Video games for ages 7–9: reading, rules and first friend requests

What PEGI 7 adds, and why the descriptors matter more now

Many of the games this age group wants are rated PEGI 7. According to PEGI, that rating allows scenes or sounds that may frighten younger children, plus very mild violence that is implied, non-detailed or non-realistic. In practice that often means cartoon combat where characters burst into pieces or vanish in a puff of smoke.

The number is only half the story. The small descriptor icons, such as Violence, Fear and In-game purchases, tell you what drove the rating. Two PEGI 7 games can feel quite different: one may have a few spooky bosses, another a shop full of outfits.

Our age ratings guide explains every descriptor, including the newer ones PEGI introduced in June 2026.

The first "everyone at school plays it" requests

Expect the names Roblox and Fortnite to come up. Neither has a simple number for the whole service. PEGI rates Roblox as Parental Guidance Recommended because of a broad and unpredictable range of user-made games. Roblox also has its own content maturity settings (Minimal, Mild, Moderate and Restricted) that you can control from a linked parent account.

Fortnite is also Parental Guidance Recommended as a platform, but its official modes are rated separately: LEGO Fortnite Odyssey is PEGI 7, while Battle Royale is PEGI 12. Epic's parental controls include a Fortnite Content Ratings setting that blocks experiences above the level you choose unless you enter your PIN.

For under-13s, Epic uses Cabined Accounts, where voice and free-text chat stay off until a parent gives consent. On Roblox, chat in games is off by default for under-9s unless a parent consents after an age check. Both are worth knowing before you say yes or no. The full picture is in our Roblox guide and Fortnite guide.

Good starting games for ages 7–9

Each rating below was checked against the PEGI database or the UK app stores. A good starting point is not the whole story: the Parent Check on each full guide shows what to switch on or off.

Minecraft

PEGI 7Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, mobile

A sandbox game about exploring, mining and building in a blocky world. It rewards creativity and planning, and offers peaceful building as well as adventure. PEGI notes unrealistic combat and some content that may scare young children.

Keep an eye on: Multiplayer includes text chat, and the Marketplace sells content for Minecoins, so set console spending and chat limits before going online. Read our full guide

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

PEGI 3Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition also available)

A calm life-simulation on an island that follows the real-time clock, so there's always something small to do each day. In-game currencies are earned by playing, not bought. It's a gentle choice for children who prefer pottering to competing.

Keep an eye on: The real-time clock can create a "just check my island" habit, and online visits need Nintendo Switch Online. Read our full guide

Fall Guys

PEGI 3Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

A free-to-play online party game of obstacle courses where characters bounce around without any harm or pain shown. Rounds are short and silly, and it's a common first online game.

Keep an eye on: It's online with strangers and sells in-game currency, cosmetics and a season pass, so set Epic and console controls first. Read our full guide

Building a child account that grows with them

A proper child account, linked to yours, is the foundation for everything else. You can loosen settings later as your child grows up rather than starting from scratch.

• Xbox: add your child to your Microsoft family group. Content restrictions block anything above the age filter unless you approve it, and the Multiplayer tile lets your child request online access game by game.
• PlayStation: start from the Child preset in Family Management, then adjust individual options such as Communication and User-Generated Content.
• Nintendo: the parental controls app sets limits for the whole console. Use the Safelist to allow a specific game without raising the overall restriction level.

See our walkthroughs for Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and Epic accounts.

Coins, gems and V-Bucks: pocket money meets the in-game shop

This is often the age when in-game currencies arrive. Minecraft has Minecoins for its Marketplace. Fortnite has V-Bucks. Disney Dreamlight Valley sells Moonstones for cosmetic items. Turning real pounds into coins makes it harder for a child to see what anything really costs.

PEGI tightened its rules in June 2026. Games submitted since then that sell Paid random items such as loot boxes or card packs are rated PEGI 16. From October 2026, PEGI began re-rating existing digital-only games rated 3, 7 or 12 that contain paid random items to PEGI 16, across storefronts over time. So a familiar game's rating may change.

• Top up a fixed amount rather than linking a card. On Xbox, money added to a child's account can't be overdrawn.
• In Epic's parental controls, turn on Require a PIN for Epic Games Payments and decide whether to allow paid random items.
• Remember that gift card balances already on an account can usually be spent without asking.

More practical tips in in-game spending.

Same room, own controller: the right amount of independence

Children of seven to nine can often play a whole session on their own, and they're proud of it. A good middle ground is letting them play independently in a shared space, with you nearby rather than watching over their shoulder.

Check in by asking to be shown something ("what did you build?") rather than asking what they're doing. It keeps you informed and makes the game something you share rather than something you police.

If you do allow some online play, start with friends you know in real life only. Most console and game settings support a "friends only" style option, and Epic's chat permissions are capped at Friends Only for under-10s.

Talking points for the seven-to-nine stage

• "A friend online is someone we know in real life." A simple rule that's easy to remember.
• "If someone asks you to chat in a different app, or to keep a secret, tell me. You won't be in trouble." The promise matters as much as the rule.
• "Passwords and PINs stay with grown-ups." If your child knows your account password, they can approve their own requests.
• "How do you feel when you lose?" Competitive party games can bring out big feelings, and naming them helps.

If something worrying ever happens online, official help is available from the NSPCC, Childline and CEOP. Our online chat guide explains how reporting works in popular games.