Game Blocking and Detection

KyberGate includes specialized game detection that goes beyond simple domain blocking. With a curated list of 130+ gaming domains and advanced detection for browser-based games, KyberGate keeps students focused during instructional time.

Before You Begin

• You need Admin or Policy Manager role
• Review your school's policy on gaming — some schools allow games during breaks or as rewards
• Understand that some educational platforms use game-like elements (gamification) that you may want to allow

What KyberGate Blocks

Gaming Domains (130+)

KyberGate maintains a curated list of known gaming sites, including:

• Browser games: CoolMathGames, Poki, Y8, Kizi, Armor Games, Kongregate
• Game platforms: Steam, Epic Games, Roblox, Minecraft.net
• Mobile game sites: GamePigeon alternatives, io games (agar.io, slither.io, etc.)
• Game-adjacent: Game wikis, cheat sites, game streaming (Twitch)
• Proxy games: Sites that host games specifically to bypass school filters

The list is updated regularly as new gaming sites emerge.

Browser-Based Game Detection

Many students find unblocked browser games hosted on obscure domains. KyberGate's advanced detection identifies:

• HTML5/WebGL game content on otherwise uncategorized domains
• Known game frameworks and engines running in the browser
• Google Sites and other platforms hosting embedded games

Enabling Game Blocking

1. Navigate to Settings → Filtering Policies
2. Select your policy
3. Go to the Categories tab
4. Enable the Gaming category toggle
5. Optionally enable Game Streaming to also block Twitch and similar platforms
6. Click "Save & Deploy"

Schedule-Based Game Access

Many schools allow gaming during lunch or free periods:

1. Create two policies:
   • "Instructional Hours" — Gaming category blocked
   • "Free Time" — Gaming category allowed
2. Set schedules for each policy:
   • Instructional: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
   • Free Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
3. Assign both to the same device group with the appropriate schedule

Game Detection Dashboard

Monitor gaming activity across your school:

1. Go to Reports → Activity Logs
2. Filter by Category: Gaming
3. View:
   • Which students are attempting to access games
   • Most popular gaming sites
   • Time of day gaming attempts occur
   • Which devices have the most gaming activity

Handling New Game Sites

Students are creative at finding new game sites. When you discover one:

1. Check if it's already in the Gaming category via the Domain Checker
2. If not, add it to your policy's Block List
3. Click "Report Miscategorization" to have it added to the global Gaming category
4. It will be categorized within 24 hours for all KyberGate customers

Troubleshooting

• Student found an unblocked game? Add the domain to your Block List immediately, then report it for global categorization
• Educational game being blocked? Add the specific domain to your Allow List. Common examples: Kahoot, Quizlet Live, Prodigy
• Google Sites games? These are tricky — enable browser-based game detection for best coverage, or block sites.google.com if your school doesn't use Google Sites

Tips

• Check activity logs weekly: Look at the Gaming category to spot trends and new game sites students are finding
• Educate, don't just block: Pair technical controls with conversations about appropriate device use
• Allow educational games explicitly: Maintain an Allow List of approved educational games (Kahoot, Prodigy, Quizlet, etc.)
• Monitor "Proxy/VPN" category too: Students often use VPNs to bypass game blocks

Related Articles

• Understanding Content Categories
• Creating and Managing Filtering Policies
• Students Bypassing the Filter