What You Should Know About Roblox and the Reasons Behind Kids’ Obsession

The video game just had a $45 billion valuation. Since the beginning of lockdown, it has also been my kids’ only means of survival.

Despite the abundance of glitzy AAA games and quirky indies on my house’s numerous video gaming consoles, phones, and PCs, my 8-year-old daughter spends most of her time on a free-to-play game called Roblox on whichever screen she happens to have in front of her. She also uses a significant portion of her allowance to pay for a Roblox Premium membership.

She is not by alone. According to Rooster Money, Roblox is the most played game among children aged 5 to 12 in the US. It also led the UK’s pocket money spending records in 2020, surpassing Fortnite. The company, which was valued at an astounding $45 billion, recently started trading on the New York Stock Exchange. With over 32.6 million daily active users and 8 million active creators and developers across 180 countries, you can play it almost anywhere—on an Xbox, phone, laptop, or PC. Making a Roblox account is totally free.

Although my 11-year-old son claims he isn’t into Roblox and plays other games, the fact that I frequently catch him using it betrays otherwise. It’s one of the only games, he claims, that he can play with all of his buddies.

Online Universes

Let’s clarify one issue. It’s not actually a game, Roblox. Players can jump between several virtual worlds and play any game on this free platform. It is crammed with content made by users that spans an astounding range of titles and genres. There are several problems and malfunctions, the graphics are simplistic, and even many of the most well-known games are unpolished. After witnessing my kids play, I didn’t understand the draw, but I eventually joined in.

My kid requested that I start using SharkBite. I joined her on my PC while she was on her phone. In the game SharkBite, the goal is to devour other players like a colossal shark. Those left standing seize weapons and attempt to either kill or avoid the lethal jaws. It’s rough around the edges—my daughter’s avatar was left floating around in a sitting posture after a boat collision—but it didn’t stop us from laughing and screaming as we sought to hide and eventually got eaten.

The ease with which you may invite friends to join you in various virtual worlds or games is one of the secrets to the platform’s popularity. With a single button click, they can appear side by side. My kids have open chat channels on their phones, and they are often debating which game to play. Avatars and the fundamental controls are available everywhere, and there are no drawn-out downloads or loading periods. Exploration is made enjoyable by the sheer variety and quirky nature of it.

In addition, we played a game called Royale High that’s unlike anything I’ve ever played. When I contacted Callmehbob, the person who created it, she declined to give her true identity.

In an email, Callmehbob (also known as @Nightbarbie) writes, “I created the game I’ve been wanting to play but couldn’t find anywhere.” It turns out that a lot of others were also searching for a game of that kind, and it took off without warning.

Callmehbob began using Roblox in 2007—yes, the app has been around that long—but she didn’t start making games for the platform until 2017, when she was 22 years old. Royale High has been played over 5 billion times. She transformed her pastime into a full-time career despite having no prior experience. Making a game that you would want to play yourself and incorporating means to earn money are, according to her, the keys to success in creating a replayable game.

Callmehbob says, “There are so many players on Roblox that you will find your special, perfect audience.” “The number of players who share my interests and mindset still astounds me.”

I study English at Royale High, a school built like a castle. I scored a perfect ten on the interactive spelling test. Before chemistry, I quickly grab the appropriate book from my locker. Later, I take a shower and choose out a new clothing in preparation for a dance. I’m moved when I win the title of “king of the ball,” which entails 500 diamonds and a bouquet of flowers, after drinking punch and dancing.

“Creating entertaining games to earn currency and entertaining shop items to spend that currency on (giving players a goal to work towards) has been a constant balancing act,” Callmehbob said of the development of Royale High.

Royale High has a charming sweetness to it, and there’s more to discover in the mystical world outside of the school. My daughter and I once came onto a clearing in the forest that had a bonfire and everything we needed to make smores. You can find or earn currency through a variety of mini-games, which you can then use to purchase amazing clothing and accessories.

Regarding the increase in Roblox users, she remarks, “I think we helped contribute to bringing a whole new wave of people, by making a more feminine game, a style/genre I frequently search for and want to play but is somewhat difficult to find.” “Grateful to the other female-focused games that came before me and cleared the path!”

