Rocket League

Rocket League is a free online game which combines football with rocket-powered cars. The aim of the game is for players to work together to use their vehicles to perform tricks, battle and ultimately hit the ball and score goals. Players can customise their cars with add-ons and vehicle enhancements which they can earn, collect and purchase. Rocket League is played in 5-minute matches that are played in seasons, with teams of up to 4 players going head-to-head. These matches can be played for fun or competitively, where they are ranked on a tier. Rocket League is accessible on PC, Playstation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. There is also a mobile app version called Rocket League Sideswipe.

Official age rating

Rocket League is a PEGI 3 rated game, considered suitable for all age groups.

Google Play rate it as E, suitable for everyone.

To access Rocket League, players need an Epic Games account. Children under 13 are unable to register for an account without parental verification, which requires proof of ID. Epic Games provides more information on parental consent for users under 13.

Find out more about age ratings in our ‘A parent and carer’s guide to age ratings of apps and games’.

How children and young people use the app

The young age rating that Rocket League has been given suggests that it can be played and enjoyed by young players. Mixing fast, colourful and customisable supercars with football and a ‘battle’ element makes it hugely appealing to children and people of all ages. The simple nature of the game means younger players can access and engage with the game using fairly basic controls and the short ‘matches’ accommodate the attention span of some younger players. However, the competitive aspect of the game can make it compulsive to play.

Key features and terminology

Players can chat and interact with each other during gameplay using the chat function. It offers a selection of customisable pre-set messages.
There is the option to use text chat between players. However, it does not work between players gaming on different platforms. For example, a player using an Xbox cannot text chat another player using a PC.
This is the process that matches players or teams with their opponents. This is conducted randomly when playing public games.
Each game is played in a 5-minute match of two teams. Matches can be played ‘Casually’ for fun or in ‘Competitive’ mode, where players are ranked and progress through tiers.
A type of match which is played by one player against another.
A type of match which is played by two players against another two players.
A type of match which is played by three players against another three players.
A type of match which is played by four players against another four players. This is the maximum number of players within a game.
This allows players to group together once a match ends to allow them to keep playing together instead of being ‘matched’ with new players each time.
This mode allows players to alter the experience of the game by changing a variety of settings. This includes ball type, speed of the ball, match length and gravity, among many others.
This refers to a time-limited progression system that allows players to earn new content and features. Players can also purchase a premium Rocket Pass which gives them more items and rewards.
These are used as in-game currency to purchase add-ons or customisable features for their vehicles.
After each match, players have the chance to get a ‘blueprint’ which is a free collectable that can be used to ‘build’ items to trade within the game.
This feature will allow users under 13 to play Rocket League without use of the chat function or purchasing items with money until a parent or carer gives their consent. Existing accounts for users under 13 will automatically be moved to ‘Cabined accounts’.
Rocket League players can download the ‘Postparty’ app and login using their Epic Games login. They can then use this app to capture clips of their Rocket League gameplay, which they can share on other social media platforms.

Potential risks

Content

Rocket League has a PEGI 3 rating, reflecting that this game is suitable for all ages, and should not contain imagery that would frighten young children and any violence is very mild. While your child is unlikely to encounter harmful content within the game itself, the in-game chat function is where players may stumble across inappropriate content in the form of bad language. However, players under 13 are required to have a parent or carer verify their account, which means parents can enable parental controls, including mature language filters. This should filter out any inappropriate language or content within the chats that is not suitable for children. While chat filters are one way of ensuring your child does not encounter harmful content on the platform, it is recommended that your child only plays with known friends to help further reduce this risk. By limiting who your child can access on the platform, your child is less likely to experience language or behaviour that is not suitable for their age. However, it should be acknowledged that your child may still be exposed to inappropriate content by their known contacts.

Connecting with others

The most significant risk in Rocket League is the fact that it can be played publicly. Players have the opportunity to create and join private games, known as ‘Custom games’, where they can share a game name and password with their friends to join. Equally, they can join a friend’s game by entering the password that their known friend has shared with them. Users are also able to set up a ‘Party’ where they can regularly play together. However, the game can also be played publicly where any user on the platform can join it. The platform ‘matches’ players who are available to play and there is no way of controlling who you will be matched with. Within this mode, all players in the match can chat with each other. If you have not enabled the parental controls to limit who your child can chat with, there is a chance they could chat with a stranger.

The game is safer if you encourage your child to play the game privately with their known friends so that they are not interacting with strangers. Remind your child not to accept a private game password or friend request shared by someone they do not know and trust in real life. Speak to your child about the risks of chatting with strangers and explain the importance of not sharing any personal or identifiable information with other players within chats. Encourage them to tell you if they have been asked more personal questions or feel upset or uncomfortable by anything shared within the chat.

It is also worth noting that some gamers use third party chatting apps like Discord to chat while gaming. Ask your child if they are using any additional chatting apps while playing and check who they are communicating with. It may be helpful to know that although chatting is an appealing part of gaming, it is not essential to play.

