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

Should I let my child play Grand Theft Auto?

18+

No

Not for under-18s. GTA is made for adults, with graphic violence, sex and drugs, and online it's mostly adult strangers.

Grand Theft Auto is a crime game made for adults. ESRB rates GTA V and the new GTA VI M (17+), and PEGI and Common Sense Media rate them 18, for graphic violence including torture, sexual content, drug use and racist language. We never go below the highest official rating, so this is a no for every child, whatever settings you use. GTA VI comes out on 19 November 2026 and is rated the same. Online, players are mostly adult strangers, and GTA has no parental controls of its own. If your teenager already plays, the steps below cut the risks online.

Grand Theft Auto fails 3 of our 7 safety checks. See how we decided, and the official age ratings

Last checked . Grand Theft Auto is made by Rockstar Games (Take-Two) and runs on PlayStation, Xbox, Windows.

What is Grand Theft Auto?

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is a series of crime games set in open cities. GTA V and its online mode, GTA Online, are played by millions, and GTA VI comes out on 19 November 2026.

Our advice by age

Under 18
NoESRB, PEGI and Common Sense Media all rate GTA for adults, including GTA Online and GTA VI. No setting removes the violence, sex or drugs. If your teenager already plays, set up every step below.

What to watch out for

  • Violence, sex and drugsRisk is high by default, high with controls on

    Players kill police and civilians, and one scene shows torture. There's nudity, a strip club, implied sex acts, drug use, drink-driving and frequent racist and sexual language.

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

    GTA Online puts players in shared cities with adult strangers, with voice chat and messages. GTA has no parental controls of its own, so you have to rely on your console's settings.

  • SpendingRisk is medium by default, low with controls on

    In-game money (sold as Shark Cards) costs real money and is pushed hard online. Purchase approval on your console stops surprise bills.

What's good about it

  • Huge, detailed worlds that adults rate among the best games ever made
  • Story mode can be played without going online

If your child already plays it

If your child already uses Grand Theft Auto, 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 date of birth on their console account

    Console age limits for 18-rated games and online play depend on it.

  2. Block online play and chat in your console settings

    Set online multiplayer and communication with others to Blocked or Friends only in PlayStation, Xbox or PC family settings.

  3. Require approval for every purchase

    Turn on purchase approval in your console or PC store settings.

  4. Talk about what they see and hear

    Talk about the violence, sex and language, and agree they'll tell you about anyone who asks personal questions or wants to talk on another app.

  5. Set a daily time limit

    Use your console's family settings.

Recent news

  1. Today is finally the end of an era for GTA 6Game Rant

    GTA VI is a month away, due on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Expect children to ask for it.

  2. GTA 6 official rating revealedGame Rant

    GTA VI is rated M (17+) by ESRB and 18 by PEGI, for extreme violence, sex, drugs and discriminatory language.

  3. 'It will be released on time': GTA 6 release date assured by RockstarGame Rant

    Rockstar says GTA VI won't be delayed again, after two earlier delays.

Common questions

What age is GTA suitable for?

18. PEGI and Common Sense Media rate it 18, and ESRB rates it 17+, for graphic violence, sexual content, drug use and racist language. We never go below the highest official rating.

Is GTA OK for a 12-year-old?

No. It's made for adults, and no setting removes the violence, sex or drugs. Online, your child would also be playing with adult strangers.

Is GTA VI different?

No. GTA VI, out on 19 November 2026, is rated M (17+) by ESRB and 18 by PEGI for the same kinds of content as GTA V.

Is GTA Online safer than the story?

No. It has the same adult content, plus voice chat and messages with adult strangers, and GTA has no parental controls of its own.

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 to your child about what's in the game and why it's made for adults. If your teenager already plays, block online play and chat in your console settings, turn on purchase approval and keep talking about what they see and hear.

What would change your verdict?

Only a change in the official ratings. The adult content is the game itself, so no setting can make it suitable for children.