Should They Play?The parents' guide to apps and games

Should I let my child play Brawl Stars?

18+

No

Not suitable for children. Chat with strangers can't be turned off, and it's now rated PEGI 16 for its paid random rewards.

The game itself is cartoonish and fun. The problems are around it. Players chat with strangers in clubs, and Supercell's own guide for parents offers no way to turn chat off: younger players are limited to filtered "Family Friendly" clubs, but strangers can still talk to them there. Ages are typed in by players, not checked, so adults can join those clubs too. It also sells random rewards and limited-time offers, and Google Play in the UK now rates it PEGI 16 under Europe's 2026 rules on paid random items. Under our rules that's a no at any age, because parents can't stop strangers chatting to their child and the game doesn't check ages. If your child already plays, the steps below reduce the risks.

Brawl Stars fails 1 of our 7 safety checks. See how we decided, and the official age ratings

Last checked . Brawl Stars is made by Supercell and runs on iPhone & iPad, Android.

What is Brawl Stars?

Brawl Stars is a fast, cartoon battle game for phones and tablets. Players team up in short matches, join clubs with other players, and unlock characters, some only through random rewards or daily offers.

Our advice by age

Under 16
NoChat with strangers in clubs can't be turned off, and Google Play in the UK rates it PEGI 16. If your child already plays, set up every step below.
16 and 17
NoOur answer is still no, because parents can't stop strangers chatting to them. Talk about strangers in clubs and agree spending rules.

What to watch out for

  • Contact from strangersRisk is high by default, medium with controls on

    Clubs have chat rooms where strangers talk to your child. Younger players only see filtered Family Friendly clubs, but chat can't be switched off, and your child can leave a club but not block chat entirely.

  • Spending and random rewardsRisk is high by default, low with controls on

    Some characters only come from random rewards or daily offers, and the slow progress creates pressure to pay. Purchase approval on the device stops surprise bills.

  • Time spentRisk is medium by default, low with controls on

    Matches are short and rewards are daily. The game has no time limits of its own, so use your device's screen-time settings.

  • Cartoon violenceRisk is low by default, low with controls on

    Characters punch and shoot each other, but it's cartoonish with no blood.

What's good about it

  • Short, fun matches that work well with friends
  • Younger players get filtered Family Friendly clubs
  • Parents can link a Supercell ID to see their child's friends list

If your child already plays it

If your child already uses Brawl Stars, these steps make it much safer. Takes about ten minutes. Do it with your child so they know what's switched on and why.

  1. Use your child's real age

    Players under 16 get stricter chat filters and can only join Family Friendly clubs.

  2. Link a parent Supercell ID

    Create a Supercell ID with your own email, so you can see and manage their friends list.

  3. Turn on purchase approval

    Use Ask to Buy on Apple or purchase approval in Google Family Link, and don't leave payment details on their device.

  4. Talk about clubs and strangers

    Agree they'll leave any club where someone asks personal questions or wants to chat on another app, and tell you.

  5. Set a daily time limit

    Use Screen Time on Apple or Family Link on Android, as the game has no limits of its own.

Recent news

  1. August 2026 mobile game charts: Brawl Stars' worst month of the yearPocketGamer.biz

    Players spent $24.5 million on Brawl Stars in August, after months of new paid features.

  2. March 2026 mobile game charts: Brawl Stars revenue rises nearly 50%PocketGamer.biz

    Spending jumped after new features like Chaos Drops and a Claw Machine, which give out random rewards.

  3. All games with loot boxes will be rated minimum PEGI 16, starting this summerVideo Games Chronicle

    Europe's rating board now rates games with paid random items at least 16, which is why Brawl Stars is now PEGI 16 in the UK.

Common questions

What age is Brawl Stars suitable for?

Our answer is no for under-18s, because chat with strangers in clubs can't be turned off. Google Play in the UK rates it PEGI 16 for its paid random rewards, and Common Sense Media says 10+.

Is Brawl Stars safe for a 9-year-old?

No. Strangers can chat to children in clubs, there's no way to turn chat off, and the game is now rated PEGI 16 in the UK.

Can strangers talk to my child in Brawl Stars?

Yes, in clubs. Players under 16 only see filtered Family Friendly clubs, but chat can't be switched off. Your child can leave a club at any time.

How do I stop my child spending money in Brawl Stars?

Turn on Ask to Buy on Apple or purchase approval in Google Family Link, and don't leave payment details on their device.

All my child's friends play it. What should I do?

That's hard when friends are playing it. We'd still say no, but explain why rather than just saying it: talk about strangers in clubs and the pressure to buy random rewards. If your child already plays, use their real age, link your Supercell ID and turn on purchase approval.

What would change your verdict?

A way for parents to turn off chat with strangers, or strict age checks (such as a face scan) so children only chat with checked players their own age. Even then, because it's rated PEGI 16, the earliest age we could say yes to would be 16.