate for? The age rating on the game, issued by the ESRB in North America, says it all. Below, you can find a table of the age ratings issued to the popular Call of Duty games.
| Video Game | Rating |
| Call of Duty (2003) | T (Teen) |
| Call of Duty 2 (2005) | T (Teen) |
| Call of Duty 3 (2006) | T (Teen) |
| Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: World at War (2008) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: WWII (2017) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) | M (Mature 17+) |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) | M (Mature 17+) |
Why is Call of Duty Rated Mature? Mature Rating Explained
Call of Duty games receive a Mature rating due to their intense content. These first-person shooter games often showcase military violence, gore, blood, weapons, and combat realism graphics, allowing players to experience intense battle scenarios. The use of strong language is common, adding to the mature atmosphere.
Additionally, online interactions through text and voice chat can expose players to toxic behavior or inappropriate content. These elements contribute to the game’s mature rating, indicating it may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Is Call of Duty Safe for Kids?
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Call of Duty isn’t really safe for younger kids. The Call of Duty violence level is intense, with war scenes that seem very real and might be scary. Kids might not be ready to handle such violent concepts, which can make them feel more aggressive or scared.
The game also has a lot of strong language and adult themes that aren’t suitable for kids. Plus, since it’s played online, kids can meet strangers or deal with cyberbullying and bad behavior, which can be difficult and sometimes even traumatic for them.
Playing violent games a lot can affect kids’ feelings and how they see violence in the real world. That’s why it’s super important for parents to decide if Call of Duty is okay for their kids based on their age and how mature they are.
But what age is Call of Duty appropriate for, if not for kids? Well, the first three games that were released are rated T for Teen, which means kids aged 13 can safely enjoy gameplay. However, all of the games released after 2006 are more appropriate for teens who are at least 17 years old.
Call of Duty Parental Controls
Even though certain options aren’t officially labeled as “parental controls,” for Call of Duty, they’re quite helpful in moderating the gaming experience.
Some games in the series, like Modern Warfare 2019 and Black Ops Cold War, allow you to disable the blood, gore, or strong language elements. This can significantly reduce the game’s mature content, making it a little more suitable for younger players.
The game also provides options to manage online interactions. The voice and text chat features can be modified to suit your comfort level. You can choose to mute voice chat altogether, disable text chat, or limit these conversations to friends only.
If things get out of hand with toxic behavior, Call of Duty also includes tools to report, mute, or block players. This helps create a less threatening online gaming environment, allowing players to take control if they encounter anyone mean or inappropriate.
What Parents Say
When it comes to FPS games and kids and their video game ratings, especially the PEGI/ESRB Call of Duty rating, most parents are quick to deny the game to their children and young teens. However, there are some parents who believe the game might be suitable when taking online gaming safety and content moderation into consideration.
One parent writes, “Call of Duty Moden Warfare 2019 is rated M in America and MA in any other part of the world and I live in Australia so one day when my son came up to me and asked for this game I looked it up and saw that it was rated MA but then found out that you can turn of the blood, gore and swearing so it makes the game rated M and not MA. So I let my son get the game and I watched him play it for a bit and I made sure that he turned the blood and swearing off. And…… It really wasn’t that bad at all! The campaign is very good because it teaches kids about war and history which in my opinion is great! Also the multiplayer has literally no blood at all! Even if you have the blood on there still won’t be any blood in the multiplayer! Also kids these days are very mature so they can very easily handle this. So if your kid is 11 or over and they ask to get this game, definitely say yes!”
Аnother parent on Reddit shared, “I think it depends on your child. I would let my daughter play it because she has quite a good head on her shoulders and has earned my trust with knowing right and wrong and good judgement. My son, however, he is just a toddler at the moment but I think I will be keeping a VERY watchful eye on him. I was playing games similar to COD as a kid, as young as ten. I don’t feel like it impacted me in a negative way except for the new found love of computer/video games.”
However, parents need to consider the lasting impact violent video games can have on their teens. A study shows that teens playing violent video games can become more aggressive.
It’s important for parents to talk about teen gaming habits and set online boundaries to ensure their teens don’t get sucked into the violence of Call of Duty.
How to Set Boundaries if Your Kid Plays Call of Duty
The Kids360 app
If you’ve decided to allow your child to play Call of Duty at a young age, one thing you can do to ensure the game does not have harmful effects is to set boundaries.
The first boundary is putting on the parental controls to censor blood, gore, and especially violent scenes in certain Call of Duty games. Talk to your children about multiplayer features and limit their interactions to only people they know.
Consider joining in on the game or sitting nearby to monitor what happens in the game. This can create bonding moments and also allows you to shield your child from inappropriate content or behavior.
Additionally, setting time limits and screen time management is also helpful. There are too many times teens stay up all night playing video games.
How to limit gaming time for kids? Use the Kids360 app! You can set screen time limits and even limits on specific apps, so you know your child doesn’t spend all night playing video games on their phone.
If you’re concerned about the violence in Call of Duty, explore less violent shooting games or team games that still offer fun and strategic play. Games like Rocket League or Splatoon are popular choices that focus more on teamwork and strategy without the intense violence.
Should You Let Your Kids Play Call of Duty?
Deciding whether your child should play Call of Duty depends on a variety of factors, including their age, maturity level, and your comfort level with the game’s content.
By staying informed about the game’s rating, understanding its potential risks, and setting clear boundaries, you can help ensure a positive gaming experience for your child. Remember, it’s not just about restricting play but ensuring safe and balanced exposure.
Kids360 offers a practical solution for managing your child’s gaming habits, allowing you to set limits on screen time and keep track of their gaming activities easily. By downloading Kids360, you’re taking a significant step toward creating a safer and healthier gaming environment for your child.
FAQs
Is Call of Duty appropriate for a 12-year-old?
While the official Call of Duty rating is for teenagers, either above the age of 13 or 17, depending on which game you choose, it’s up to the parents’ discretion whether the game is appropriate for their 12-year-old.
What Call of Duty is a 16?
The following Call of Duty games have a PEGI rating of 16:
- Call of Duty
- Call of Duty 2
- Call of Duty 13
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
- Call of Duty: Ghosts
Is Call of Duty more violent than Fortnite?
Yes, Call of Duty is significantly more violent than Fortnite. It has more realistic war depictions, gore, and violence.
Is Black Ops 6 ok for a 13-year-old?
Black Ops 6 is not generally recommended for 13-year-olds to play because it has a Mature rating, which is meant for players at least 17 years old.
Cover image: Sergei Elagin/Shutterstock
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