Video Game Age Ratings Explained: ESRB, PEGI and What Each Label Means

What do ESRB ratings mean?

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) describes itself as the non-profit, self-regulatory body for the video game industry, established in 1994 ^[2]. Its ratings are displayed on devices in North America ^[15]. Its system has three parts: Rating Categories that suggest age appropriateness, Content Descriptors that explain what triggered the rating, and Interactive Elements that flag online features ^[2].

• Everyone (E): generally suitable for all ages; may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and infrequent mild language ^[1].
• Everyone 10+ (E10+): generally suitable for ages 10 and up; may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and minimal suggestive themes ^[1].
• Teen (T): generally suitable for ages 13 and up; may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humour, minimal blood, simulated gambling and infrequent strong language ^[1].
• Mature 17+ (M): generally suitable for ages 17 and up; may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and strong language ^[1].
• Adults Only 18+ (AO): suitable only for adults; may include prolonged intense violence, graphic sexual content and gambling with real currency ^[1].

Two further labels appear only in advertising before a rating exists: Rating Pending, and Rating Pending Likely Mature 17+ ^[1]. ESRB descriptors preceded by 'Mild' signal low frequency, intensity or severity, and descriptors are not a complete list of a game's content ^[1].

What do PEGI ratings mean?

Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) is the age rating system used in more than 35 European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Poland and the Nordic countries ^[5]. It was founded by Video Games Europe in 2003 and is run by PEGI s.a., a not-for-profit company under Belgian law ^[5]. PEGI says a rating reflects age suitability, not difficulty: a PEGI 3 game may still be too hard for a young child ^[14].

• PEGI 3: suitable for all age groups; no frightening sounds or pictures for young children, only very mild comical violence, no bad language ^[3].
• PEGI 7: may include scenes or sounds that could frighten younger children, and very mild implied or non-realistic violence ^[3].
• PEGI 12: slightly more graphic violence towards fantasy characters, or non-realistic violence towards human-like characters; sexual innuendo; only mild bad language ^[3].
• PEGI 16: violence or sexual activity that looks as it would in real life; stronger language; use of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs ^[3].
• PEGI 18: gross violence, apparently motiveless killing, violence towards defenceless characters, glamorised illegal drug use, simulated gambling, or explicit sexual activity ^[3].

PEGI also shows a 'Parental Guidance Recommended' label for some non-game apps, such as social media or streaming apps, in stores that use the IARC system ^[3].

How do ESRB and PEGI compare?

The two systems answer the same question with different age steps. The clearest difference in 2026 is how they treat online and spending features. ESRB says its Interactive Elements 'do not influence the rating assignment of a product' ^[1]. PEGI, since June 2026, assesses 'interactive risks' that can raise the age label ^[3].

Both systems use descriptors. ESRB lists terms such as Blood and Gore, Simulated Gambling and Real Gambling ^[1]. PEGI uses icons and text for violence, bad language, fear or horror, gambling, sex, drugs, discrimination and in-game purchases ^[3]. Under PEGI, drug content always means PEGI 16 or 18, and discriminatory content always means PEGI 18 ^[3].

What changed in PEGI ratings in 2026?

In June 2026 PEGI added new classification categories focused on interactive risks: purchases of in-game content, paid random items, communication features, and elements that encourage players to keep playing ^[4]. The main rules, as PEGI describes them, are below ^[3].

• Paid random items (offers where players do not know exactly what they will get before paying, such as loot boxes or card packs): games submitted since June 2026 are PEGI 16, or PEGI 18 for social casino games ^[3].
• Time-limited or quantity-limited offers that create urgency: PEGI 12, or PEGI 7 if the game has built-in parental controls with spending off by default ^[3].
• NFTs or crypto-related assets that are required to play, tradable or central to gameplay: PEGI 18 ^[3].
• Play-by-appointment rewards such as daily quests or log-in streaks: PEGI 7, or PEGI 12 if players are punished for not returning in time ^[3].
• Unrestricted communication, where chat cannot be blocked or muted and there is no moderation: PEGI 18 ^[3].

PEGI then extended the change to older games. In an announcement dated 6 October 2026, it said that starting in October 2026, digital-only games rated PEGI 3, 7 or 12 that feature paid random items are being updated to PEGI 16 across storefronts that use PEGI ratings ^[4]. PEGI director Dirk Bosmans said the update ensures that older games that remain popular 'reflect PEGI's current age rating standards' ^[4]. PEGI says the updates will take time to complete ^[4].

