That question’s kind of the point of the YouTube channel Jet Lag: The Game.

Denby, along with friends Ben Doyle and Adam Chase, play a variety of original games around the world. It all started when they decided to compete in a giant game of Connect Four, wherein they attempted to “score” four U.S. states in a straight line, claiming them by visiting each state’s capital.

From there, the trio has played giant forms of other popular games, too: They’ve played tag across Europe; they’ve enjoyed hide and seek through Switzerland; they’ve engaged in capture the flag throughout Japan.

Of course, they’re not just playing the game as you or I may know it. Each version here comes with unique rules and challenges to make it more enjoyable, both to play and watch.

But like actual jet lag, might some of the other things you’ll find on this channel catch you off guard?

POSITIVE CONTENT

Each season on the channel comes with a variety of countries and games. Likewise, each game comes with its own rules and unique challenges. These games and challenges showcase the trio’s creativity in coming up with them, and they could encourage viewers to create their own games, too.

The group ensures that games contain rules that make their challenges safe. For instance, players aren’t allowed to go over the speed limit; they’re required to eat at least one meal a day; and they pause games to spend the night in hotels instead of playing through the night.

It’s evident that the three guys are good friends simply having fun—no matter where in the world they are.

CONTENT CONCERNS

The most frequent concern on the channel is crude language: We heard profanities such as “a–,” “d–n” and “h—”. We also hear God’s name used in vain (and sometimes paired with “d–n”). Likewise, Jesus’ name is also misused. And on a similar note, the f-word and s-word are censored (except for one s-word, which can be seen in a text message).

In a handful of challenges across the seasons, a contestant must drink enough alcohol to get drunk.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Jet Lag: The Game really is a bit like the YouTube version of The Amazing Race.

And that shouldn’t come as a surprise: Denby, who also runs the YouTube channel Wendover Productions, told Wired that the global travel gameshow had been a big inspiration for him. But instead of traveling around the world to get to challenges, the travel itself often is the challenge.

Too bad, then, that Jet Lag: The Game comes with language concerns as well as challenges that include getting inebriated. In those respects, this channel is by no means any more content-free than the broadcast reality show that inspired it.  

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And if you’re with Cory Williams on his YouTube channel CoryxKenshin, you might find yourself laughing in the face of fear itself.

That’s because Williams is a pretty funny guy—and that humor greatly contrasts the videos you’re likely to find on his channel, most of which fall firmly into the horror genre. He’s made plenty of videos showcasing his playthroughs of countless scary games, and he’s got a series reacting to the most frightening videos his viewers have sent him.

But whether you’re screaming out of fear or out of laughter, one thing’s for sure: CoryxKenshin is sure to get a reaction out of you.

Note: CoryxKenshin was requested by a user of Plugged In. Do you have a YouTube channel you’d like us to review? Submit your request by sending it to letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram so we can check it out!

POSITIVE CONTENT

Williams is a Christian. In the “About” section of his channel, he desires to “live in God’s image,” and you’ll find a Bible verse at the end of each video.

Williams brings plenty of fun to each video. Despite the dark material in the games he plays and the videos to which he reacts, Williams provides lots of light-hearted comments that brighten the mood. And on a similar note, in his long-running reaction series, “Spooky Scary Sundays,” he interacts with viewers who’ve sent in horror videos for him to watch, taking the time to thank the community member and intentionally provide a comment or two on their submission.

In one animated horror short that depicts the death of a child, Williams warns his younger viewers to not trust strangers, reminding them that they could use manipulative or persuasive tactics to make them drop their guard.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Contrasting Williams’ joyful attitude are the games he plays on his channel, which are predominantly horror. We see frequent jumpscares, monsters and more. In the games (and in horror videos Williams reacts to), we see blood and gore. In one video, we see a child’s head eaten off his body by a monster. In a couple of games, Williams’ child character is a victim of abuse or murder. And one game allows him (playing as a high school student) to murder the other students. And some games and videos make references to self-harm and suicide. Someone is forced to pull maggots out of his eyes and nostrils after he searches up gory photos of an AI woman.

