What makes a kids' game site safe? A parent's checklist

A kids' game site is safe when it has no chat, needs no account or sign-up, labels its ads clearly and never puts them over the game, shows no pop-ups, has nothing to buy, explains its privacy in plain words, and never asks you to download anything or install an extension. That's the whole checklist. The rest of this page explains each point, shows how to check a site in about two minutes, and says how Tabby Arcade answers each one.

The checklist

1. No chat

Chat is the biggest risk on any site where children play, because it's the way a stranger can reach a child. That includes text chat, voice chat, friend requests, comments and "send a message" features. A site where children play only against the game, or with someone sitting next to them, has nothing for a stranger to use.

2. No accounts or sign-up

If a game asks a child for a name, an email address, a birthday or a password before it lets them play, it's collecting personal information it doesn't need. A game that opens and plays straight away, with no account, has nothing about your child to lose or leak.

3. Ads clearly labeled, and never over the game

Many free sites show ads, and that's how a lot of them stay free. The question is how. A safe site marks every ad with a clear label, such as "Advertisement," so a child can tell an ad from the game. Ads shouldn't cover the game, appear in the middle of play, or pretend to be part of the game, like a fake "Play" button.

4. No pop-ups

Pop-ups, windows that open by themselves, and full-screen ads that interrupt play are designed to be clicked by accident. Children click them more than anyone. A safe site doesn't use them.

5. Nothing to buy

Look for coins, gems, "boosts," season passes and anything else that costs real money. Even when a parent has to approve a purchase, a game built around buying things keeps nudging a child to ask. A game with nothing to buy can't run up a bill.

6. A plain privacy page

Every site should have a privacy page that a parent can read in a few minutes. It should say what the site collects, why, and how long it keeps it. If you can't find a privacy page, or it's pages of legal language that never answers those questions, treat that as a warning.

7. No downloads or extensions

A browser game should play in the browser. If a site asks you to download a file, install an app or add a browser extension to play, close the tab. Those are the usual way unwanted software ends up on a family computer.

How to check any site in two minutes

You don't need any technical skill for this. Open the site on the device your child uses and walk through it the way they would.

1. Open a game and start playing. Does it start without asking for a name, an email address or an account? Did anything pop up?
2. Look around the game while it runs. Is anything covering it? Is every ad labeled? Is there a chat box, a comments section or a friend list?
3. Play for a minute. Does it offer anything for money, such as coins, extra lives or unlocks? Does it ask you to install anything?
4. Scroll to the bottom of the page. Find the privacy page and read the first few paragraphs. Do they say plainly what's collected?
5. Try the back button. Does it take you back, or does it open new windows or redirect you somewhere else?

If a site passes all five, it's a reasonable place for your child to play. If it fails any of them, it's worth looking elsewhere.

How Tabby Arcade answers each point

We built Tabby Arcade to pass this checklist, so here are our answers, point by point.

• No chat. There's no chat of any kind: no messages, no comments, no friend lists and no profiles. Children play against the game, or with someone sharing the same device.
• No accounts or sign-up. Every game opens and plays straight away. We never ask a child for a name, an email address or a password to play.
• Ads clearly labeled, and never over the game. Tabby Arcade is ad-light. Any ad space is labeled "Advertisement" and sits beside or below a game, never over it.
• No pop-ups. We don't use pop-ups, and nothing opens new windows on its own.
• Nothing to buy. All of our games are free, and none of them sells anything.
• A plain privacy page. Our privacy page says in plain words what we collect and what we don't, and our about page tells you more about who we are.
• No downloads or extensions. Every game runs in the browser on phones, tablets, computers and school Chromebooks, with nothing to install.

Most games save progress in this browser on your own device, not in an account.

Three games to start with

If you'd like to try the site with your child, these three are a gentle start.

• Arcade Memory Match is a card-matching game with no timer and no way to lose. Turn over two cards at a time to find matching pairs. The first board has just 12 cards, and every icon has its own shape as well as its own color.
• Tabby Cat Fishing stars Token the tabby cat in his little boat. Hold to drop his line, let go to reel it in, and fill a collection book with every kind of fish you catch. Each trip lasts 75 seconds, which makes it a good fit for a short break.
• Mirror Light Puzzle is a calm puzzle about steering colored light with mirrors. There's no timer and no way to lose, and every color has its own pattern, so it works for children who find colors hard to tell apart.

FAQ

Is Tabby Arcade free?

Yes. Every game is free to play in your browser, with no download, no sign-up and no chat.

Does my child need an account?

No. There are no accounts. Most games save progress in this browser on your device, and no game asks for a name, an email address or a password.

Can my child talk to strangers on Tabby Arcade?

No. There's no chat, no messaging, no comments and no friend lists, so there's no way for anyone to contact your child through the site.