How are video games rated?

Boxed games. For PEGI, publishers fill in a questionnaire about each version of a product before release. The system produces a provisional rating, and an administrator reviews the actual game content before a licence to use the label is issued ^[6]. NICAM in the Netherlands handles PEGI 3 and 7, while the Games Rating Authority in the UK reviews 12, 16 and 18 ^[6].

Digital games and apps. For digital storefronts, PEGI uses the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) process, with checks after release ^[6]. A developer answers one questionnaire when submitting to a storefront and immediately receives ratings for each participating region; the process is free ^[6]. IARC brings together rating authorities from Europe, Australia, Brazil, North America and South Korea, and administrators check a cross-section of results afterwards ^[6]. ESRB also rates non-game apps on storefronts that use IARC ^[1].

Platforms run their own versions of this step. Steam's Content Survey generates ratings for several regional rating boards that appear on the store page after release ^[12]. Roblox said in April 2026 that it would begin moving to the IARC framework later in the year, so its games show regional ratings such as ESRB and PEGI ^[13].

Are video game age ratings legally binding?

It depends on the country. This is general information, not legal advice.

United Kingdom: The Games Rating Authority, an operating name of the Video Standards Council, classifies games using PEGI ^[8]. UK trading standards guidance states: 'It is illegal for a retailer to sell a video game with a PEGI age rating of 12, 16 or 18 to a person who has not reached that age' ^[8]. PEGI 3 and 7 are advisory only ^[8].

United States: ESRB ratings are industry self-regulation ^[2]. In Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association (decided 27 June 2011), the US Supreme Court struck down a California law restricting the sale or rental of violent video games to minors; the Court's official syllabus notes that the industry's voluntary rating system 'already accomplishes that to a large extent' ^[9].

Other countries: PEGI's list of member countries does not include Germany ^[5], and IARC exists partly so that storefronts can meet content classification requirements that are legally mandated in certain countries ^[6]. Iran has its own system, the Entertainment Software Rating Association (ESRA). In December 2008 Game Developer (then Gamasutra) reported that it had been set up by the Tehran-based National Foundation for Computer Games, a non-profit group working under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and that the ESRB denied working with it ^[10]. A 2016 peer-reviewed study examined how ESRA reflects religious and moral criteria ^[11].

How useful are age ratings for parents?

Strengths. Ratings are widely recognised. PEGI cites 2025 Ipsos research for Video Games Europe in which 79% of parents whose children play games were aware of PEGI labels; of those, 75% said they used the labels when buying games ^[7]. The same research found that half of the aware parents said they follow the advice, while 25% said they use the labels but do not always follow them ^[7]. The 2025 survey sample was 5,114 people in 15 EU markets ^[7].

Limits. A rating describes age suitability, not difficulty ^[14]. ESRB descriptors do not list everything in a game ^[1], and ESRB warns that online interactions and some streamed music are not covered by the rating itself ^[1]. PEGI said it began updating older ratings in 2026 because online games can stay available and updated for a very long time, and it wanted ratings to stay consistent ^[4]. A label also cannot replace console parental controls, which PEGI notes can restrict games by rating, limit spending, control chat and set play time ^[3].

How should you read a rating before buying a game?

1. Start with the age label, which reflects whether the content suits an age group, not how difficult the game is ^[14].
2. Read the descriptors to see why the rating was given, such as violence, fear or gambling ^[1][3].
3. Check spending warnings. 'In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)' on ESRB and 'Paid random items' on PEGI both signal loot-box-style offers ^[1][3].
4. Check online features. ESRB's 'Users Interact' warns of possible exposure to unfiltered user content and communication ^[1].
5. Set console or store parental controls to match the rating you are comfortable with ^[3].
6. Look again after big updates, because a live game's rating can change ^[4].

What comes next for game age ratings?

In October 2026 PEGI said its update of older games with paid random items would take some time to complete ^[4]. Roblox said in April 2026 that it would begin moving to the shared IARC process later in the year ^[13]. Because PEGI now treats interactive risks as part of the rating ^[3] while ESRB keeps them as separate notices ^[1], the same game may carry quite different labels in Europe and North America.