Raising Pokémon GO age rating: what parents of kids 4–7 should know
Pokémon GO age rating: Apple's App Store rates it 9+, for infrequent cartoon or fantasy violence, and Google Play rates it Everyone in the US. In the UK, Google Play now shows PEGI 16, noting it shares location and has purchases that include random items. Scopely Explore, which runs the game, says players under 13 need a parent's consent in most regions, and child accounts can't message other players. Common Sense Media, an independent nonprofit, lists it for ages 13 and up.
Pokémon GO at a glance
- ✓Official rating above age 7
App Store: 9+; PEGI 16 on Google Play UK - ✓Contact with other players or strangers
Raids, friends, trades; shares location - ✓Purchases with real money
PokéCoins $0.99 to $99.99 - ✓Paid random items
Google Play UK: includes random items - ✓Violence or scary content in rating descriptors
App Store: cartoon or fantasy violence - ✓Government lawsuits, fines, or safety warnings
Japan safety tips; NY parole condition (2016)
Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count.
| Type | Free location-based phone game (2016): catch Pokémon by walking around real places source |
|---|---|
| App Store (iOS) | 9+ (Apple: ages 9 and up) — infrequent cartoon or fantasy violence; in-app parental controls; PokéCoins $0.99 to $99.99 source |
| Google Play | US: Everyone — Mild Fantasy Violence; In-Game Purchases. UK: PEGI 16 (ages 16 and up) — shares location; includes random items source |
| Kids' accounts | Parental consent needed under 13 in most regions; child accounts can't message other players source |
| Common Sense Media | 13+ — privacy and safety issues from GPS and real-world movement |
| Government warnings | Japan's cybersecurity center issued nine safety tips for players in July 2016 source |
Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
What is Pokémon GO?
Short answer: A free phone game that uses GPS to place Pokémon in real places, so players walk around to find and catch them.
Niantic launched it in 2016 with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Scopely, which now runs it as Scopely Explore, completed its purchase of Niantic's games business in May 2025. Players catch Pokémon, battle at Gyms, and team up with other players in Raid Battles. Adventure Sync counts walking distance even when the app is closed.
Pokémon GO age rating: what's in it
Short answer: It's 9+ on the App Store, Everyone on Google Play in the US, and PEGI 16 in the UK.
- App Store: 9+, infrequent cartoon or fantasy violence; in-app parental controls.
- Google Play (US): Everyone, mild fantasy violence; in-game purchases.
- Google Play (UK): PEGI 16, with the notes "shares location" and "in-game purchases (includes random items)." PEGI announced in October 2026 that it is raising a selection of existing digital-only games with paid random items to PEGI 16.
- Common Sense Media: 13+, citing privacy and safety issues that come with GPS tracking and moving around in the real world.
Pokémon GO for kids under 13: accounts and controls
Short answer: Scopely Explore says children under 13 need a parent's or guardian's permission in most regions, and child accounts have limits.
- Login: a Kids @ Scopely Explore account or a Pokémon Trainer Club account, run by The Pokémon Company.
- Messaging: child accounts can't message other players.
- Parent Portal: parents decide on location access, friends and gifts, and Party Play.
- Purchases: parents can approve or turn them off; child accounts don't see ads.
- Campfire: Scopely's companion app for meeting nearby players, with direct and group messages, is rated 13+ on the App Store.
Government warnings about Pokémon GO
Short answer: Yes. Two governments acted in 2016.
Japan's National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity issued nine safety tips, including using a nickname, avoiding dangerous areas, not meeting strangers, and not using the phone while walking, AP reported. In August 2016, New York's governor directed that playing be treated as a parole violation for people on parole for sex offenses, and asked Niantic to remove PokéStops near their homes. We found no FTC or state attorney general action against the game; the settlements we found were private lawsuits.
The habit kids may copy: eyes on the screen
In Pokémon GO, the phone buzzes when a Pokémon is near, and players look down at the map while they walk.
Try tonight: stop, then look
Take a short walk and play "freeze": when you say "buzz," everyone stops, looks around, and names one thing they see. Say: "First I stop. Then I look." In our program, this is the lesson "The Pause Button": stop, breathe, choose.
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FAQ
What age is Pokémon GO for?
Apple's App Store rates it 9+, Google Play rates it Everyone in the US, and Common Sense Media lists it for 13+. Players under 13 need a parent's consent in most regions.
Does Pokémon GO have parental controls?
Yes. Through Scopely Explore's Parent Portal, parents decide on location access, friends and gifts, and Party Play, and can approve or turn off purchases.
Can kids chat with strangers in Pokémon GO?
Scopely Explore says child accounts can't message other players. Its separate Campfire app has direct and group messages and is rated 13+.
How much does Pokémon GO cost?
It's free to download. The App Store lists PokéCoins from $0.99 to $99.99.
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