Elden Ring for 14 yo?
June 3, 2022 1:17 PM Subscribe
I'm trying to determine if Elden Ring is appropriate for a 14yo boy. Thoughts?
Kid mostly wants it for the challenge. He loves playing difficult games; he finished BofW, Cuphead and Hollow Knight for example.
I'm not a huge fan of the violence, but from what I've seen in online reviews and highlights it largely looks no worse than, say, a PG-13 movie, or Lord of the Rings. There's a bunch of blood, but I believe those effects can be turned down(?). That said it does have an M rating and is the first "grown up" game he's ever asked for. And unlike a PG-13 movie which he'd be watching mostly with his parents, this is a game he'd play by himself.
Assume screen time isn't an issue -- he plays soccer, takes karate seriously, and has been on top of his school work all year. It's really just about the content.
How would you make this decision?
Kid mostly wants it for the challenge. He loves playing difficult games; he finished BofW, Cuphead and Hollow Knight for example.
I'm not a huge fan of the violence, but from what I've seen in online reviews and highlights it largely looks no worse than, say, a PG-13 movie, or Lord of the Rings. There's a bunch of blood, but I believe those effects can be turned down(?). That said it does have an M rating and is the first "grown up" game he's ever asked for. And unlike a PG-13 movie which he'd be watching mostly with his parents, this is a game he'd play by himself.
Assume screen time isn't an issue -- he plays soccer, takes karate seriously, and has been on top of his school work all year. It's really just about the content.
How would you make this decision?
Elden Ring is more "creepy" than "gory", and the violence is not realistic like Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption. It's definitely a similar maturity level to Hollow Knight.
posted by Phssthpok at 1:54 PM on June 3, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Phssthpok at 1:54 PM on June 3, 2022 [4 favorites]
One thing that's interesting about Elden Ring is how in some ways it is what you make of it. For one example, there are a lot of animals that you can kill (and potentially use drops from them to say, make arrows). But coming across various turtles in the game, you find messages from other players that say "Dog. Don't you dare." to discourage other players from hurting them for no reason.
For another example, there are 6 different endings possible, ranging from "Generally helping the world" to "Destroy everything". The missions that you undertake and what you agree to do for other characters are generally what leads to various endings, so user action shapes that experience.
The things that you might want to consider are where the game trends into somewhat horrific implications. For example, [EARLY GAME SPOILERS], the first boss that you can fight has quite the collection of body parts. There's some dialogue with a side character (see the introduction section in that link) related to this that was pretty horrific in the implications, without being at all explicit. But that dialogue would have been easy enough to miss or skip over. Also, I suspect that those kinds of implications are more awful for adults than for younger folks.
Overall, I think the world building is amazing in the game, especially how much is hidden in the item descriptions and implications of passing dialogue with side characters. But if he's mostly wanting the challenge of the action, most of that is pretty straightforward fantasy.
posted by past unusual at 2:00 PM on June 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
For another example, there are 6 different endings possible, ranging from "Generally helping the world" to "Destroy everything". The missions that you undertake and what you agree to do for other characters are generally what leads to various endings, so user action shapes that experience.
The things that you might want to consider are where the game trends into somewhat horrific implications. For example, [EARLY GAME SPOILERS], the first boss that you can fight has quite the collection of body parts. There's some dialogue with a side character (see the introduction section in that link) related to this that was pretty horrific in the implications, without being at all explicit. But that dialogue would have been easy enough to miss or skip over. Also, I suspect that those kinds of implications are more awful for adults than for younger folks.
Overall, I think the world building is amazing in the game, especially how much is hidden in the item descriptions and implications of passing dialogue with side characters. But if he's mostly wanting the challenge of the action, most of that is pretty straightforward fantasy.
posted by past unusual at 2:00 PM on June 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
I think in a way it's such a high intensity game wrt focus and reaction the violence itself takes on almost an abstract quality, yes you're slashing things with a sword but the more important element is dodging and finding openings so it doesn't feel like a gore fest
posted by Ferreous at 2:02 PM on June 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Ferreous at 2:02 PM on June 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
Honestly, I think the M rating is a cautious one. I imagine most fourteen-year-olds would be okay, but I can imagine it bothering a sensitive fourteen-year-old that doesn't have much tolerance for horror.
As phssthpok says, the violence isn't realistic. There's blood, but it's highly stylized. It doesn't bother me at all, and I'm the type of person who will often choose not to watch a violent R-rated movie. There isn't actually a lot of detail given to the violence; the blood is the primary damage indicator, and it's almost cartoonish.