Williams occasionally makes sexual references, such as jokes referencing male anatomy or, in one instance, how if he was promised “big booty women,” he’d crawl into a murderer’s car. He also jokes about texting his wife for oral sex while watching a horror video with a sexually suggestive monster. In another game, though blurred, Williams plays through a section where a deranged mental patient attempts to use a buzzsaw to cut off Williams’ character’s genitals. We sometimes see the naked rears of a couple video game characters.

The occasional demonic enemy likewise makes an appearance in some of the games, as do tarot cards.

Williams makes a point not to swear in his videos. The worst that we heard him say was “crap,” though he does use substitute words like “what the freak” or “heck.” Additionally, he censors crude language when it appears in a game, too—but the same harsh language can still be read in the subtitles of some games, as is the case in his playthrough of horror game The Quarry.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Were there an example in juxtaposition, CoryxKenshin would be it.

Williams himself comes across as very kind, humorous and genuine. But whereas Williams seems like he’d be a swell guy to meet in real life, the content on his channel will likely cause parents some concern.

Because the channel focuses on horror, most of the channel’s content issues stem on the frightening and the violent—the kind of stuff that’d likely keep a teenager holding their covers a little tighter at night. And with some rare but still present sensual content, CoryxKenshin may be a hard sell for parents.

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In 2019, he held the title of the world’s fastest button-masher, capable of clicking controller buttons at more than 20 clicks per second. In 2021, he became the most-subscribed Twitch streamer of all time (before taking a three-year break from the platform). And in 2022, he won Content Creator of the Year at the annual Game Awards.

On his YouTube channel, appropriately titled Ludwig, Ahgren uploads a variety of content.

Many of Ahgren’s videos focus on him playing a variety of video games—sometimes for fun, and other times with added challenges. In one series, Ahgren plays a game almost nonstop until he achieves a predetermined goal, such as beating the game or reaching a certain skill rank in multiplayer. And in other videos, he hosts various gaming competitions, attended by fellow content creators and friends.

But when he’s not playing video games, you may find Ahgren reacting to other content uploaded onto YouTube. He might be hosting his own Jeopardy-style gameshow. He could be allowing his Twitch chat to dictate how he spends his money online, telling a story or making a tier list.

Suffice it to say, you’ll find a diverse list of videos to watch among more than 2,000 uploaded to the channel since 2011.

But in terms of content, what can you expect?

POSITIVE CONTENT

Ahgren has hosted streams for charity, raising thousands of dollars for those in need. Likewise, when a prominent game tournament was cancelled, Ludwig chose to organize and host the event himself.

Ahgren often collaborates with other channels, including content creators who have far fewer subscribers than him.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Ahgren plays a variety of games on his channel, from Mario Party to Elden Ring, and some of these games may be inappropriate for younger audiences. And on a similar note, because Ahgren also reacts to other YouTube videos, some of those videos will likewise contain adult elements—such as when Ahgren reacts to dating videos from the creator Cut. 

Viewers may hear jokes about sex and various topics related to it, including masturbation and other things. In one video, someone sends Ahgren a package with various depictions of animated women in underwear and bikinis. In another, he tries on clothes that his Twitch chat compelled him to buy—most of which emphasize his anatomy or display crude phrases on them.

We heard a variety of profane language, including the f- and s-words. We hear “a–,” “b–ch” and “h—,” too, as well as crude references to both the male and female anatomy. God’s name is frequently used in vain, sometimes paired with “d–n.” Jesus’ name is likewise abused.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Step aside, Beethoven, there’s a new famous Ludwig in town. Given Ahgren’s prominence on both Twitch and YouTube, you’ve probably seen a video or two of his on YouTube’s home page, even if you’ve never watched any of his content.

But given that much of his content caters to older audiences, it’s something that you probably won’t want your child viewing.

The post Ludwig appeared first on Plugged In.

And Jaren Smith’s channel, SMii7Y, showcases that.

On the channel (which is pronounced ‘Smitty’), Smith joins a cluster of friends (some of whom have their own YouTube channel) to play a variety of multiplayer video games.

