Apex Legends Parents Guide: Should You Let Your Kids Play?

Key Points

• Apex Legends is a popular battle royale game developed by Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts, featuring team-based gameplay with squads of three players.
• The game gained over 25 million players in its first week alone and has unique features such as a diverse cast of Legends with their own abilities and a respawn mechanic.
• Apex Legends is a free-to-play game with in-app purchases, and it has a moderate level of violence with cartoonish combat and a T for Teen rating from the ESRB.

Has your child expressed an interest in playing a game called Apex Legends? Unless you’re a gamer yourself, you likely don’t have a clue what this game is or what its gameplay entails. Don’t worry — You aren’t alone. We’ve assembled this Apex Legends parents guide to help you navigate the world of this popular game alongside your kids. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to know about the game. This will help ensure a safer, healthier gaming experience for your household. Here’s what parents should know about Apex Legends.

What Is Apex Legends?

Apex Legends is a popular battle royale game in a similar vein to Fortnite or PUBG: Battlegrounds. It was developed and published by two massively successful video game companies, Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts. The game was first released in February 2019 and quickly gained widespread attention in the months that followed.

Interestingly, the game takes place in the same universe as Respawn’s Titanfall series. However, it does not feature the iconic Titans. Instead, it focuses on a diverse cast of Legends, each with its own unique abilities. Unlike Fortnite or other battle royale games, Apex Legends brings a fresh take to the genre in the form of team-based gameplay with squads of three players rather than the traditional two or four.

The game was a surprise launch for fans of Titanfall and newcomers to the franchise alike. Even with zero marketing before its release, the game garnered more than 25 million players in its first week alone. This rapid growth is attributed to its engaging gameplay, smooth mechanics, and innovative communication system that helps players coordinate easily with their team. 

Apex Legends also incorporates a unique respawn mechanic, where teammates can revive fallen team members at designated beacons. The game’s frequent updates, new characters, and semi-annual battle passes have also kept players engaged. These are just a few of all the competitive advantages the game has over its rivals Fortnite and PUBG: Battlegrounds.

Apex Legends Release Chronology

Like Fortnite, Apex Legends relies on regular releases it calls “seasons.” Like a television season, each season lasts months at a time before the next season’s release. These seasons bring new characters, new items, new weapons, and new challenges to the game. In turn, these seasonal updates bring lapsed players back into the fold (even if it’s only to see what’s new). Additionally, each season comes with a special “battle pass” that unlocks additional items and goodies for a fee. Here’s an overview of past seasons and their release dates.

Apex Legends Events

In addition to Apex Legends‘ seasons, there are also semi-annual events that overhaul the look and feel of the game. These limited-time events fall around holiday seasons and other important events throughout the year. You may hear your children discuss seasons and events interchangeably. Both come with their fair share of additional fees and timely rewards that your kids can miss out on if they don’t play within the designated timeframe. Simply put, a new season or new event is a huge deal in the world of Apex Legends. Here’s a rundown of past events.

Apex Legends Rating: What Parents Should Know

Hopefully, you now have a better grasp of Apex Legends and the lore surrounding its seasons and events. Now comes the other pressing questions. How much does Apex Legends cost parents? What’s the goal of the game? Is it violent? And what kind of age range is suitable for the game? We’ve rounded up the answers to all these questions and more below. Here’s what parents like you should know about Apex Legends.

1. How Much Does Apex Legends Cost?

Since the day it launched, Apex Legends has been a free-to-play game. This explains much of its appeal, just like Fortnite and PUBG: Battlegrounds. However, that doesn’t mean that the game is completely free of charge. Battle passes and other exclusives cost money.

Free-to-play games differ from free games, after all. The difference is this: the game may be free to play, but it’s not free of in-app or in-game purchases and micro-transactions. From special character outfits to special weapon upgrades and beyond, Apex Legends has its fair share of fees.

Your kids can still play the game without paying a dime. However, they will be at a slight disadvantage compared to their peers and fellow players. The game brings in over a billion dollars a year in these micro-transactions — clearly, people shell out big bucks for these optional upgrades.

