Roblox is up there with Fortnite and Minecraft as the biggest names in online gaming, but there’s a chance that you may not have heard of it. If you count yourself among that rare group, consider this article your introductory course. Roblox is one part video game creation platform and one part social hub, a place where you can play, earn moolah, or simply chill with friends online. Want to know just how popular it is? On Aug. 23, 2025, Roblox hit its highest-ever concurrent worldwide user count of more than 47 million people, according to the Rotrends analytics site. And that number still stands. In short, Roblox is a big deal.
Roblox’s appeal lies in its ability to power your imagination. Want to play as a legendary hero? You can! Want to score the winning goal? Besides playing, you can also create and sell games on Roblox. All you need is the free Roblox Studio app, patience, and a little creativity. Roblox is whatever you want it to be.
Roblox has many elements that might seem intimidating to the uninitiated, so we’ll help you get up to speed with this guide. So, whether you’re curious about one of the biggest games on the planet or a concerned parent whose kid is begging to play it, here are the most important things you need to know about Roblox.
What Is Roblox? Making Games, Making Money, and More
How to Make Roblox Games
Every Roblox game, or “experience,” as the community calls them, is a unique, user-created title. This differs from Minecraft, where you build and create within the game’s confines. To make a Roblox experience, you must download Roblox Studio (available for Mac and Windows). This free, Lua-powered scripting language is both simple and powerful enough to make a wide array of titles. Roblox provides tutorials to help you get started.
With Roblox Studio, you can make a game from scratch or experiment with premade templates. For example, the “Line Runner” template is essentially a side-scrolling, Super Mario Bros.-style game. The customization rabbit hole runs pretty deep. And in case you need a helping hand, there’s a rich community of users who have been making games on the platform for years. Roblox Studios experiences aren’t locked to Roblox; you can publish them for consoles, PCs, smartphones, and tablets, too.
(Credit: Roblox/PCMag)
How to Make Real Money From Roblox Games
Anyone familiar with Roblox is also aware of Robux. It’s the currency used to access premium, user-created games, purchase game passes, and purchase other in-game items. However, did you know that the Roblox games you create can generate real money? It’s even possible to make big bucks in Roblox (though that’s a rarer outcome).
As a game creator, you can paywall your experience, whip up purchasable cosmetics, or make game passes that include, for example, special in-game abilities or bonus experience points.
To do that, you need a Developer Exchange (DevEx) account. It requires you to meet certain criteria, such as being 13 years or older, verifying your email address with Roblox, and having at least 30,000 earned Robux (Roblox’s currency) in your account. The Robux exchange rate has remained relatively stable for several years, with 100,000 Robux approximately equivalent to $350.
In short, Robux makes the world of Roblox go round, and you can get your share with some imagination and elbow grease. Just be careful using AI assets.
(Credit: Roblox/PCMag)
How to Play Roblox Games in VR
Some Roblox creators create traditional games, while others create titles designed for virtual reality headsets. To enjoy these experiences, you need compatible gear, such as the popular Meta Quest VR headsets, which allow you to play without being tethered to a PC. Roblox has tips on setting up a VR headset for use with the game.
Unfortunately, Roblox VR experiences aren’t on consoles, so you can’t explore the platform’s many, many VR games even if you have a PlayStation 5 and the PlayStation VR2 headset. Maybe one day.
Want to make your own Roblox VR games? Roblox also gives you the tools to do that; you create them in Roblox Studio, just as you do in Roblox’s non-VR titles.
(Credit: YouTube/PCMag)
How to Avoid Free Robux Scams
On the internet, scams come in many forms, including Roblox. Yes, Roblox is intended for children, but that doesn’t make it inherently safe. As with all things on the web, you must be aware of lurking dangers, particularly Roblox monetary scams.
Were you or someone you know offered free Robux? Don’t fall for the bait—it’s a scam designed to get your user information! Robux can only be acquired by purchasing the currency in-game or buying a gift card. As a result, it’s advisable to follow general internet safety guidelines to avoid scams.
For starters, never share your credentials with anyone. If someone claims to be from Roblox and asks for your account name and password, they’re likely a scammer. Roblox has stated it will never ask for your password.
Some Robux scams get particularly creative. There are fake, looped Twitch and YouTube streams that promise to give away Robux gift cards, and sites that prompt visitors to unknowingly run malicious code in their browsers. So, remember the golden rule: No matter how tempting the offer may be, there is no such thing as free Robux. None.
In fact, you should be proactive by strengthening your or your child’s Roblox account. Roblox has several tips for doing so.
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(Credit: Roblox/PCMag)
How to Use Roblox Parental Controls
There’s no way to mince words: Roblox has a child predator problem. It’s a well-documented issue that has plagued the platform for years. However, there are tools to keep kids safe while they play.
As a parent, the first and most important step is to visit Roblox’s parental control options. With them, you can create a Roblox account and connect it to your child’s. This allows you to control the “content maturity” that your kid accesses in their Roblox feed, view and limit what they play, and block specific accounts.
Parents who’ve linked their accounts to their child’s can view who the little one has been chatting with. Ideally, you, as the parent, also have the login information for your child’s account to read message exchanges, should you want to stay informed about matters.
Roblox has other safeguards. For example, it recently introduced an age verification system, which requires people to prove they are over 13 to engage in “unfiltered chats.” This builds upon the company’s decision to ban Hangouts for kids under 13. Additionally, Roblox users aged 18 or older can no longer interact with users aged 13 to 17.
They’re not perfect, but the tools foster a safer Roblox experience. And remember, parents should always take an active role in their kids’ internet and gaming lives.
For more on online gaming, check out the best multiplayer video games and how to get started in game streaming.
Heath Haskins contributed to this article.
About Our Expert
Robert Anderson
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I’ve been freelancing as a tech journalist for several years now, after long wanting to write about my passion for video games. I have bylines on Kotaku and other sites, but PCMag is where you can find most of my musings on gaming, its culture, and where the industry is going next. I also test online services for both businesses and individuals. If you’re interested in hearing me talk about entertainment, film, and TV, you can check out my Patreon and Substack, both under the name “Robby Knows.”
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