As cakelite says, the story in From Software games is cryptic. It will be dark and creepy and sad and violent, but honestly, is no worse than what many teens dream up when writing edgy fantasy stories.
I think really, the main thing to consider is the aesthetic, which is creepy and sad and horrific in the 'oh how awful' rather than the 'oh how jump-scary' kind of way (e.g. the kind of boss that past unusual linked you to).
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 2:08 PM on June 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
As phssthpok says, the violence isn't realistic. There's blood, but it's highly stylized. It doesn't bother me at all, and I'm the type of person who will often choose not to watch a violent R-rated movie. There isn't actually a lot of detail given to the violence; the blood is the primary damage indicator, and it's almost cartoonish.
As cakelite says, the story in From Software games is cryptic. It will be dark and creepy and sad and violent, but honestly, is no worse than what many teens dream up when writing edgy fantasy stories.
I think really, the main thing to consider is the aesthetic, which is creepy and sad and horrific in the 'oh how awful' rather than the 'oh how jump-scary' kind of way (e.g. the kind of boss that past unusual linked you to).
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 2:08 PM on June 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
My 14 year old plays it. I’ve watched a bit of it and it seems pretty tame by the standards of a game targeted at adults. There are a lot of adult oriented video games I don’t want him to play at this age but this one seems fine. I think that’s because it’s fantasy so it does not have the nihilistic vibes that other more realistic video games have.
posted by scantee at 3:39 PM on June 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by scantee at 3:39 PM on June 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have a child around that age, and I'm probably more conservative than most here about the media I allow my kid to watch/hear/play. I don't have a problem with him playing Elden Ring.
The violence doesn't take place in a realistic context and I can't see it encouraging violent behavior outside of the game. Yes, some of it involves swinging swords, but you can also use a staff to create a gravity wave or summon ghostly living jars, for example. Also, the overall message of the game isn't something socially negative or hateful. While there is a gloomy aesthetic to the game world, there are also areas that are conventionally beautiful.
There's definitely some body horror themes in the game, so if your child is sensitive to that it might not be a good purchase. I would keep time management in mind, because it isn't unusual for a first play through of the game to take over a hundred hours.
posted by Chuck Barris at 4:04 PM on June 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
The violence doesn't take place in a realistic context and I can't see it encouraging violent behavior outside of the game. Yes, some of it involves swinging swords, but you can also use a staff to create a gravity wave or summon ghostly living jars, for example. Also, the overall message of the game isn't something socially negative or hateful. While there is a gloomy aesthetic to the game world, there are also areas that are conventionally beautiful.
There's definitely some body horror themes in the game, so if your child is sensitive to that it might not be a good purchase. I would keep time management in mind, because it isn't unusual for a first play through of the game to take over a hundred hours.
posted by Chuck Barris at 4:04 PM on June 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
Internet comedy troupe LoadingReadyRun have been doing a Let's Play of Elden Ring ; link goes to archived episodes on YouTube. The LRR crew are generally upbeat, positive and are decidedly queer-friendly, so I generally have no reservations about recommending their content. However, they do drop the occasional F-bomb etc. when bad things happen, so fair warning if that's an issue. But, if you want to skim a couple of those episodes, you can get a feel for the game, as played by some genuinely wholesome folks.
posted by xedrik at 5:17 PM on June 3, 2022
posted by xedrik at 5:17 PM on June 3, 2022
This isn’t exactly what you asked for, so apologies if it’s a derail, but you might want to point him at Dead Cells if he enjoyed Hollow Knight and Cuphead. Still rated Teen and a very difficult platformer with parts that feel a bit like Hollow Knight. It doesn’t feel “kiddie” at all and has some fun references to other video games.
posted by A Blue Moon at 7:29 PM on June 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by A Blue Moon at 7:29 PM on June 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
Elden Ring will rock their world in a great way. It’s nothing like you said you couldn’t find in a pg-13 movie but in a fantasy game. It’s awesome.
But I was reading Stephen King’s IT at 10 so I’d be pro having them play it regardless.
It’s really stylized and you’re not like hacking into anything in a real way if that matters.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 8:14 PM on June 3, 2022
But I was reading Stephen King’s IT at 10 so I’d be pro having them play it regardless.
It’s really stylized and you’re not like hacking into anything in a real way if that matters.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 8:14 PM on June 3, 2022
FromSoftware games are generally appropriate for teens, and Elden Ring is no exception. Their games tend to be rated M just for bloody violence and some grotesque monster designs.
