Among Us

Game images by RAWG

Among Us

InnerSloth

Windows, macOS; Nintendo Switch; Mobile (iOS/Android)premium (low-cost) / free on mobile (ads)

Health Score

DECENT

Official Website Watch Gameplay

About This Game

Super Review

Among Us is a unique social deduction game that challenges players to identify an impostor among their crew or cleverly deceive others as the impostor. While its cartoony style is appealing, the core gameplay involves lying and intense social dynamics, making it a qualified fit for older children. Parents should be aware of the online chat and potential for frustration.

Super Review

Parent verdict

Among Us offers a compelling blend of teamwork and deception, which can be highly engaging for the right players. With a 'Decent' health score of 44, it's best considered for pre-teens and older who can navigate the social complexities and understand the game's mechanics of bluffing. Its online nature and unfiltered chat present the main tradeoff, requiring careful parental limits to ensure a positive experience.

What players actually do

Players complete simple mini-game tasks around the ship, exercising observational skills and contributing to a shared goal.
Players identify suspicious behavior, discuss observations with others, and vote on who to eject, honing critical thinking and persuasive communication.
Players, as the impostor, subtly sabotage the environment and eliminate others while trying to blend in, developing strategic thinking and deceptive communication.

Where it shines

The game strongly encourages communication and strategic thinking, as players must articulate their suspicions or defend themselves effectively.
Quick rounds and a straightforward premise make it easy to pick up and play, especially with a group of friends, fostering social interaction and shared fun.

Parent watch-outs

Gameplay fundamentally revolves around deception and lying, which can be a complex concept for younger players to distinguish from real-life honesty.
Online public lobbies include unfiltered chat, exposing players to potentially inappropriate language or interactions from strangers.

Family rules worth setting

Require play only with known friends or in private, invite-only lobbies to control social exposure.
Set a rule that players must use the in-game chat only, or disable chat entirely for younger players, to avoid unfiltered communication.

Talk about this

Discuss the difference between lying in a game context for fun and the importance of honesty in real-life relationships and situations.
Talk about good sportsmanship, how to handle frustration when eliminated early or when accused unfairly, and respectful online communication.

Play style

Among Us offers quick, intense rounds, typically lasting 5-15 minutes. Its difficulty stems from social deduction rather than reflexes, requiring keen observation and persuasive communication. It is primarily a multiplayer social game, either with friends or strangers online. Younger or less experienced players may need help understanding the social nuances and managing the online interactions, especially when playing as the impostor.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

2/5

Creativity

0/5

Pro-Social

3/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

1/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

1/5

Social Risk

4/5

Content Intensity

2/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

2/5

While the game encourages critical thinking and communication, its primary focus is entertainment through social deduction, not academic learning. The benefits are more social and strategic than explicitly educational, resulting in a low score of 2.

Addictive Monetization

1/5

The game uses in-game purchases primarily for cosmetic skins, which do not offer a gameplay advantage. The premium model (low-cost) and free-to-play mobile option with ads are not designed to be aggressively addictive, leading to a low risk score of 1.

Social Risk

4/5

The game's online nature, particularly in public lobbies, exposes players to unfiltered text chat and interactions with strangers. This presents a significant risk for exposure to inappropriate language or behavior, warranting a higher risk score of 4.

Pro-Social

3/5

For crewmates, the game strongly emphasizes communication, teamwork, and collaboration to identify the impostor. While impostors engage in deception, the overall experience, especially with friends, encourages positive social interaction and cooperative problem-solving, resulting in a good score of 3.

Negatives

•Gameplay involves deception/lying
•Online play with unfiltered chat (could see bad language)
•Can be frustrating or scary (suspense, being eliminated)

Positives

•Encourages communication and teamwork (for crewmates)
•Light-hearted cartoon art style
•Quick rounds, easy to pick up with friends

Gameplay Videos

Among us - Full Impostor gameplay - No commentary

Hornster

1 of 3

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Official Ratings

E10+ (Everyone 10+)

ESRB

Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood

Users Interact; In-Game Purchases (cosmetic skins)

PEGI 7

PEGI

Mild Violence

Age Fit

ℹ️Ages 3-5

Not suitable; the game's concepts are too complex and require significant reading and social understanding.

ℹ️Ages 6-8

Not suitable; the core mechanic of lying and online interaction makes it inappropriate for this age band.

ℹ️Ages 9-12

Potentially okay for ages 10-12, but only with strict supervision and chat disabled or in private games with known friends. The deception aspect needs context.

ℹ️Ages 13-15

A qualified fit. Appropriate with guidance on distinguishing game-lying from real-life honesty and clear rules for online chat safety.

ℹ️Ages 16-18

Generally suitable. Players should be mature enough to handle social deduction and navigate online interactions responsibly.