Play well

01Why a games list talks about this

We spend the year telling you which games deserve your time, so we owe you the other half of the conversation. Games are at their best as one good part of a full life. This guide collects the habits, settings and free support that keep them there, for you and for the people you play with.

02Plan the session

• Decide how long you will play before you start, and set a timer. Consoles, PCs and phones all have one.
• Stop at a natural break: the end of a mission, a run, a chapter or a match, not “one more”.
• Keep some evenings game-free, especially before exams, early shifts and family plans.
• Notice sessions that ran long without a decision to keep going. That is worth adjusting.

03Breaks, eyes and posture

• Take five to ten minutes away from the screen every hour.
• Every twenty minutes, look at something about six metres away for twenty seconds.
• Sit with your back supported and the screen at eye level; keep water nearby.
• Stop if you feel pain in your wrists, neck or eyes, dizziness, nausea or a headache.

04Sleep comes first

Finish at least an hour before bed. Late sessions push sleep back and a bright screen makes it harder to drop off. Most teenagers need around eight to ten hours a night; if a game keeps eating into that, move it earlier in the day.

05Age ratings in the UK

Games sold in the UK carry PEGI labels: PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16 and 18. Content descriptors explain why a game got its rating, and a separate notice flags In-game purchases, with (includes random items) where paid packs or boxes of unknown contents are on sale. PEGI 12, 16 and 18 are legally enforceable for boxed games sold in UK shops, and the Games Rating Authority administers the system here. Several games on this year’s list are rated 16 or 18: the PEGI label guide explains every symbol.

06Money inside games

• Many games sell optional extras after you buy them. Decide on a monthly amount before you play and keep to it.
• Virtual currencies hide real prices. Convert them back into pounds before you buy anything.
• Paid random items, often called loot boxes, mean paying without knowing what you will get. That uncertainty makes it easy to keep buying. Where you can, skip them.
• UK games companies have agreed industry principles that say under-18s should not be able to buy paid random items without a parent or carer knowing. Platform spending limits make that real at home.
• Keep purchase approval switched on and check your statements now and then.

07Family settings that help

Every major platform includes free tools to limit play time, cap spending, filter content by age and control who can send messages: Xbox Family Settings, PlayStation Family Management, Nintendo Switch Parental Controls, Steam Families, Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link. Set them up together with your children and explain why. Rules agreed at the start work far better than rules imposed in the middle of a game.

08Staying safe online

• Never share your full name, address, school, passwords or photos with people you meet in a game.
• Use chat filters and keep messages to friends where you can.
• Block and report anyone who is abusive or pushy, or who asks you to move to a private app, send pictures or keep secrets.
• If an adult is talking to a child in a way that feels wrong, report it to CEOP, the police’s child protection command. Internet Matters has step-by-step guides for every console and app.

09Comfort and accessibility

Read the photosensitivity warning before you play: a small number of people can have seizures triggered by flashing lights. Use the comfort options many games now include, such as reduced motion, field-of-view sliders, subtitles, colour-blind modes and difficulty assists. Using them is playing the game properly.

10Signs play is becoming a problem

The World Health Organization recognises “gaming disorder” when gaming takes priority over other interests and daily life despite harm. Things worth noticing, in yourself or someone close to you:

• playing much longer than planned, again and again;
• losing sleep or skipping meals, school, work or plans with friends;
• feeling irritable, low or anxious when not playing;
• spending more money than intended, or hiding how much;
• giving up other hobbies and people.

In England and Wales the NHS runs a specialist National Centre for Gaming Disorders; a GP can also help you find the right support.

11Raising it with someone

Start with curiosity, not a verdict: ask what they enjoy about the game and how they feel after a long session. Agree small, specific changes together rather than an outright ban, and offer other plans that are genuinely fun. If things do not improve, a GP or one of the services below can help.

12Free, confidential support

Paid random items work a lot like gambling: you pay, you do not know what you will get, and it is easy to chase the next one. If time or money spent on games has started to feel out of control, these organisations offer free and confidential help in the UK and online:

• GamCare

  Free, confidential information and counselling for anyone worried about how gambling or compulsive play is affecting their life, with a helpline (0808 8020 133) open around the clock and an online chat option.

  Visit GamCare ↗

• BeGambleAware

  An independent charity offering confidential advice, self-assessment tools and practical guidance for understanding your own habits and taking back control at your own pace.

  Visit BeGambleAware ↗

• Gambling Therapy

  Free emotional and practical support for individuals and families worldwide: online support groups, self-help resources and trained advisers you can reach from home.

  Visit Gambling Therapy ↗

13If you are young, or worried right now

These services are free, confidential and there for anything, not only games:

• Childline

  Free, private support for anyone under 19, about anything: call 0800 1111 or chat online, any time of day.

  Visit Childline ↗

• Samaritans

  Someone to talk to, around the clock and free from any phone: call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.

  Visit Samaritans ↗

• YoungMinds

  Mental health guidance for young people and a parents’ helpline for adults worried about a child.

  Visit YoungMinds ↗

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent medical advice that is not an emergency, call NHS 111 or visit nhs.uk.

14For parents and carers

Ask your children to show you the games they love, and play with them sometimes: ten minutes of playing together teaches more than an hour of rules. Keep consoles in shared rooms where you can, agree on screen-free times such as meals and the hour before bed, and aim for balance rather than bans.

15How this site is built

Larkwick has no accounts, notifications, streaks, countdowns or rewards for coming back, because none of that helps anyone choose well. Questions about this guide are welcome at desk@larkwick.co.uk.