For parents
Splatyard is a paintball game made in Devon, built to be safe for children first. Here's exactly how, in plain English.
The short version
- No chat. Players can't send each other messages of any kind: no typing, no voice, no preset phrases.
- No personal information. No email, real name, age, photo or location is asked for or stored.
- No spending. There's nothing to buy. Coins are earned by playing.
- No adverts and no tracking.
- Paint only. Players get splatted with paint and pop back up. No blood or injury. PEGI 7 style.
- Parent controls with your own PIN: time limits, who your child can play online with, and more.
What other players can see
Only your child's username, their character's look, and their score in a match. Usernames are checked automatically. They can't contain rude words (even disguised ones), birth years or long numbers. We also ask children not to use their real name. If a name slips through, it can be renamed by us.
In a private room, the person who made it can choose a map they built; its name is checked the same way. That's it: there's no other way for one player's words to reach another.
Playing online
- Solo, training and the firing range are against computer players only.
- Private rooms need a 4-letter code that a friend shares, so you know who's in the game.
- The online arena is open to other players. You can switch it off in Parent controls, or allow private rooms only.
- The only ways players can interact are playing the game, a "ping" marker on the map, and picture sprays (stars, hearts and so on) on walls.
- Online games run on our own server, which only lets in logged-in players, and checks your parent controls itself, so the settings can't be got round. All connections are encrypted.
- Nobody "dies" in Splatyard. Players who get splatted with paint simply warp back to the start.
Parent controls
In the game, log in to your child's account, press their name at the top of the menu, then 👪 Parent controls. Choose a PIN only you know, then:
- Online play: everyone, friends' private rooms only, or off.
- Time limit each day: from 30 minutes to 3 hours (UK days). They get a 5-minute warning, and when time's up they can't start another match until tomorrow.
- Break reminders: a friendly "time for a break?" every 30, 45, 60 or 90 minutes (every hour by default for everyone).
- Hide other players' names: everyone else shows as "Player".
The settings are saved on the account itself, so they work on every phone, tablet and computer your child logs in on. Changing them needs your PIN. Forgotten the PIN? Use the account's recovery code (shown when the account was made). It's a good idea for you to keep that code.
If something goes wrong
- In online matches there's a 🚩 Report button. Reports go straight to the people who look after Splatyard, who can rename, block or remove accounts. Reports are anonymous to the player reported.
- Players who misbehave can be blocked for an hour, a day, or for good.
- You can delete the account at any time from the same menu (it needs the password). Everything is removed straight away.
Accounts and data
An account is a made-up username and a password. Passwords and recovery codes are stored scrambled so nobody can read them. The site uses https (the padlock) everywhere. Full details are on the privacy page.
Under 13? Please make the account together with your child, and set up Parent controls while you're there.
Last updated 11 October 2026.