What is Roblox and How Can It Be Used to Teach? What's New?

Roblox
(Image credit: Roblox)
Recent updates

This article was updated in August 2025.

Roblox is a massive online platform where millions of people create and play games and 3D experiences using the Roblox Studio software. This can now be well-used in education with lots of teaching-specific tools and games available.

Roblox can work as a sandbox experience in which teachers and students can create -- great to teach coding, storytelling, and design. It uses the Lua programming language, making it a useful CS tool as well as a space where students can work collaboratively to create together.

The platform has some impressive safety features in place, with a view to this being used in schools for education. Appropriate guidelines are available, but it's still worth keeping an eye as students could get into the wider platform, which might not all be appropriate.

This guides aims to explain all you, as an educator, need to know about Roblox.

What's New in Roblox

Since this guide was last updated, fun new features have been built into to Roblox, including the Learning Hub, added in summer 2025. This offers grade level- and subject-aligned experiences for students.

Games such as Words of Power for vocab, Math Tower Race, Ecos: La Brea for earth science, and Sesame Street Mecha Builder for STEM, are all great additions.

The new AI tools in Roblox feature really nicely allows you to build 3D models, create text from prompts, translate games, and collaborate better. Stronger safety controls for education have been added to better manage access and limits.

What is Roblox?

Roblox is a block-based, multiplayer, open-world digital game that works in app format and via a browser. It's not primarily designed for education but thanks to it's openly creative environment, it can be used that way.

Roblox

(Image credit: Roblox)

Plenty of sub-games are available in the Roblox world, created by other users but that can also be created by anyone with the time. Students can play and interact with other users, working together to complete in-game tasks.

Communication and the types of games are policed, however, there are still issues with inappropriate content and predators slipping through. As such, this is aimed at 13 years and older, and it is recommended that parents keep a close eye on their child's gaming. Locking the account settings, which can have filters on and communication limited, is also recommended.

Some of the most popular games, including MeepCity, Work at a Pizza Place, and Adopt Me!, have billions of people visiting. Gamers can earn and spend currency, called Robux, in this world – a useful incentive for in class rewards also.

How does Roblox work?

Roblox breaks down into two modes: making games or playing them.

Register and there is complete access to both options. Games can be selected from a long list in various categories, which could be better organized but should keep students busy as they hunt for what they enjoy.

Roblox

(Image credit: Roblox)

Thankfully, the better content filters to the top so it is more easily accessible, with plenty of developers using this space to show off what they can do. Students can build games too and monetize them to earn revenue, teaching them about trade and digital charges, both in the games and to pay for them.

Students are able to use their own devices, in class or elsewhere, to play multiplayer games together as a team. But this is flexible too, allowing for variation as well as single-player gaming with other online players. Students can post on message boards, join groups, and chat, as well as friend one another to grow their social community within the game.

This sample Roblox lesson plan can be used to implement the tool into instruction.

What are the best Roblox features?

Roblox is easy to install and get running. The game is self-explanatory and the building tool also relatively easy to use. Dedicated Wiki pages are available that can offer guidance on how to build games using the Roblox system.

Roblox

(Image credit: Roblox)

Since some games can be scary for younger children, it pays to use the safety features available to parents, guardians, and teachers. This allows you to limit access based on the age of the student and the kind of content they can be exposed to in the Roblox world. This also can be used to limit the chat features in the game so that there is less chance of negative influences while gaming.

The game offers great possibility when it comes to creativity, exploration, collaboration, and interaction. But it's the building and designing part that could help develop future careers in design, coding, planning, and more. It could even be a current career if the build is popular and can be monetized.

How much does Roblox cost?

Roblox offers a free version that can be played for nothing, including using the Roblox Studio to make games. But for lots of the content there are charges in Robux, which can be bought with real-world money.

There are three subscription levels, each of which provide a number of Robux.

Pay $4.99 per month and you will get 450 Robux.

Spend $9.99 per month and you get 1,000 Robux.

Or go top-end at $19.99 per month and you'll have 2,200 Robux to play with.

Roblox best tips and tricks

Use parental controls
Be sure to restrict use so access is appropriate for the child's age before they are allowed to begin playing the game. Keep a close eye as well.

Build a class
Have the students build a virtual world based on the classroom, or school, and you could even carry out a virtual class in there when it's ready.

Reward
Offer real-world rewards in class, such as extra break time, for good digital choices like working well as a group, sharing, inclusion, and so on.

Luke Edwards is a freelance writer and editor with more than two decades of experience covering tech, science, and health. He writes for many publications covering health tech, software and apps, digital teaching tools, VPNs, TV, audio, smart home, antivirus, broadband, smartphones, cars and much more.