Some—like the variety of indie games they play—feel perfectly suited for the jokes and antics in which they engage. Others, despite not having any moments meant to be comical, nevertheless result in plenty of laughs among the group.

But not all of these jokes are family friendly.

Note: SMii7Y was requested by a user of Plugged In. Do you have a YouTube channel you’d like us to review? Submit your request by sending it to letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram so we can check it out!

POSITIVE CONTENT

Smith almost always plays games with friends, and it’s clear that they all have a great time while gaming together. It’s evident via their jokes and conversations that their friend group loves spending that time together.

CONTENT CONCERNS

The biggest content concern on the channel by is the frequent crude language. Multiple uses of the f- and s-words are heard in most videos, and they’re often surrounded by a plethora of other colorful language, too. God’s name is used in vain, including instances immediately followed by “d–n,” and Jesus’ name is likewise abused, too. Crude words for male and female anatomy are used, too.

We hear some jokes about sex and masturbation. One game’s objective centers on players attempting to slap each other’s oversized rears. They also play the vulgar card game Cards Against Humanity, whose cards rely on shock-value sexual humor and crude jokes about religion.

Some of the games on the channel are meant for older audiences, and they might include violence and blood-soaked death. For instance, they play Helldivers 2, featuring dismemberment, and they play an indie game involving Russian roulette.And SMii7Y and friends play the occasional thriller or horror game, too.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

SMii7Y showcases just how much more fun a game can be with the right group of friends. But because of the language and sexual innuendos on this channel, this particular group isn’t the one you’ll want your kids hanging out with online.

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I’d speculate that many video game fans who recognized her in that film also follow Anys on Twitch. After all, as of late 2024, she’s the most-watched female Twitch streamer (and 13^th overall), with more than nine million followers. And while she got her start with League of Legends, Anys also found fame playing Fortnite, the latter of which still dominates her most-viewed videos on her YouTube channel.

These days, however, most of the recent videos on the channel are vlogs, from traveling to Japan on vacation to moving into a new home.

POSITIVE CONTENT

In many of her Fortnite videos, Anys joins with random people and helps them to win a match. If they have a bad game, she’ll usually stick around for another round, especially if the person she’s playing with is friendly and a fan.

In other videos, Anys discusses life events and provides comfort to those going through similar things. For instance, when describing going through a breakup, she helps viewers understand how to overcome the pain that comes with romantic heartbreak. She also discusses cutting back on making content due to the emotional toll being a “content machine” took on her life.

CONTENT CONCERNS

A few videos on Pokimane showcase the harassment she Anys gets for being a female streamer. In these videos, Anys reads through some comments she’s received while determining if the commenter should be permanently banned or forgiven; many commenters sexually harass her, referencing sex, masturbation and inappropriate requests regarding her body.

General sexual content appears on the channel, too, such as when Anys uses an eye tracker to see if she can avoid looking at men and women in revealing outfits—a video which includes women in bras and small bikinis and men in wrestling garb that hides little. We hear occasional suggestive banter, too.

In one joke, Anys depicts Jesus and God the Father discussing an inappropriate comment she’s received, and she imagines them using use crude language while talking about it.

Anys uses the f-word and s-word. We also heard vulgarities such as “a–,” “b–ch,” “h—” and “p-ss.” God’s name is used in vain, and Jesus’ name is likewise used in vain, too.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Anyscomes across as very friendly to the strangers she gets partnered with in online shooters. But despite that kindness, viewers will encounter many adult topics on the channel, from crude language to sexual references. So while games like Fortnite might attract a younger fanbase, Anys’ YouTube channel won’t be appropriate for those same children.

The post Pokimane appeared first on Plugged In.

Hasn’t Nintendo’s famous hero been through enough? After all, this Legend of Zelda protagonist just can’t help but be destined to save the world. He (and various iterations of him, if you care to read our Theology of The Legend of Zelda blog on the topic) can’t catch a break.

But if Eric Morino has anything to say about it, Link’s job is going to get even harder.

Morino’s the Twitch streamer behind the YouTube channel PointCrow. He loves playing modified versions of popular games such as The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon and more. And even if they’re not modded, Morino will impose restrictions on himself to make a particular game more challenging.

