Parents' Guide to Valorant (PEGI 16)

Valorant is a 5-v-5 team-based shooting game available on PC, where two teams of five compete under the role of agents with unique abilities. 

In the main mode, the attacking team has a bomb they must plant on a specific site. If they do this and successfully protects the bomb until it detonates, they get a point. If the defending team defuses the bomb they get a point. You can also simply eliminate all the opposing team to earn a win. It's the best of 25 rounds to determine the winner.

It's a game that is rising in popularity with more parents searching this month to get details about the game on Family Video Game Database. The highly competitive nature and creative ways to play and use the different characters makes it a popular game.

Rating

This game has received a PEGI 16 because it features strong violence and sustained depictions of violence towards human characters. Not suitable for persons under 16 years of age.

Combat violence is realistic as well as sustained, the difference between the two being the rapidity of a character’s death, which is allied to the weapon being used. Blood effects are seen whenever a character shot and headshots do not cause gross violence. Although team members and enemy characters remain in view after being killed, post-mortem mutilation is not possible.

Note: There is a setting in the game that allows you to turn off Blood, but this does not affect the rating.

In-Game Purchases

This game offers players the opportunity to purchase in-game items outside of the main game. Players can unlock cosmetic content such as weapon skins (ranging from simple re-colours to alternate models), Gun Buddies (small keychains that dangle off the player’s gun), or Player Cards (profile images).

While a handful of these cosmetic items are unlockable through gameplay, many are only available to purchase in the cash store or made available through “Contracts”. A Contract is a content pass that players can purchase with real money that allows players to unlock content such as skins, character cards, and Gun Buddies as they play the game.

The VSC states that "parents, carers or other responsible adults should check to see what is being offered before making any purchase on behalf of a child. It should be noted that the game can still be played without the need to purchase such items".

Evolving Matches

As with other online competitive games, the developer adds modes and competitive challenges over time. To do well at the game will need regular play time and a focus on learning the skills to improve. 

When players have enough wins in the unranked matches they can join competitive matches and build their competitive level. This requires team-work, communication and quick reactions. The best players also need to keep an eye on supporting teammates to make the best use of the abilities available to them.