User behaviour

Rocket League has its own code of conduct, which all players must adhere to in order to play. Players who deviate from the expected behaviour risk being removed from the platform by Epic Games. Speak to your child about what is appropriate behaviour when playing a multiplayer game and ensure they know how to report inappropriate or offensive behaviour. Younger players who are using the ‘Text chat’ feature should also be aware of what is and is not appropriate for them to post in chats, and discuss the various ways they can protect themselves by playing in private rather than public games. Ensure your child knows it can be difficult to keep ownership of any content once it has been shared online, as content can easily be copied and reposted without their knowledge and can then become difficult to remove from the internet.

Design, data and costs

As with most free online games, there are opportunities for players to make in-game purchases to personalise their vehicles. These do not benefit the gameplay, but they can nonetheless be extremely appealing for players. Speak to your child about in-app purchases to affirm their understanding that real money is used to make purchases within the game. You can also set the relevant in-game purchase settings through the parental controls. If your child is under 13, a parent’s email address is needed to verify the account. To do this, a physical credit or debit card is required, so it is important to check that the game is not linked to your bank cards or financial details.

The design of the game can also pose a risk to some players who struggle to regulate their time playing. As the game is played in 5-minute ‘matches’ and has various tiers they can progress through, it can be difficult for some players to resist playing back to back matches. Talk to your child about how games are designed to keep users playing and work together to set gaming time or match limits to ensure they get a suitable break away from the game.

Tips for keeping your child safe

There is no obvious ‘Public’ or ‘Private’ setting for Rocket League. Players can create private games where they can invite and play with only their friends.
To create a private match:
- launch the game and select the ‘Play’ tab and scroll to ‘Custom games’
- choose ‘Private match’ from the options listed and select ‘Create private match’
- scroll down to ‘Joinable by’ and select ‘Name/password’ - this means players can only join your game if they have the correct name and password (your child should only share this name and password with known friends)
Players under 13 need parental consent to access the game, which gives parents access to their account settings by logging into their Epic Games account. Here you can set parental controls including friend requests and chat settings.
To set up parental controls (in Epic Games):
- go to your child’s account on Epic Games and scroll down to ‘Parental controls’ on the left
- enter the pin you used when you set up and verified your child's account
- here you will find all the parental control options which includes the following:
  - games store
  - friends’ permission
  - voice chat permission
  - text chat permission
  - mature language filter
  - playtime tracking report
- work through each of these settings by choosing the most appropriate setting for your child. For younger players it is recommended they are set to ‘Friends only’
You can also be linked to parental controls within the game by selecting ‘Extras’ in the settings menu.
To manage text chat (in-game):
- launch the game and go to the settings menu
- select ‘Chat’ and then ‘Text chat’ and choose ‘Friends only’
If you have used parental controls for chat settings, the in-game settings should reflect these.
To join a ‘Party’ with friends:
- launch the game and go to the ‘Friends’ menu in the bottom right corner
- from the pop-up menu choose the ‘Notifications’ option and scroll to ‘Party invites’ and select the invite (ensure your child knows the player who sent the invite before clicking on it)
Users can report and block other users who may be bothering them or behaving inappropriately on the platform.
To report/block a player in a match:
- while in the game, open the menu and select ‘Report/block player’
- find the player and select either ‘Report’ or ‘Block’
- choose your reason(s) from the listed options:
  - text harassment
  - verbal harassment
  - match throwing
  - intentionally idle
  - XP farming
  - inappropriate player name
  - inappropriate club name
  - trade scam
There are many in-game purchase opportunities, which can be managed via the ‘Parental controls’ setting in Epic Games.
To manage in-game purchases:
- go to your child’s account on Epic Games and scroll down to ‘Parental controls’ on the left
- enter the pin you used when you set up and verified your child's account
- toggle on the option for ‘always require a PIN for purchases using Epic Games payment service' (if you have enabled parental controls, your PIN will be required for any in-game purchases)
To delete your Rocket League account, users must submit a support ticket to Epic Games and request that their account is deleted. Epic Games advises that this deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed.
To deactivate or delete your Epic Games account:
- log into your Epic Games account and go to ‘Account Settings’
- scroll to ‘Delete Account’ and choose ‘REQUEST ACCOUNT DELETE’
- choose ‘Delete Account’
- enter the security code (usually sent to email associated with Epic Games Account)
- choose ‘CONFIRM ACCOUNT DELETION’
- optionally answer the prompts or choose ‘skip’
- your account will be deactivated for a 14-day period, which will then be deleted

Additional tips

The low PEGI age rating suggests that Rocket League is suitable for most age groups. However, parents and carers should still ensure that the appropriate safety settings are in place and that children only play with known friends.

Epic Games has a dedicated webpage for platform parental controls for Rocket League.

Rocket League

Official age rating

How children and young people use the app

Key features and terminology

Quick chat

Text chat

Matching

Matches

Duel

Double

Standard

Chaos

Party-up

Mutators

Rocket Pass

Credits

Blueprint

Cabined account

Postparty clips

Potential risks

Content

Connecting with others

User behaviour

Design, data and costs

Tips for keeping your child safe

Managing privacy

Managing interactions and content

Reporting and blocking

Managing time and purchases

Account deactivation or deletion

Additional tips