Although half of the gamers are female, this type of gameplay is underrepresented in the larger, still male-dominated games industry. Many people prefer a slower pace or a different type of gaming, yet there are plenty of violent or competitive games available.

dancing Off, a dancing and fashion game that requires you to choose an attire and haircut before going on stage for a performance, is another one of my daughter’s faves. To determine the winner, each player rates the others. It is repetitious, but maybe that’s part of the attraction. My kid is popular because she has played it a much. “Novice” floats above my head and “Popular” floats above hers.)

Callmehbob reminisces about having a great time playing games repeatedly during her childhood. “Knowing what to expect can be very comforting, particularly at a time when a young person’s life may be rocky and uncertain.”

Popularity Explosion

Since its 2006 launch, Roblox has expanded gradually; but, during the 2020 shutdown, it had a significant spike, adding over 50 million monthly active users and 5 million active producers. Up from $110 million in 2019, the developer community is expected to make over $250 million in 2020. Although the majority of artists are casual Roblox users, others, like Callmehbob, have made the site their full-time work, and professionals, like the Swedish game studio the Gang, have started to use it.

Even pupils aged 11 to 18 in Singapore are being taught game design by a teacher utilizing the platform. Although there are still a lot of dull copies of well-known games on Roblox, there is also a lot of creativity and originality. Additionally, you may get all the courses and building pieces you need to get started for free.

According to Philip Williams, head of Library Services at United World College of South East Asia’s East Campus, “Roblox offers quite an easy starting point for students new to game design while also offering the opportunity to develop high-level coding, modeling, and game design skills.” Williams adds via email.

Robux, the platform’s in-game currency, may be purchased with real money. Premium payouts, which offer producers a portion of membership fees based on how long players spend in their games or virtual worlds, provide funding for developers. In addition, game developers might charge for virtual goods like apparel and accessories and game passes. In certain cases, however, players can purchase cars, guns, and unique skills. My daughter wants to subscribe because she says you can tell who is a “noob” by their default clothing.

Developers can also utilize Robux to promote their games on the platform. When there are so many alternative virtual worlds to select from, discoverability is essential. Roblox features a somewhat complicated bidding mechanism in which your ad will display more frequently the higher your bid. It’s challenging to turn those ad views into revenue. My kids say they find most games by word of mouth and hardly ever click on advertisements.

Hotspot for Creativity

Next up comes the role-playing game Brookhaven, which takes place in a big city. It is possible to own a home, operate a variety of automobiles on public roads, and even find employment. I go on a bank heist with my daughter, and we escape via tunnels beneath the earth. After that, I land a job as a pilot, we call in an emergency, and we return to the streets below by parachute. Though erratic and disorganized, it’s definitely enjoyable.

The majority of Roblox users are under 13, about half of them are female, and it seems like the company wants to attract more mature players to its platform—everyone I talk to believes it’s not only for kids. This is particularly true for children who grew up playing Roblox and carry on doing so throughout adulthood.

However, growth pains are a given. Although Roblox’s user base has been primarily established as a family-friendly setting, there are already worries around online dating and improper behavior on the part of certain users. Though some of the games I’ve tested have a more adult vibe, my kids report they haven’t encountered anything unsettling in their nearly constant play and conversation with real-life pals. Although there is human moderation and a filter for younger players to remove offensive language, any platform this size will unavoidably have some negative aspects.

If you’re concerned, you may go into Roblox’s settings and filter your children’s friend list, restrict chat to just their pals, and decide who they can chat with. Additionally, you can disable chat entirely or impose restrictions on the games your child is permitted to play on their account.

Another great favorite that makes a suitable conclusion is Flee the Facility. As a beast, one player must track down survivors who must break into computers to unlock doors that lead to safety. When the beast is getting close, you can detect it via a red light and auditory clues. It has a similar addictive hook to Dead by Daylight and a genuine sense of jeopardy, even if violence is hinted at rather than explicitly shown. My daughter is the beast; she hammers me till I die and has no pity.

The last thing I hear is, “Ha ha, die noob!”

Roblox is a creative hub despite all its idiosyncrasies. It serves a broad range of interests and has been my children’s lifeline during lockdown; they have spent nearly every day hanging out with pals online while they were unable to do so in real life.

March 19 update: We’ve included instructions on how to change the game’s settings to restrict who your children can talk to. Additionally, we have updated a few firm statistics.