Fall Guys Parents’ Guide: What to Know Before Letting Your Kid Play

By August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fall Guys took the world by storm.

This silly little battle royale game puts bean-like characters head-to-head in a platforming race, reminiscent of the reality TV show Wipeout. It was initially launched on PC and PlayStation 4 for $19.99 but has since been made free-to-play and released on all modern video game consoles.

Due to the free-to-play nature of the game and the bright and cartoony art style, many young children are easily drawn to Fall Guys. Fall Guys also does frequent collaborations with Disney, Nickelodeon, and other kid-friendly brands.

The question parents have to ask is whether or not the game is right for their children, and that’s something that we would like to help out with! This article will go into detail about what the game is and what parents should know before making their decision.

Let’s break it down!

What Do You Do in Fall Guys? Is There Violence?

Fall Guys is a multiplayer-only game where cartoony bean-like characters race each other to the finish line to be the first bean to grab a crown. Inspired by the popular battle royale genre of video games, Fall Guys matches can include up to 60 players. Being too slow in a match will result in players being eliminated.

Fortunately for parents, elimination is far less violent than it sounds. The game simply shows the player’s bean falling off-screen, and players can immediately queue up for another match.

During a Fall Guys match, there are various different game modes that players will progress through, including the most common “race” format we mentioned before. During races, players will have to navigate around and jump over various obstacles, such as hammers attempting to knock them off, icy terrain, fake doors that do not open, and more.

As we mentioned before, this is very reminiscent of the reality TV show Wipeout, and we wouldn’t consider it necessarily violent. It is important to note that obstacles aren’t the only thing standing in your way, as other players can also attempt to push you off or hold you in place.

When not racing, players will be pitted against each other in minigames, such as being the last player standing on falling platforms or trying to steal a tail from another player (a glorified version of tag). These game modes will occasionally include players tackling each other, though this “violence” is very cartoony and may be less graphic than that shown on major cartoon networks.

What is Fall Guys‘ Age Rating?

Parents located in the United States or Canada are likely familiar with the “E,” “T,” and “M” labels printed on video games. These labels are governed by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, or ESRB.

The ESRB labels Fall Guys as “E,” which stands for “Everyone.” The only warnings included in their rating are that the game is multiplayer (players will interact with each other) and that there are in-game purchases.

For parents located elsewhere, video games will generally have PEGI ratings ranging from 3 to 18. PEGI stands for Pan-European Game Information and these ratings come from the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE). Fall Guys holds a PEGI rating of 3, meaning it is suitable for all age groups. This rating indicates there is no bad language, no frightening sounds or pictures, and at most, cartoon violence. Much like the ESRB rating, the PEGI rating does mention that Fall Guys offers in-game purchases.

With these two ratings in mind, Fall Guys is universally seen as friendly for all age groups. Your children will not be scared or harmed by playing Fall Guys, nor will they hear any bad language. With that in mind, your child might not enjoy the game at an age where they can’t grasp what’s happening.

How Much Does Fall Guys Cost? Is It Free?

Fall Guys is free-to-play as of mid-2022. Players can download and play the game entirely for free. Players will also not need PS Plus, Xbox Live Gold, or a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play the game. The only requirement is that players have an internet connection as Fall Guys is a multiplayer-only title.

In-Game Purchases

Despite being free-to-play, Fall Guys offers optional in-game purchases. Through these purchases, players can spend real money on new cosmetic items for their bean characters. In-game purchases can also be used to skip levels on the game’s battle pass, an optional progression system that resets every few weeks.

To ensure no surprises, we’ll briefly go over the different in-game purchase options and prices. The following list is based on U.S. prices and offerings. In addition to the prices seen below, special bundles are occasionally on sale which give you set cosmetics and currency in exchange for cash.

• 600 Show-Bucks: $4.99
• 1000 Show-Bucks: $7.99
• 2800 Show-Bucks: $19.99
• 5000 Show-Bucks: $31.99
• 13500 Show-Bucks: $79.99

For reference, the battle pass costs 600 Show-Bucks to unlock or 1,500 Show-Bucks to unlock and skip 12 tiers. Skipping tiers after this initial 12 will cost 100 Show-Bucks per tier. Cosmetics in the shop can range from 300 Show-Bucks to 2,000 Show-Bucks.

Parental Controls

Regardless of which platform your child is playing Fall Guys on, there are easy ways to limit their spending. All modern video game consoles offer some degree of parental control, and they generally offer limits on spending.

For more information on how to enable parental controls, check out the console manufacturer’s website or contact their support. The following table provides parental control information directly from the console manufacturers and PC storefronts.

Games like Fall Guys

If you have decided that you do not want your children to play Fall Guys, we will cover some alternative games that are fun for kids. You can also check these out if your kid enjoyed Fall Guys and wants more games like it. We will discuss what the games are and why we recommended them here.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

For parents whose children have a Nintendo Switch, a good racing alternative is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This game can be played both online and offline and does not offer in-game purchases. The game is rated E for everyone, was made by Nintendo themselves, and is developed with children in mind.

Super Mario Odyssey

Another option for Nintendo Switch players, this game will scratch the 3D platforming itch. Super Mario Odyssey is a single-player experience and offers no online play. There are no in-game purchases to worry about, and the game is rated for children 10 and up.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

For kids with a PlayStation console, Sackboy: A Big Adventure can scratch that 3D platforming itch instead. This game offers online functionality and in-game purchases, so keep that in mind. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is rated E for everyone by the ESRB.

ROBLOX

ROBLOX is another free-to-play game that was built with kids in mind, but it is recommended here with a few caveats. This game can be played on PC and all consoles except the Nintendo Switch.

ROBLOX is a great academic tool where kids can learn to make their own games. On the flip side, all games on ROBLOX are made by other players, and can thus vary drastically in content. It also features multiplayer-only gameplay and in-game purchases.

Disney Speedstorm

Available on consoles, PCs, and mobile devices, Disney Speedstorm is a free-to-play racing alternative. This Disney-themed racing game offers both single-player and online multiplayer content and has in-game purchases. As a Disney title, you already likely know what to expect here: at most, some cartoon violence.

Wrapping Up

We believe that Fall Guys is a perfectly safe and enjoyable game for children of all ages, and the various video game rating agencies agree.

With that in mind, we highly recommend enabling parental spending limits on any accounts children can access, especially for free-to-play games. Parents are also always welcome to join their children when playing Fall Guys, teaming up for some family fun and enjoyment.