Free Online Games for Kids: No Download Among Us
Online gaming is a popular pastime for many children and teens, especially during the pandemic when social distancing limits their opportunities to interact with their peers in person. However, not all online games are suitable or safe for young players, and some may require downloading or purchasing before playing.
Fortunately, there are some free online games that kids can enjoy without downloading anything or spending any money. One of them is Among Us, a multiplayer social deduction game that has become a viral sensation in 2020 and 2021. In this article, we will explain what Among Us is, how to play it online, what benefits it can offer to children, and what tips parents can follow to monitor their kids' online gaming.
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What is Among Us?
Among Us is an online multiplayer game developed and published by American game studio Innersloth. The game was inspired by the party game Mafia and the science fiction horror film The Thing. The game allows for cross-platform play, released on iOS and Android devices in June 2018 and on Windows later that year in November. The game was ported to the Nintendo Switch in December 2020 and on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in December 2021. A virtual reality adaptation, Among Us VR, was released on November 10, 2022.
Among Us takes place in space-themed settings where players are colorful, armless cartoon astronauts. Each player takes on one of two roles: most are Crewmates, but a small number are Impostors. Crewmates work to complete assigned tasks in the game while identifying and voting out suspected Impostors (which appear identical to Crewmates) by means of social deduction, while Impostors have the objective of killing the Crewmates.
The game has received favorable reviews from critics and players alike for its fun and entertaining gameplay. The game and its stylized characters have also been the subject of various internet memes and parodies. According to Innersloth's website, Among Us had over 500 million monthly active users in November 2020.
How to Play Among Us Online
To play Among Us online, you need to have a device that can run the game (a smartphone, tablet, computer, or console) and an internet connection. You also need to download or purchase the game from the appropriate platform (App Store, Google Play Store, Steam, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store or Xbox Store). Here are some steps to follow:
To join a game, select either online or local. From here, you can choose whether to create or join a game and whether youre searching for a game with 1, 2, or 3 Impostors.
You will not know if you are a crewmate or Impostor until the game starts.
To control your character, you can use the joystick on the left side of the screen, the arrow keys on your keyboard, or the left analog stick on your controller. To interact with objects, you can use the button on the right side of the screen, the spacebar on your keyboard, or the A button on your controller.
If you are a crewmate, you need to complete tasks around the map. Tasks are mini-games that require you to perform various actions, such as connecting wires, swiping cards, scanning IDs, or shooting asteroids. You can see your tasks on the top left corner of the screen or by opening the map. Completing tasks will fill up a green bar at the top of the screen. If the crewmates fill up the bar before the Impostors kill them or sabotage the map, they win.
If you are an Impostor, you need to kill crewmates or sabotage the map. You can kill crewmates by getting close to them and pressing the kill button. You can also use vents to move around the map quickly and discreetly. You can sabotage the map by pressing the sabotage button and selecting an option from a menu. Sabotaging can cause various effects, such as locking doors, turning off lights, or triggering a countdown that requires crewmates to fix it before it expires. If the Impostors kill enough crewmates to match their number or prevent them from fixing a critical sabotage, they win.
During the game, players can communicate with each other through text or voice chat. However, communication is usually limited to meetings, which are triggered when a dead body is reported or an emergency meeting is called. During meetings, players can discuss who they think is an Impostor and vote to eliminate someone. If a majority of votes is reached, the person with the most votes is ejected. If there is a tie, no one is ejected. If all Impostors are ejected, the crewmates win.
Benefits of Online Games for Kids
Online games are not only fun and entertaining for kids, but they can also offer some benefits for their development and well-being. According to some studies , online games can help children:
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Learn new skills and knowledge: Online games can expose children to various topics and subjects, such as math, science, history, geography, languages, and cultures. They can also teach children various skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, logic, memory, concentration, and coordination.
Improve social and emotional skills: Online games can foster children's social and emotional skills by allowing them to interact with other players from different backgrounds and perspectives. They can also help children develop empathy, cooperation, communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
Enhance motivation and self-esteem: Online games can motivate children to learn and achieve by providing them with feedback, rewards, challenges, and goals. They can also boost children's self-esteem by allowing them to express themselves, explore their interests, and overcome difficulties.
Tips for Parents to Monitor Online Gaming
While online games can be beneficial for kids, they can also pose some risks and challenges for parents. Some of these include exposure to inappropriate or harmful content, cyberbullying or harassment, addiction or excessive use, or privacy issues. To help your kids enjoy online gaming safely and responsibly, here are some tips for parents to follow:
Enforce age limits for online games: Online games have age ratings that indicate the suitability of the content and the level of difficulty for different age groups. You can check the age ratings of games on websites such as [PEGI](^5^) or [VSC Rating Board](^2^). You can also use parental controls to restrict access to games that are not appropriate for your child's age.
