Yes, the app is completely free but does feature in-app purchases. These in-app purchases are completely optional and do not affect the gameplay.
Ages Designed For?
So this will vary with most parents. We can't set a universal age recommendation as some parents will not approve of the game's theme at all while some might find it completely harmless. The app is designed for older kids with a 9+ rating on the App Store. The gameplay similarly to the "Clue" board game deals with murder as players try to find out who amongst the group is the the guilty party/imposter. The animations and gameplay itself are not objectionable at all and are very tame. Another concern parents may have is the chat aspect of the game and the public rooms. With our kids, we set a rule that they can only play in private servers with their friends and are not allowed to go into chatrooms with strangers. While they do have a profanity filter on by default, for many parents that isn't enough.
What's It About?
One crewmate has been replaced by a parasitic shapeshifter. Their goal is to eliminate the rest of the crew before the ship reaches home. The Impostor will sabotage the ship, sneak through vents, deceive, and frame others to remain anonymous and kill off the crew.
While everyone is fixing up the ship, no one can talk to maintain anonymity. Once a body is reported, the surviving crew will openly debate who they think The Impostor is. The Impostor's goal is to pretend that they are a member of the crew. If The Impostor is not voted off, everyone goes back to maintaining the ship until another body is found. If The Impostor is voted off, the crew wins!
Plays Like: A mashup of Roblox, the Clue board game and the Survivor TV show.
What’s The App Good For?
Among Us is a really fun party game for a group of friends to play together. Like Roblox or Animal Crossing, this game exploded in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic as it allowed friends to share a fun playable experience together. It's a great way to develop mystery solving skills as players observe behaviors and try to put clues together to find out who the imposter is.
Is Among Us Worth It?
This is going to depend on your preferences and what you deem acceptable for your children. If you find the content or subject matter inappropriate for your child then skip, skip, skip. If you do not have an issue with your child playing a game with a bit more mature content then this game is a really fun game. There is a good reason Among Us was one of the most popular games of the past year for both older kids and young adults. It's a great and novel way to pass your time and connect with friends.
