Parents' Guide to

Fortnite

By David Chapman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Battle it out or use strategy in fantastic action game.

Game Mac , Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One 2017
Fortnite Poster Image with three players standing on edge of cliff holding weapons.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

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Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 1121 parent reviews

Anonymous
Written by Anonymous
November 3, 2020
age 16+

Get ready to be banned for no reason

Well considering, I barely played the game for less than a month and quit playing it for about 2 years or less and I decided to play again because a friend of mine was playing, and when I logged in said I was currently banned. I have no idea why, I contacted epicgames and they told me that I did in fact break their rules of conduct but would not tell me what I did to break their rules because it could potentially exploit cheating? Yeah, I did nothing wrong, I did not cheat on anything on fortnite, neither did I hardly speak to anyone in game chat other than a playstation friend a few times. You can really tell when these new age game companies have a correlation with how they treat people on a case by case basis, and their politically correct views as they blur the lines of what is acceptable in society. This is the future people, machines making determinations of weather or not you are guilty of a crime, sentenced to do time without the right of a fair trial. Funny too because the last thing I remember about that game was a 9yr old inviting me to playstation chat and only to find out he was inviting random people to chat just so he could publicly humiliate another player with foul language and racist remarks, and that my friends was actually the last time I played before I quit. I did not say a single word that I can remember but I left voice chat asap when I realized what was happening. Do your self a favor skip this game, a side from all the 9-12yr olds screaming in your ear the whole time, the game is actually not that great. The game looks appealing but graphics aren't everything. I recommend you spend your time else where.
Smints83
Smints83 Adult
February 24, 2022
age 5+

Family Fun

Free fun but needs to be monitored by an adult, issues should be dealt with as they arise. We play as a family but as they have got older more and more friends are playing and adding them . I make sure they act to some degree as they would in the "real" world. Respectful of other people. As if it was a paint ball match / lazer tag gameto some degree. Head sets make it hard to hear what others are saying, but keeping communication open and dealing with issues in real time is a must. I have educated them on negatives and positives of multimedia and get them to try to monitor their game playing time as much as possible. They are mostly sensible but sometimes they stay on too long and they can see the negative impact it can have on them. When they grow up they won't have mum and dad to watch over them, so these are life skills they need to have in order to have good mental health. Game play is good but as a part of healthy lifestyle, eating well, active in the real world , reading books and doing art etc. Balance is key and every child is different and i can see their needs change day by day but having a break is good.
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What’s It About?

FORTNITE is currently one of the most popular video games in the world, but the majority of most players' attention isn't on the original strategy-focused, single-player campaign (also known as Save the World), but rather the stand-alone last-player-standing mode known as Battle Royale. Here, gamers take on up to 100 other players by themselves, with a partner, or as part of a four-player squad to see who can survive the longest against opponents on an ever-shrinking map. During matches, players will gather materials and build structures to defend themselves against incoming fire, using firearms, melee weapons, and explosives to defeat enemies. Players can also practice building structures, test their aim with the various guns in the game, and take on three other friends in Playground mode. The Battle Royale mode has also added a Creative editor to allow players to create their own adventures, and recently, has added Live Events, where players can gather together and watch concerts, movie screenings, or other events. (The content within the these live events will vary based on what's being shown, so players and parents will need to check to make sure that content is appropriate.) The Save the World version of Fortnite looks very similar visually to Battle Royale but is always played solo, and players fight zombie-like monsters called Husks. Both versions of the game take place after "The Storm," an apocalyptic event in which 98 percent of the world's population simply vanished. But only Save the World has the Husks, and in that version, after stumbling onto and taking command of an abandoned high-tech shelter facility, it's up to you to take charge of a group of brave heroes as they fight back. Under your guidance, these heroes will gather precious resources, rescue survivors, and build a refuge from the lumbering armies of the undead. Along the way, you might just discover the source of The Storm and save all humanity in the process.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1121 ):
Kids say (2184 ):

The popularity of this sandbox shooter's multiplayer mode eclipsed the strategy-focused story, but no matter which you play, it's fast-paced and will keep you coming back for more. Fortnite: Battle Royale became perhaps the most popular game in the world by early 2018; its cartoonish take on last-player-standing gameplay struck a chord with both casual and hardcore players. The gameplay isn't bloody or gory, but it demands that gamers be willing to go through many play sessions to improve their strategy and get better at surviving on the ever-shrinking battlefield. There are some moments when players will defeat others and celebrate their misfortune, but the overall tone of matches is typically light and friendly, which is one of the reasons people are so eager to play "just one more." While there's a heavy push to buy items and animations, they're not necessary to enjoy the multiplayer experience. Battle Royale takes place in themed, weeks-long "seasons" that adds content like Halloween costumes or Christmas emotes, as well as fundamental changes to the overall experience. Just when you think the developers have tossed in everything they could, including the kitchen sink, a new season comes along and throws in a whole new kitchen. That makes Fortnite is a constantly growing and evolving experience, frequently with new areas to the game map, vehicles, and most recently, cannons. It's also borrowed new features from competitors as well; Fortnite borrowed the "ping" system from Apex Legends to indicate things that squadmates would want to pay attention to, like building materials or ammunition. In late 2018, the game added yet another new mode: Fortnite Creative, an editor that gives players access to intuitive, easy-to-use in-game tools to create their own personalized adventures. Players can build to their heart's content or collaborate with friends and let their collective imaginations run wild. Once their masterpiece is done, players can even share their works with the rest of the community in the game's showcase area, dubbed "The Block." Each season, The Block will shine the spotlight on select player-generated content, adding a constantly changing element to play while encouraging fans to create something new and exciting, strengthening the game's sense of community and camaraderie in the process.

Fortnite's original Save the World mode is a deeper standalone option, with a heavy focus on teamwork instead of competition. Players take on the Swarm -- the result of The Storm bringing the dead back to life -- trying to save innocent survivors and collect resources to develop a headquarters that's a safe haven. Save the World missions can be played solo or by joining forces with other players. While running around the map, collecting resources, building structures, and attacking groups of zombies sounds complicated, it actually feels like second nature. On top of that, Save the World's campaign story strikes a perfect balance of fun and creepy, with a lighthearted humor that's as much fun to watch as it is to play. The main problem comes between the action, when you have to maintain your characters, inventory, and so on. It's not intuitive, and it's poorly explained. Eventually, you'll fumble your way through the tactics here, but it's still a frustrating headache. Fortunately, it's a snag that doesn't affect play much, and you'll be back building, shooting, and saving the world with a smile.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in video games. Fortnite: Battle Royale focuses on eliminating players to be the last one standing, but does the violence have less impact because there's no blood or gore?

  • What are some good ways to prepare for disasters, and how important is it to have an emergency plan in place?

  • What are some positive ways to foster sporting conduct and teamwork in games? What are some ways to deal with toxic players in an online environment? Does Fortnite: Battle Royale's focus on combat limit the focus on teamwork within the game?

Game Details

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