Halo 5 for 8 year old in year 4

[WorkFromHomeEarnMoreMoney]

Ok, happy to hear from folks with older kids (or even 8 year old in year 4!) - but two of youngest ds’s friends have started playing this and he’s feeling a bit left out now online as they’d rather play this than minecraft or Roblox or a couple of steam games they have.
It’s a 16, but I know ratings can be taken with a pinch of salt these days - so what is the Mumsnet verdict?

YABU - it’s fine, get it for him and stop worrying

YANBU - what the hell are his friends parents thinking of?!!

In all honesty though, I’m fairly certainly going with my gut feeling and it’s no-way-Jose!

I tend to look at comon sense media for an evaluation of games. It would be a no from me -but then my 11 and 9 yr olds don't play fortnite, so that might give you a clue about how my age ratings work.

Absolutely not.

I know a couple of people who let Tywin children play games and watch films that are too old for them. They constantly complain about their kids bad language and cheeky behaviour. Sometimes I want to point out that there's likely a link.

My 13 year old year 9 son is not allowed to play it because it's a 16.... and he is 13.... don't want to slag them off but their parents are a bit.... you know.....

Nope, no way. My 14 year old isn't allowed that game. Some 16 rated games I allow him, if DH has played them through and we can make an educated decision.
As a rule we stick rigidly to the ratings but he can request his dad plays it through and we make an informed choice.
Our current disagreement is that this arrangement only applies to games in the next age rating so 16s. His friends all play 18s but they are a non negotiable no.

I would but it depends what your issues are
Gun violence and shoot 'em ups aren't an immediate deal break for me. Halo doesn't have huge gore or language or sex. The flood terrify my every now and then mind.

@InTheLongGrass yes, I like common sense media too it’s fairly level headed in its info.
These two boys also started playing Fortnite during lockdown - and I refused point blank to let ds play that as well. He’s not really asking me, as he knows that it’s unlikely I’m going to budge I suppose. But also he’s wondering why his friends are allowed to play 16 games. It’s hard to explain to him that they are both only children whose parents let them do what the want and get them what they want. Whereas he’s one of three and he’ll get things as and when his siblings got them.
Parents of only children please don’t take offence at that! It’s just what these two boys have in common - I know plenty of other sensible adults with one child who don’t suffer from golden child syndrome!

14% saying IABU, that’s quite high!

But also he’s wondering why his friends are allowed to play 16 games. It’s hard to explain to him that they are both only children whose parents let them do what the want

You do not need to explain that to him you just need to tell him what goes in your house. Being an only child has zero bearing on the situation.

I game, have played almost all of the Halo games, it’s too young. My DS was allowed to start playing 16 games at 14. However our consoles were in the same room and it’s communication with strangers while gaming that is the bigger issue.

@decoraters I put that they are only children as during lockdown they didn’t have any siblings to play with, so spent a lot of time playing online with friends.

Meh, it's halo. It nudged a 16 by a small squeak imo

@decoraters fair point, I should have elaborated more on my trail of thought