Agar.io - Miniclips

This review of Agar.io was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 17 August 2017.

About the app

This section contains details about the app provided by an ACCM Reviewer.

ACCM review

This review of Agar.io contains the following information:

• The level to which the game was reviewed
• App description
• Reviewers comments
• In App purchasing
• Online information
• Gambling
• Advertising and product placement
• Gender stereotypes and sexual references
• Coarse language
• Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents
• Other

The level to which the game was reviewed

The game was played for several hours.

App description

In this multiplayer game, players control a traveling “cell” in a 2D environment scattered with little coloured pellets – resembling confetti. Collecting the dots increases the size of your cell. You can also eat or consume other cells (if they are smaller than yours). Movement is achieved by tapping or swiping the screen in the intended direction. Coins and DNA are earned throughout the game which can purchase things such as new skins and potions (which also unlock rewards).

The aim of the game is to survive as long as you can to obtain the most amounts of pellets, the highest mass and highest position on the leader board. There is also “Rush Mode” where you have 5 minutes to finish in the top half of the leader board, earning you a Potion.

Reviewers comments

This game is extremely simple in its design and most children will be able to master it within one short sitting. There doesn’t seem to be any level progression however (beyond daily challenges – such as collecting a certain number of pellets, or obtaining a certain mass). The game encourages Facebook and Twitter connectivity in order to share player stats and there are quite a number of pop-up ads which you cannot opt out of (some of which would not be appropriate for the designer’s age recommendation of 9+). There are also many opportunities to make in-app purchasing in this game. Therefore, this game would not be suitable for children under 13.

In App purchasing

Coins

1250 Coins = $2.99

3250 Coins = $7.99

7000 Coins = $14.99

1600 Coins = $30.99

50,000 Coins = $79.99

125,000 Coins = $159.99

 

DNA

125 = $2.99

355 = $7.99

800 = $14.99

1800 = $30.99

5750 = $79.99

15,000 = $159.99

Online information

• Connectivity with social media

Gambling

None found at the time of review.

Advertising and product placement

Saturated advertising; including pop-up ads which can’t be opted out of (until the “skip add” icon appears), featuring themes unsuitable for the designer’s age recommendation.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

None noted.

Coarse language

Some other players may have offensive cell names – which are displayed in their cell.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

None.

Other

None.

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