As part of a competition for the therapy roleplaying game Adventuring Family, we asked Geek Native readers a common question: How old should children be before they can play tabletop roleplaying games without adult supervision?
The Experts’ View
Adventuring Family is a game designed specifically with child development in mind and is intended for supervised play. We spoke to Radu-Georgian Gosa, the clinical paediatric psychologist and psychotherapist who consulted on the game. He noted that while children can always play by themselves, they are unlikely to follow the rules. Without that structure, the developmental benefits are lost. Nevertheless, Radu suggested that 10 is a great age to introduce children to the hobby.
This sentiment was echoed by educator and game designer Jennifer Masters when I spoke with her at Tabletop Scotland this year. Her award-winning book, The Adventurer’s Apprentice, is written for an even younger audience (ages 4 and up), though she notes it began life as a bedtime story. Like Radu, Jennifer observed that while children will naturally play on their own, the experience is different without guidance. It’s a key reason her upcoming sequel series targets an older 8-to-12 age range.
This focus on developmental benefits highlights a significant shift in perspective. Many will remember the ‘Satanic Panic’ of the 1980s, when some families feared D&D was a corrupting influence. Today, the conversation has matured. We’re no longer asking if children should play roleplaying games, but rather discussing the best age for them to start.
The Community’s Verdict
So, what did our readers decide? The consensus landed squarely in the early teens.
Survey Results: What is the best age for unsupervised roleplaying games?
The most popular age bracket was 10 to 13. While a few suggested that unsupervised play could begin as young as three, and others held out until 17+, the overwhelming majority felt that the pre-teen and early teenage years were the sweet spot for gaming independence. It seems that for many, this is the age where a grasp of rules, social maturity, and creative freedom find their perfect balance.
Quick Links
- Amazon: Adventuring Family – A Family Therapy RPG
- Amazon: The Adventurer’s Apprentice