There's an in-game option to turn the blood off. The violence is mostly just fantasy hack and slash -- no dismemberment or anything like that.
There's also a bit of nudity, although no nipples or genitalia. One of the late-game bosses (Malenia) is nude. The penultimate boss is also nude, sort of. The game itself is almost entirely sexless, but other players leave all kinds of horny messages everywhere. (The message system is overall a great idea and it's fun to leave helpful or clever messages, but I've also seen some really gross ones.)
(my personal opinion: Elden Ring is an astonishingly good game and your son should play it. if he liked Hollow Knight he'll probably love it. and if he likes Elden Ring there are six other FromSoftware action-RPG masterpieces to try. I enjoy them all greatly as an adult and can't imagine if games like this existed when I was a kid.)
posted by neckro23 at 8:18 PM on June 3, 2022
There's an in-game option to turn the blood off. The violence is mostly just fantasy hack and slash -- no dismemberment or anything like that.
There's also a bit of nudity, although no nipples or genitalia. One of the late-game bosses (Malenia) is nude. The penultimate boss is also nude, sort of. The game itself is almost entirely sexless, but other players leave all kinds of horny messages everywhere. (The message system is overall a great idea and it's fun to leave helpful or clever messages, but I've also seen some really gross ones.)
(my personal opinion: Elden Ring is an astonishingly good game and your son should play it. if he liked Hollow Knight he'll probably love it. and if he likes Elden Ring there are six other FromSoftware action-RPG masterpieces to try. I enjoy them all greatly as an adult and can't imagine if games like this existed when I was a kid.)
posted by neckro23 at 8:18 PM on June 3, 2022
Oh, yes, I should add that if it's played online there are a lot of messages other than the turtle one, many of which seem to be written by teens of approximately your son's age. The way the messaging system works, you have to select from a list of preformatted phrases and words, so there is a limit of what you can say and so the system can automatically translate between languages. To read a message's content you have to specifically move to where the icon is located and press a button to trigger the popup.
I can tell that there is a lower average age for this game than previous FromSoftware games because there are. so. very. many. messages that read "Try finger. But hole." To the point that it became almost comical. Almost. (And, yes, after 180+ hours of off and on watching my spouse play this game, in response to normal household queries I have straight-faced given him this response. It's the little things in life.)
Also, apparently any messages about there being "no horse ahead" are the equivalent dunk on other players in China--I guess it sounds similar to saying something about not having a mother in maybe Mandarin...?
At his age, he may find this funny. If you'd prefer he not see/create such messages, you can have him play offline.
posted by past unusual at 10:07 PM on June 3, 2022
I can tell that there is a lower average age for this game than previous FromSoftware games because there are. so. very. many. messages that read "Try finger. But hole." To the point that it became almost comical. Almost. (And, yes, after 180+ hours of off and on watching my spouse play this game, in response to normal household queries I have straight-faced given him this response. It's the little things in life.)
Also, apparently any messages about there being "no horse ahead" are the equivalent dunk on other players in China--I guess it sounds similar to saying something about not having a mother in maybe Mandarin...?
At his age, he may find this funny. If you'd prefer he not see/create such messages, you can have him play offline.
posted by past unusual at 10:07 PM on June 3, 2022
Yes, I think it's fine. The LotR is a good benchmark - if you're fine with that I can't think of anything in Elden Ring that would be a problem.
posted by Ragged Richard at 6:14 AM on June 4, 2022
posted by Ragged Richard at 6:14 AM on June 4, 2022
My 13 and 15 yo sons play it. If it helps, the vast majority of the time they're running past things rather than hitting them. Apparently hitting stuff does not pay off in Souls-type games. While Common Sense Media recommends it for 15+, parent reviews say 11+ and kids reviews say 12+.
posted by some little punk in a rocket at 6:09 AM on June 5, 2022
posted by some little punk in a rocket at 6:09 AM on June 5, 2022
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Hidetaka Miyazaki Is the main creative force behind Elden Ring and the other big dark fantasy From Software games, and he once said that as a kid he loved reading high fantasy novels in English but because his English wasn’t very strong he had to fill in a lot of the story details himself and that he tries to give his games a similar feeling.
Anyway, I don’t play these games but my husband has logged about twelve billion hours playing Elden Ring and the other Souls games, and I have never seen anything in them that offends or annoys me.
posted by cakelite at 1:42 PM on June 3, 2022 [1 favorite]