What Is Roblox? Complete 2026 Guide for Players and Parents

What Is Roblox?

Roblox is not one game. It is a huge platform full of games, called experiences, that are built by players and small studios using a free tool called Roblox Studio. You make one free account and can then jump between obbies, role play towns, horror games, tycoons, shooters and simulators. Roblox makes money by selling Robux, its virtual currency, which players spend on avatar items and extras inside games.

When Did Roblox Come Out and Who Made It?

Roblox was created by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel. The company was founded in 2004 and Roblox officially launched on September 1, 2006, so it is now over 20 years old. David Baszucki is still the CEO of Roblox Corporation. Roblox became a public company in 2021 and today about 123 million people use it every day, based on the company’s results for April to June 2026.

Is Roblox Free?

Yes. Roblox and almost every game on it are free to play. Money is only needed if you want Robux for avatar items, game passes or private extras. Be careful with any website or video promising free Robux: Robux generators are scams that try to steal your account. The only safe ways to get Robux are buying them in the official app, a gift card, or a subscription.

What Devices Can You Play Roblox On?

• PC and Mac: download the Roblox app from roblox.com.
• Phones and tablets: iPhone, iPad and Android through the App Store or Google Play.
• Consoles: Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, PS4 and PS5.
• VR: Meta Quest headsets.
• Nintendo Switch: not available. Roblox is not on Switch or Switch 2 and no release has been announced.

Roblox does not have an official version that runs inside a web browser, so sites offering "Roblox online" are third party services. If you just want a quick game in your browser, our Sky Obby runs on any phone or PC with nothing to install.

Roblox Age Check for Chat (2026 Change)

Since January 2026, every Roblox user worldwide must complete an age check before they can use chat. The check is done in the app with your camera (Facial Age Estimation). Users aged 13 and over can use ID verification instead. Roblox says the images are deleted right after the check.

After the check, players are placed in an age group: under 9, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20 and 21+. By default you can only chat with your own group and the groups just above and below it. Chat is off for children under 9 unless a parent allows it. You can still play games without an age check, you just cannot chat.

How to Get Voice Chat on Roblox

• You must be 13 or older.
• Complete ID verification or Facial Age Estimation. Phone verification no longer counts.
• Turn on Voice Chat in the experience settings, or tap the headphone icon in a game that supports voice.
• Mute or unmute your microphone from the same menu.

Voice Chat is off by default. If the headphone icon does not appear after you verify, voice may not be available in your country yet.

Is Roblox Safe for Kids? Parental Controls

Roblox is built for all ages, but children can meet strangers in chat, so settings matter. Parents can link their own account to their child’s account and then:

• Turn chat on or off, or limit who can message their child.
• Set a monthly spending limit for Robux.
• Set daily screen time limits.
• Block games above a chosen content maturity level.
• See the child’s age check status and fix their birthday if it is wrong.

Talk to your child about never sharing personal details and never leaving Roblox to chat on other apps with people they met in a game.

Roblox Plus vs Roblox Premium

On April 30, 2026 Roblox launched Roblox Plus and stopped new sign ups for Premium. Plus costs $4.99 a month and gives you:

• 10% off avatar and in game items, rising to 20% from your third month in a row.
• Free private servers in supported games.
• Robux transfers to friends with no fee.
• Trading and selling of avatar items.

Roblox also said it would add bundles with 500, 1,000 or 2,000 Robux every month. If you already had Premium, you can keep it and its monthly Robux. To cancel either one, go to Settings, then Subscriptions on roblox.com, or cancel through the App Store or Google Play if you subscribed on a phone.

How to Redeem a Roblox Gift Card or Code

• Go to roblox.com/redeem and log in to your account.
• Scratch the back of the gift card and type the PIN.
• Select Redeem. The credit or Robux is added to your account.

Promo codes for free avatar items work on the same page. Codes for a single game, such as Steal a Brainrot or The Forge, are different: you type those inside that game, usually through a codes or Twitter bird button.

Is Roblox Down? How to Check

If Roblox will not load, open the official status page at status.roblox.com. If it shows a problem, wait for the fix and do not reinstall the app. If everything shows as working, restart your device, update the Roblox app, turn off any VPN and check that your date and time are set automatically.

Is Roblox Shutting Down?

No. Roblox is growing and has no plan to shut down. The rumour usually starts when Roblox is blocked in a single country, or from fake posts on social media. A block in one country does not affect players anywhere else.

Most Popular Roblox Games Right Now

Player numbers change every day, but these games have been near the top in 2026: Brookhaven RP, Adopt Me!, 99 Nights in the Forest, Rivals, Blox Fruits, Murder Mystery 2, Steal a Brainrot and Grow a Garden. For a scare, players love Doors and Forsaken.

Games Like Roblox You Can Play Free

Love obbies? You can play our own obby style games free in your browser, no account needed: Block Obby with checkpoints and lava, and Sky Obby where you bounce higher and higher. If you like building, try Block Builder.