In one video, he tries to beat Tears of the Kingdom while blindfolded. In another video, his Pokémon become permanently unusable if he allows them to faint. Still more videos showcase him playing through custom-made Pokémon games (some of which contain concerning elements).

And occasionally, Morino’s Twitch chat will get in on the gameplay, too, as they work together to use custom-made commands that’ll slow Morino’s progress through various games.

POSITIVE CONTENT

If nothing else, PointCrow shows just how much replayability some games can have. Players might spend hundreds of hours playing the same games in new and exciting ways. By imposing challenges on himself, Morino essentially creates his own unique game modes that may encourage kids to get creative with how they play games they own.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Some of the custom-made Pokémon games follow dark storylines, including one in which people are sacrificed via a cult and another where radiation mutates the creatures. On a similar note, a couple of The Legend of Zelda speedruns on the channel focus on completing inappropriate tasks (intended to be humorous), such as one video where a guy attempts to “get laid” as quickly as possible. (The true goal of the video is to get a specific fade-to-black cutscene wherein Link spends the night comforting a girl.)

We hear some sensual references and jokes about drug use.

The f-word is censored when used. However, we heard the s-word, “a–,” “h—” and “d–k” all used throughout a variety of videos. God’s name is taken in vain, including instances which are immediately followed by “d–n.” Likewise, Jesus’ name is used in vain, too. It should also be noted that the comments from the Twitch chat members may also contain crude language.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

PointCrow may just give gamers an idea or two about how to return to old games and make them fun to play once again. But despite the typically kid-friendly appeal of The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon, Morino’s videos also come with some content that will be inappropriate for children.

The post PointCrow appeared first on Plugged In.

Don’t believe me? The channel literally won the award for being in a “League of Their Own” at the 2022 Streamer Awards.

What makes the channel so unique? Well, Douglas Wreden, the creator behind the channel, just might let his Twitch chat answer that question.

Much of Wreden’s content stems from a simple idea: Twitch interactivity. The premise is simple: Wreden will set out a gaming challenge for himself, such as, “Finish a quest in Skyrim.” However, his chat will be able to make that goal harder to achieve by spawning enemies and sending obstacles his way. They achieve this interactivity via various coded commands that Wreden personally designs. If a Twitch donation tricks him, for instance, into saying the word “bear,” his voice detector is coded to spawn 10 bears into his Skyrim playthrough.

Of course, that’s not all of the content you can find on DougDoug. There are also Wreden’s crazy video game experiments, where he challenges himself in other wacky ways. Can you beat Mario Bros. 1-1 with ONLY voice commands? One video asks. Can you beat Mario 64 slide level, blindfolded? Another wonders.

Well, there’s one thing for sure: Whether Wreden’s own rules are hindering him or his Twitch chat is, none of the challenges set before him are going to be easy.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Few channels provide users with as much of an interactive experience as DougDoug. Many videos are almost entirely focused on the choices Wreden’s Twitch chat collectively makes, from working together to drive a virtual car to voting on what outcome occurs in a video game. Some viewers are brought directly to the forefront to determine outcomes; others get to play alongside Wreden, too.

With the relentless challenges put forth via his Twitch chat, there’s something to be said about Wreden’s perseverance to complete every task.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Some games Wreden plays may not be appropriate for all audiences, such as Grand Theft Auto 5.

When Wreden jokes that a stream is going to be family friendly, he and a friend make fun of Christian beliefs. In another video where Wreden’s Twitch chat determines what action they can take in a game, they offer to “marry the Pope off,” and they later offer to eat or kill him, too.

One video showcases Wreden’s choir, a men’s choir in which they get intoxicated before singing.

Language is harsh on the channel, frequently including the f-word and s-word. Likewise, God’s name is used in vain frequently, including instances paired with “d–n.” Jesus’ name is taken in vain, too. Because content is heavily based around Wreden’s interactions with his Twitch chat, some crude language may appear there as well.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

DougDoug offers creative spins on various famous games. When he boots up a game, there’s sure to be some obstacle that’ll cause him (or his willing Twitch viewers) to suffer through to the end.