2. What Do You Do in Apex Legends?

In Apex Legends, a player joins a squad of three players to compete against other squads in a battle royale match. Your goal is simple: to be the last squad standing. You choose from a roster of unique characters called Legends, each with their own special abilities. Almost every new season brings with it a new Legend. As of this writing, the grand total is 24. The characters span five unique classes (or types): Assault, Skirmisher, Recon, Support, and Controller.

Players begin the game by jumping from an aircraft onto a large map. Once on the ground, players must search for weapons, armor, and supplies to prepare the squad for some intense combat. The map gradually shrinks due to a deadly zone called the Ring, forcing players into closer encounters as the clock runs. Communication is crucial to bringing home a victory. Players can ping items, enemies, and locations for their fellow teammates on the map.

If a teammate is knocked down, players can revive them at designated respawn beacons. The last squad remaining wins the match and earns rewards. Apex Legends players must bring a mix of shooting skills, tactical decision-making, and teamwork to the battle if they want to win. All in all, it’s an exciting and dynamic battle royale game enjoyed by over 100 million players worldwide — the majority of which are under 18.

3. Is There Violence in Apex Legends?

Despite being a first-person shooter game riddled with various weapons and guns, Apex Legends only has a moderate level of violence. Even though the primary objective of the game is to eliminate other players using firearms, explosives, and special abilities, the actual combat is cartoonish instead of realistic. Call of Duty: Warzone and PUBG: Battlegrounds are the more mature and graphic versions of the battle royale formula, while this and Fortnite are decidedly more adolescent. 

The extent of Apex Legends’ violence includes shooting, explosions, and melee attacks with handheld weapons like knives or bludgeons. This violence is an essential part of the game. That said, it’s relatively mild compared to some other shooter games. For instance, no blood or gore appears when characters are shot or eliminated. Likewise, when a character runs out of health, they simply fall down instead of dying.

4. What Is Apex Legends‘ Age Rating?

The ESRB has given Apex Legends a rating of T for Teen (13+). This rating comes from the game’s cartoon violence and minimal bloodshed. To compare it to film or television, this ESRB rating is equivalent to a PG-13 film or a TV-14 show. According to this age rating, any teenager should be able to play the game without encountering any problematic or troubling content inappropriate for their age group.

5. Is Apex Legends Safe for Kids 12 or Younger?

If your children are under the age of 12, then Apex Legends may or may not be safe for them. It all depends on what you deem appropriate for their individual maturity level. The game’s ESRB rating is T for Teen. This means the board doesn’t recommend the game for anyone under 13.

Apex Legends involves shooting and combat, which can be intense at times. While there is no graphic blood or gore, characters still engage in gunfights, use explosives, and carry out melee attacks. These might not be suitable for younger children.

We should also mention that the game is primarily played online with total strangers. This means your child could potentially interact with other players who may use strong language or engage in other inappropriate behavior you don’t want them to be exposed to.

The Verdict: Should You Let Your Kids Play Apex Legends?

So, should you let your kids play Apex Legends? The answer is not as simple as a yes or a no. From the game’s cartoon violence to its reliance on playing with dozens of strangers every round, your child may be exposed to things you don’t want them to be exposed to during an average run of Apex Legends.

Even if you’re okay with your child witnessing these things, there’s also the gameplay itself to consider. Apex Legends has a learning curve with its unique characters, abilities, and team-based mechanics. Younger children might find it challenging to fully grasp these concepts. The T for Teen rating takes this into account, as well.

We’d be remiss not to bring up the game’s micro-transactions again. From battle passes to special outfits and weapons, these small purchases involve players spending real money on in-game items. These micro-transactions add up fast, bringing in billions in revenue for Apex Legends. Younger kids can unknowingly spend hundreds, if not thousands.

Apex Legends is fine for teenagers 13 and older, but it may not be suitable for children under 12. Use your parental discretion and decide if you’re okay with its cartoon violence, unmonitored online interactions, and in-game purchases. If you’re uncertain, it helps to talk with your kids and gauge their maturity level before making your decision. 

You can also talk with other parents to get an idea of what they allow in their households. Another good idea is to watch YouTube videos of the game in action to see how comfortable you are with the gameplay and its themes. Keep up healthy conversations with your children about what is and isn’t okay when playing online games and then make your choice.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Mano Kors/Shutterstock.com.