Keep screen devices in shared areas of the house (not the bedroom): This can help you monitor how much time your child spends playing online games and what kind of games they play. It can also prevent them from playing late at night or early in the morning, which can affect their sleep quality and health.
Report any incidents to school and helplines: If your child experiences any form of cyberbullying, harassment, or abuse while playing online games, you should report it to the school and the relevant authorities. You can also contact helplines such as [Childline](^7^) or [Cybersmile](^2^) for advice and support.
Spend time away from technology: Online gaming can be addictive and consume a lot of time and attention. It is important to balance online gaming with other activities, such as physical exercise, hobbies, family time, and socializing with friends offline.
Socialize outside online games: Online gaming can provide a sense of community and belonging, but it can also isolate children from real-life interactions and relationships. Encourage your child to make friends and join clubs outside online games, and to maintain contact with their existing friends and family.
Conclusion
Online gaming can be a fun and educational way for kids to spend their free time, especially during the pandemic when they may feel bored or lonely. However, online gaming also comes with some risks and challenges that parents need to be aware of and address. By following some simple tips and guidelines, parents can help their kids enjoy online gaming safely and responsibly.
If you are looking for some free online games for kids that do not require downloading or purchasing, you may want to try out Among Us, a multiplayer social deduction game that has become very popular in recent years. Among Us is a game where players have to work together as crewmates or impostors in a space-themed setting. The game is easy to play, fun to watch, and suitable for different ages. You can download or purchase Among Us from various platforms, such as App Store, Google Play Store, Steam, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store or Xbox Store.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your device, invite your friends or family, and join the fun of Among Us! You never know who might be an impostor among you...
FAQs
What are some other free online games for kids?
Some other free online games for kids that do not require downloading or purchasing are:
[Roblox](^6^): A platform where users can create and play various games in different genres, such as adventure, role-playing, simulation, racing, etc.
[Minecraft Classic]: A browser version of the popular sandbox game where users can build and explore different worlds using blocks.
[Slither.io]: A multiplayer game where users control a worm-like creature that grows by eating pellets and other players.
[Skribbl.io]: A multiplayer game where users take turns drawing and guessing words.
[Cookie Clicker]: A game where users click on a cookie to produce more cookies and buy upgrades.
How can I play Among Us with my friends?
To play Among Us with your friends, you need to create or join a private game. Here are some steps to follow:
Select either online or local from the main menu.
Select create game if you want to host a game or enter code if you want to join a game hosted by someone else.
If you create a game, you can customize the settings such as the map, the number of impostors, the game rules, etc.
You will see a four-letter code at the bottom of the screen. Share this code with your friends so they can join your game.
If you join a game, you need to enter the code provided by the host.
Once everyone is in the lobby, the host can start the game.
How can I communicate with other players in Among Us?
To communicate with other players in Among Us, you can use text or voice chat. However, communication is usually limited to meetings, which are triggered when a dead body is reported or an emergency meeting is called. During meetings, you can type or speak your messages in the chat box or use the microphone icon. You can also use quick chat, which allows you to send pre-set messages such as "Where?", "Who?", "I saw", etc. You can access quick chat by pressing the chat bubble icon.
Some players may use external voice chat applications, such as Discord or Zoom, to communicate with each other during the game. However, this is considered cheating by many players, as it gives an unfair advantage to the impostors or the crewmates. It also ruins the fun and suspense of the game. Therefore, it is recommended to only use voice chat during meetings and to mute yourself when the game is in progress.
How can I report or ban someone in Among Us?
If you encounter someone who is cheating, hacking, trolling, or being rude or inappropriate in Among Us, you can report or ban them from the game. Here are some steps to follow:
To report someone, you need to be in a meeting with them. You can click on their name in the chat box and select the report button. This will send a notification to Innersloth, the game developer, who will review the report and take appropriate action.
To ban someone, you need to be the host of the game. You can click on their name in the lobby or in the chat box and select the ban button. This will kick them out of the game and prevent them from joining again.
You can also kick someone out of the game without banning them by clicking on their name and selecting the kick button. This will allow them to join again if they have the code.
How can I customize my character in Among Us?
To customize your character in Among Us, you can change their color, outfit, hat, and pet. Here are some steps to follow:
To change your color, you can click on the laptop icon in the lobby or on your character icon at the bottom left corner of the screen. You can choose from 19 different colors, such as red, blue, green, yellow, pink, etc.
To change your outfit, hat, and pet, you can click on the laptop icon in the lobby or on your character icon at the bottom left corner of the screen. You can choose from various options that are either free or purchasable with real money. Some of them are themed after holidays, seasons, or other games.
You can also use skins that are available for certain platforms or devices. For example, if you play on Steam, you can get skins based on other games such as Portal or Half-Life. If you play on Nintendo Switch, you can get skins based on Mario or Zelda.
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