But while the chaotic streams and videos may be fun to watch, the content, with heavy swearing and a few M-rated games, isn’t for younger audiences.

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I’m referring to Preston Arsement, the 30-year-old personality behind many popular YouTube channels, including Preston, PrestonPlayz, PrestonGames, PrestonReacts and TBNRFrags.

What do each of these channels have to offer? Well, let’s find out.

His namesake channel, Preston, is the largest of the bunch, boasting a subscriber count of more than 27 million. It contains mostly skits, challenges and myth busting, and videos often include his wife and real-life family members, too.

Meanwhile, PrestonPlayz, PrestonGamez and TBNRFrags (the latter acronym standing for “The Best Never Rest”) have a combined count of 28 million subscribers and focus primarily on Minecraft, Roblox and first-person shooter games such as Fortnite, respectively.

Finally, PrestonReacts, as you might expect, is Arsement’s content reaction channel, and it adds another 3 million subscribers to his channel conglomerate.

Cumulatively, the channels provide subscribers with nearly 8,000 videos to watch. With so much content waiting to be absorbed, what can audiences expect to see?

POSITIVE CONTENT

The vast majority of Arsement’s content is quite tame. Many videos focus on harmless pranks, challenges or gaming that likely won’t be of much concern to parents (with some exceptions, noted below). While there isn’t much that we’d rate as strictly “positive” or “negative,” a large amount of his content falls somewhere in between, in a purely neutral territory.

What’s more, Arsement is very friendly and positive, as are those who appear in his videos.

CONTENT CONCERNS

While Arsement’s modern content is based in games to which children typically gravitate, some older videos include game franchises that parents might not want those same young children watching, such as Far Cry 3.

On a similar note, some of Arsement’s Roblox content on PrestonGamez includes horror titles with jump scares and elements (like serial killers and demons). PrestonPlayz, while mainly sticking to Minecraft, also has videos from horror games such as Five Nights at Freddy’s and Poppy Playtime. PrestonReacts likewise posts a number of reaction videos to scary content.

A number of videos, primarily on PrestonReacts, contain a variety of sexual references as jokes. Similarly, some of the thumbnails of these videos include women in bikinis (a choice we speculate was made as sensual clickbait, since the videos we viewed didn’t feature anything similar to the thumbnail).

Language is minimal. One video contains an f-word euphemism, and we heard “crap” in a single video. However, God’s name is infrequently used in vain. Likewise, in one reaction video, the subject of one video takes Jesus’ name in vain.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

So, is Preston appropriate for your child? Well, that may depend on which of his channels you visit.

As a whole, Arsement’s channels aren’t that bad—and were you to watch a random video from the aforementioned near-8,000, chances are you probably wouldn’t find much issue with it. However, there are some exceptions.

We found PrestonReacts to be the worst of the channels in terms of content concerns due to some sexual quips and videos containing content frightening to children. And while many videos on PrestonGamez and PrestonPlayz were fine, the gaming channels likewise had some scary content on them, too—scares that, while unlikely to phase a teenager, might cause elementary-age kids some distress.

The main channel, Preston, seemed to be the tamest of the bunch. Given that it’s the most popular channel by far, that may come as a relief to families.

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How about the famous red-capped plumber, Mario, and the speedy blue hedgehog, Sonic?

Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter?

Well, that’s what the folks who run the YouTube channel DEATH BATTLE! hope to solve once and for all.

The videos typically last 20 minutes, as the animated “Wiz” and “Boomstick” (voiced by Ben Singer and Chad James, respectively) seek to cover every major power in a character’s arsenal. And after explaining just what each character can do, the animated battle begins, showcasing which character wins …

… and which character ends up as a pile of goop.

POSITIVE CONTENT

The DEATH BATTLE! team does its research. They scour the comics, TV shows, movies, video games and any other canon source of information they can find regarding a given character in order to give them a fair fighting chance. At minimum, no one can say these videos aren’t wellsprings of information. At maximum, they show viewers how to both respect a character’s power (and, by extension, a franchise’s creative choices) and broadly illustrate how to research and present factual findings in an easily digestible format.

