The letter or number on the box is only part of the story. Here’s how to read the whole label.
Quick hits
- The ESRB rates games in North America; PEGI rates games in much of Europe, including the UK.
- ESRB categories run from Everyone to Adults Only 18+; PEGI uses ages 3, 7, 12, 16 and 18.
- Content descriptors explain why a game got its rating.
- Both systems flag in-game purchases, including paid random items such as loot boxes.
- Ratings don’t cover what other players say or share online.
Age ratings help you decide whether a game is suitable for a particular player. Two systems cover most of the English-speaking world: the ESRB in the US and Canada, and PEGI across much of Europe, including the UK.
ESRB (North America)
An ESRB rating has three parts:
- A rating category:
- E (Everyone): generally suitable for all ages.
- E10+ (Everyone 10+): generally suitable for ages 10 and up.
- T (Teen): generally suitable for ages 13 and up.
- M (Mature 17+): generally suitable for ages 17 and up.
- AO (Adults Only 18+): suitable only for adults.
- Content descriptors, such as violence or strong language, that explain the rating.
- Interactive elements, which flag features that don’t affect the rating but matter to parents, such as In-Game Purchases, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact, Shares Location and Unrestricted Internet.
PEGI (Europe and the UK)
PEGI labels show an age of 3, 7, 12, 16 or 18, plus descriptors for content such as violence, bad language, fear or horror, gambling, sex, drugs and discrimination.
PEGI also shows an In-Game Purchases descriptor whenever players can buy extras with real money, and adds a “Paid random items” notice when those purchases include items you can’t see before buying. From June 2026, PEGI began factoring some purchase features into the age itself: games submitted with paid random items are now rated at least PEGI 16.
Heads up
In the UK, PEGI 12, 16 and 18 ratings are legally enforceable for retailers. PEGI 3 and 7 are guidance.
What ratings don’t cover
Ratings describe the game’s own content. They can’t account for what other players say in voice chat, the names they choose or the content they share. For online games, communication settings matter as much as the rating; see our guide to parental controls.
Using ratings well
- Read the descriptors, not just the age. A T-rated game with mild fantasy violence is very different from one with strong language.
- Watch some gameplay before buying, or play together first.
- Check for in-game purchases and set spending limits.
- Consider your child, since you know their sensitivities better than any label.
For game ideas suitable for the whole family, see our list of cozy games.
Player questions
Is it illegal to sell a mature game to a child?
In the UK, retailers can be prosecuted for selling games rated PEGI 12, 16 or 18 to anyone younger. In the US, ESRB ratings are voluntary, but many retailers enforce them as store policy.
Do ratings apply to digital games?
Yes. Major digital stores show ratings too, and console parental controls can block games above an age you choose.
Why does a game I bought have a different rating in another country?
Each rating system applies its own criteria, so the same game can receive different ages in different regions.
What does Rating Pending mean?
It appears on ads and promotional material for games the ESRB hasn’t rated yet. It’s replaced by a final rating before release.
Games, platforms and settings change with updates, so check the official help pages for your platform if something looks different.