“Overcome your limits” – in the popular first-person shooter Valorant, two teams with unique characters play against each other. Despite the colorful cartoon look, weapons and violence are the central elements of the game.
Valorant is similar to popular games like Fortnite, Overwatch or Counterstrike.
The game is a mixture of hero and tactical shooter. The basic idea of the game is simple: two teams of five play against each other. At the start of each game, each player chooses a character (“agent”) with special abilities. One team defends a randomly selected game world, the so-called “map”. The other team attacks its terrain and must place the bomb, the “spike”. One point is awarded for each successful defense or attack. The game switches after 12 rounds. The first team to reach 13 points wins.
Between rounds, the teams use a temporary in-game currency to buy supplies such as weapons and armor, as well as skills for their characters. All agents have different, special characteristics. The in-game currency is earned and paid out at the end of each round according to personal performance and the team’s performance. Due to the different abilities of the agents, the pawns must be placed strategically. To do this, each team considers together which move is best for each round. Teamwork and tactical skill are required here.
Valorant has a large community and is frequently streamed on the Twitch streaming platform. The
“agents” are visually appealing enough for young people to identify with the characters. Valorant has a large fan culture that competes for the best design with cosplays and game-based
drawings. Valorant has also become a major eSports title, attracting a large mass of fans from all over the world. A plus point for young people is that the game is basically free to play and only requires an email address to register.
Valorant has a USK age rating from 16 years. Valorant is about an armed conflict, which is accompanied by depictions of violence. Settings can be made in the game so that no blood or dead figures are visible in the game.
There is a reward system in Valorant: if daily and weekly tasks are completed, players can earn the in-game currency “Creds” and use it to purchase new agents or accessories. New and rare skins bring players recognition in the game and can therefore encourage frequent play. Players can use real money to purchase “Valorant Points” and use them to buy time-limited BattlePasses or weapon skins. The provider regularly releases new packages, which can lead to pressure to buy.
In addition to the RIOT Games Terms of Use, Valorant has a Code of Conduct. Failure to comply with these rules can result in anything from a ban from the in-game communication systems to a temporary or indefinite ban from Valorant or all RIOT Games games. Valorant has a simple system for reporting players. During the game, individual players can be reported for misconduct.
As parents, pay attention to the USK age rating from 16 years and explain to your child why it is important. To prevent younger players from downloading the game without further ado, you as parents should definitely activate the parental control settings on your child’s device. If your child is playing Valorant because he or she is already 16 years old or you think he or she is mature enough, be sure to talk to him or her about his or her playing experience. Talk to other parents about the topic and find out more about the game on platforms such as the NRW Players’ Guide.
The game thrives on its tactics and in-game communication via chat and headset. Both can be switched on and off manually. Make your child aware of the special features of online communication. Inform them about communication risks and how to deal with inappropriate contact from other players. Ask your child what they experience in the game and in chat with other gamers. Make your child aware of technical functions, such as muting individual players in the event of misuse of the voice chat. The entire chat can also be switched off.
Although the game is free to download, there are many different ways to spend real money in the game via in-game purchases. Talk to your child about the mechanisms used by game developers and decide together how much money and time should be spent on the game. Technical settings can help your child to limit the playing time.
