How to Ask Your Parents for a Mature Video Game

Reviewed by Seth Hall

Last Updated: April 4, 2024

Want that new movie or video game that came out? But it’s rated M for Mature? Sometimes it will take a little more work than just asking once to get your parents to understand why you should be able to own and play the game. Learn how to respectfully make deals with your parents and ask for the game in a respectful, reasonable way.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Reasoning with Them

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1
Start by asking nicely. Simply be kind, clear, and polite when you ask for the game. Say, “Mom, Dad, can I please have this game? It’s really important to me.” You can point out that you haven’t asked for a game in a while or you have a birthday or other occasion coming up if that’s true.
1. Talk through what makes them concerned. Ask your parents what elements of the rating they are hesitant about, which are usually listed as intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and/or strong language. Whatever they mention, provide reasoning and reassurance for why playing the game doesn’t influence you to copy those things in real life.
- Say, "If you see me acting more violently then you can take away the game." Or, "Sex is optional and if you see me doing it you can take away the game."
- For drugs say, "In health class, they teach us the effects of drugs and why not to take them."
- If the strong language bothers them, for example, you can say, “Look, if you hear me not being kind using those words, you can take away the game."
Stay calm and show patience. Avoid getting in arguments and getting frustrated with your parents if they say no. Come back to them in a week or so with a calm and respectful demeanor to present a new angle for why you should have the game. Display that you care enough about the game that you can be patient and respectful when asking for it.

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If you’re 17 years old or older, you are definitely of an age to purchase the game for yourself, but if you are younger than 17, point out to your parents that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) classifies the Mature rating as “generally suitable” for 17 and up, but there is no legal requirement for selling this game to people under 17.^{[1]
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Let your parents know that there are positive things about playing video games that they may not know about. Refer to studies that show that video game play can strengthen problem-solving skills and prevent anxiety. You can tell them that first-person shooter games, which are generally more violent, are also shown to improve spatial reasoning, navigation, memory, and perception.^{[2]
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Mention friends that have the game. Tell your parents about friends you know of that have the game you want, and even suggest that your parents talk to theirs about why they agreed to let their child have the game.
- Make sure you talk to your friends first and get their permission to mention them. They might have purchased the game through an older sibling or friend without their parents knowing, or their parents might reconsider their decision after talking to yours.
Reassure your parents that you will pay for the game with your own money from an allowance, job, or savings.
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Address violence. Ask your parents if they are concerned about the potential violence in video games because a major concern of many parents is that playing violent video games will lead to having more violent tendencies in real life. Do some research to find any of several studies that show that violent video games don’t make a person more violent and show it to them.^{[3]
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- You can say, “The violence doesn’t affect me. I don’t get into fights in school or anything. But if the violence in this game starts to bother me, I’ll tell you or I’ll stop playing it.”
If you’ve been allowed to watch any R-rated movies in the past, point out to your parents that an R rating has the same “suggested” age limit of 17 that the M rating for games has. Pick some examples of movies that might have similar themes to the game you want to buy to illustrate that you’re mature enough to handle them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making a Deal

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Discuss and agree on an amount of time per day or week that you won’t go over when playing the game, or any video game, if your parents are concerned about how the content affects you based on how much you play. Let them know that if you get the game, you’ll stick to this time limit. Show them that you can play games in moderation.
Exchange for good grades. Promise all A’s or B’s on your next report card, or a similar goal for your grades, if they will get you the game.
Agree on certain chores you will do every week or month in exchange for being able to get the game. You can say, “I’ll take out the trash and load the dishwasher every day, and vacuum every week, if I can have the game,” or something similar that you and your parents can agree on.
Tell them you will not play on school nights, you will not play until you finish ALL your homework, and you will keep your grades up.
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Rent it until they approve. Rent the game from a library, video store, or Redbox, or invite a friend over who has the game. Tell your parents they can watch you play the game for a certain amount of time. If they are okay with what they see, they let you buy it; if they’re not okay with it, you will agree on a time when you can rent it and ask them again.
- You can also show them screenshots of the game online; they might be convinced by them alone.
Discuss and agree with your parents on the location of the house that you will always play the game if they let you get it. Letting them keep an eye on you in exchange for getting the game can be worth it, because they will likely stop paying attention after a time and let you play in peace.
7
Allow parental controls. Let your parents know they can use whatever parental controls are available on the device you play on, as long as you can have the game. They may be able to restrict access to the internet, the ability to make purchases, or even control how long you play and what friends you play with.^{[4]
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- Consider that it could be worth it to sacrifice a small amount of your freedom to get the game you want. You might also impress your parents by being upfront about these controls rather than them having to do it behind your back.

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Tips

You can also point out that if violence is an issue, is that you understand that randomly killing people is wrong; additionally explain to them that violent video games usually help people deal with stress and anger issues, and most video games usually punish you in some way for random acts of murder

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Helpful 28 Not Helpful 3
If you want to make a deal with your parents, try writing it out as a written proposal or contract that they can hold you to. They will be impressed by the maturity and responsibility of this gesture.

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Be VERY careful as some games are truly dangerous. Also, promise them that they can see what you have been doing on the game. This will let them trust you more easily.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Have an open discussion on specific content concerns like violence or language. Offer reasonable reassurance that you will cut back playtime right away if any related issues come up, which shows maturity and accountability.
Compare the game’s themes and ratings to R-rated movies you’ve seen to showcase your ability to handle mature content appropriately. Your precedent with similar media proves you can be trusted.
Save up money from chores, gifts, or a job to fully pay for the game yourself. Paying your own way completely eases financial concerns and shows maturity through fiscal responsibility.
Suggest placing household rules around gameplay times or locations to showcase responsibility. Compromising some independence is worth it and shows maturity and trustworthiness.
Offer to complete extra chores around the house or commit to improve your grades in exchange. Sweetening the deal by contributing more displays motivation and accountability.
Remain patient and calm if they still say no after discussions. Politely ask again later or suggest less intense games to work your way up while building trust.

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Warnings

Don't try to play your parents against each other by telling one that the other approves. That can cause other problems and doesn’t indicate a mature way to get approval.

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Helpful 89 Not Helpful 15
Never lie to try to get a video game. This will cause your parents to distrust you when they find out (they always find out!) and could delay or prohibit you from ever getting the game.

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Don’t try to buy an M-rated game yourself at the store if you are under 17. Almost all game retailers have policies to card anyone attempting to buy M or AO rated games, and will not sell to you if you’re underage or don’t have a valid ID.

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If you are unsure about how bad the game is, even after checking the ESRB/PEGI rating, check a site like Commonsensemedia.org

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Helpful 12 Not Helpful 7
If you are under 12 years old, these strategies may not work best, depending on your parents rules. Try sticking to T games instead.

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