The channel allows its audience to submit their own potential combatants, letting viewers have a chance at seeing their own ideas on the DEATH BATTLE! screen.

CONTENT CONCERNS

As required by the nature of these fights to the death, DEATH BATTLE!’s animated characters shoot, stab and punch each other into bloody pulp. While some pixelated battles may seem less graphic simply due to the animation style the channel’s creators chose to do for the fight, others are more realistic. One character’s jaw gets ripped off, for instance, as he is fed his own heart. Others are decapitated or split into pieces. Some simply evaporate into a fine red mist. But regardless of animation style and death, viewers can be confident that someone will meet his or her bloody end.

As Wiz and Boomstick provide audiences with the skillset of the two fighters, they’ll analyze everything (or, at least, everything relevant) from the character’s background. This includes any unsavory violent, spiritual or sexual issues that appear in the source material. Viewers can also be sure that Boomstick will make a sexual quip, especially if one of the fighters is a woman.

Swearing occurs on most episodes, with language getting as intense as the f-, s- and p-words. God’s name (including in the form of “g-dd–n”) is used in vain. And other crude words like “a–,” “b–ch,” “d–n” and “h—” are frequent, too.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Anyone who has a favorite character from any series has probably debated with a friend on that character’s fighting merits—and DEATH BATTLE! turns those friendly arguments into researched animated reality.

But just as you might expect, these battles, when put to screen, are a lot more graphic than those debates—in more ways than one. So, with the crude language, violence and occasional sexual content, parents may want to leave those debates as plain conversation.

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Open one of Kevin O’Reilly’s videos on his gaming channel, Call Me Kevin, and chances are some concoction of those words are the first you’ll hear.

What does different look like? Well, perhaps it’s intentionally playing a game in a way it’s not meant to be played, like when O’Reilly chooses to play as a good student in the video game Bully—or when he tries to get every survivor killed in the horror game Until Dawn.

It may mean playing as elaborate characters who become iconic names on the channel, such as Jim Pickens, the cult leader and serial killer main character of O’Reilly’s heavily modded playthrough of The Sims—or Grognak the Destroyer, the bald communist attorney of O’Reilly’s Grand Theft Auto V gameplay who suffers from “amnosia,” which is “like amnesia but not medically recognized.”

Suffice to say, as introductory sentences go, Call Me Kevin hits the nail on the head.

POSITIVE CONTENT

O’Reilly brings a certain charisma to the screen as he interacts with other online players. While some of his content is ultimately based on annoying others (with video game pranks often on par to a child holding his finger in front of another while saying “I’m not touching you”), he often brings other players in on his fun, enhancing the experience for those willing to join in.

And those experiences happen because O’Reilly plays the games in new, creative and ultimately enjoyable ways. The creativity he injects into games may very inspire viewers to craft creative stories of their own.

In one video, O’Reilly admitted that his YouTube uploading schedule had caused him to feel burned out (at one point, O’Reilly uploaded daily). Recognizing the effect it was having on his health, he decided to cut back on the amount of time he spent creating content—a decision that was met with overwhelming support from his community.

CONTENT CONCERNS

As some of the games I’ve mentioned might indicate, not all of the playthroughs on Call Me Kevin are suitable for children. Until Dawn (the subject game of the channel’s most popular video as of this review), for instance, features many gruesome and bloody deaths.

Language is likewise an issue that families will run into. The f-word (as well as an Irish variant) is heard in many videos, as is the s-word and other foul language. God’s name is often used in vain, including in the form of “g-dd–n.” The name of Jesus is sometimes used as a swear word.

Though relatively infrequent, O’Reilly will make an occasional joke about sex or drugs. And though O’Reilly professes to be a Roman Catholic, some video games or jokes about Christianity may be seen as offensive.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

If there’s one thing we can say about Call Me Kevin, it’s that O’Reilly knows video games are meant to be fun. He doesn’t seem to care if he wins or loses as long as he’s gotten a laugh out of it—for both him and his audience.

But some of those laughs may come at the expense of putting up with some violent moments, crude jokes and colorful language. And despite O’Reilly’s friendly demeanor, those content issues make Call Me Kevin a tough sell for parents of young children.

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