ESRB and PEGI Ratings: What Buyers Need to Know

What a game rating is and why it matters

A game rating is a short label that tells you what is inside a game before you open the box. It states an age category and lists content details such as violence, language, or gambling themes. The rating does not judge quality; it only describes content so you can decide whether the game is right for the person who will play it.

Ratings matter most when you buy for someone else, especially a child. The same console can run games rated for all ages or games rated for adults, so the console is not the real question. The question is which games you allow. Pick the hardware from the console guides, then check each game's rating before it is installed.

The ESRB is the rating board for games sold in the United States and Canada. PEGI is the classification system used in Europe and several other markets. Both systems work the same way in principle: the game receives an age category and a set of content labels. If you live outside these regions, your local rating system may be different, but the same reading method applies: look at the age category, the descriptors, and any notes about online features.

The three parts of an ESRB rating

An ESRB rating has three parts, and each part answers a different question. The first part is the Rating Category, which suggests age appropriateness. The second is the Content Descriptor, which indicates content that may have triggered a particular rating or may be of interest or concern. The third is the Interactive Element, which highlights online features that do not influence the rating assignment but can still affect your decision.

When you read a game listing, you will often see the rating category in text, such as "E10+" or "T." The content descriptors appear next to it, sometimes as small phrases such as "Fantasy Violence" or "Comic Mischief." Interactive elements appear on downloadable game pages and on the ESRB website, not always on the box.

• Rating Categories: an age category such as Everyone or Teen.
• Content Descriptors: terms such as Violence, Language, or Simulated Gambling that explain what is in the game.
• Interactive Elements: notes about online interaction, location sharing, digital purchases, or unrestricted internet access.

The ESRB rating categories

The categories below are the age groups the ESRB uses. They appear on the game box, on store listings, and on downloadable game pages.

The rating board reported that 65% of ratings assigned to physical and console downloadable games in 2024 were Everyone or Everyone 10+. Most console games sit in the two lowest categories. That does not mean you can ignore the rating; it means the majority of games are aimed at a broad audience, but some are not.

For a child, the lowest category is Everyone, which is generally suitable for all ages and may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy, or mild violence and infrequent mild language. Everyone 10+ allows a bit more. Teen, Mature 17+, and Adults Only 18+ are progressively restricted. Rating Pending appears only in advertising and marketing for a physical game that has not yet received its final rating.

PEGI and regional rating systems

PEGI works like the ESRB: a game receives an age category and a set of content labels that describe violence, language, and other material. The age numbers are often similar, but they are not exactly the same. For example, a game rated Teen by the ESRB might be rated 16 by PEGI, or vice versa. Always read the box label for your own region.

If you buy a console outside your region, or import games, the rating on the box may match the region where the game was sold rather than your local system. Read the label on the box instead of assuming it matches. This is especially important for a gift, because the recipient may be in a different region.

For consoles sold in North America, the ESRB rating is the one to read. For consoles sold in Europe, look for the PEGI label. Other regions have their own systems, such as the CERO system in Japan or the USK in Germany. The process of reading the age and content labels is the same across all systems.

How ratings shape the console you pick

A console does not carry a rating; the games do. So the rating question becomes a parental-controls question. The Xbox page describes managing children's console activities from a phone, and Nintendo lists parental controls among its system features. The PlayStation page does not mention parental controls directly, but its system also includes them in the general settings. For a shared household, decide who can install games and whether a purchase needs approval. The rating is the first filter, and the console's settings are the second. If the console will sit in a shared room, a home console with clear family settings is a practical pick. Compare the Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox lines to see which fits your room and budget, then read the kids-friendly options guide.

For a handheld console, the same rules apply. The Nintendo Switch and handheld consoles all run games with ratings, and the parental controls work the same way. A handheld may be used outside the home, so parents need to set the controls before handing it over.

Where to check a rating before you buy

Check the rating on the box, on a store listing, or on the rating board's site before you buy. The ESRB site has a ratings search and rating summaries for many physical games. For a gift, read the summary first; the box alone may not show enough detail.

If a listing shows Rating Pending, the game has not received its final category yet. For a child's gift, wait for the final rating to appear. Once the console arrives, set the parental controls and create a child account before the first game is installed.

When you buy a digital game, the rating is usually printed on the store page next to the title. It may appear as a small colored square with the age number. The content descriptors and interactive elements are often listed in the product description. If you cannot find them, check the ESRB or PEGI website by searching the game's name.

Content descriptors and interactive elements

Content descriptors tell you what specific content is in the game. Common examples are Fantasy Violence, Comic Mischief, Language, and Simulated Gambling. These are not warnings; they are information. The ESRB uses more than 30 different descriptors, and each one is defined in plain language.

Interactive elements are features that do not affect the rating but matter for safety. They include the ability to talk to other players online, the sharing of a player's location, the ability to buy digital goods, and whether the game provides unrestricted internet access. For a child, a game with online interaction may need extra oversight even if the rating is low.

Some games also have Rating Summaries, which provide more detailed context about the content. The ESRB assigns rating summaries to many physical games and makes them available in its ratings search and mobile app. Use these summaries when you are unsure about a game for a younger player.

Ratings on handhelds and gaming PCs

Handheld gaming PCs, such as the Steam Deck, rely on the rating system of the store where the game is sold. The Steam store uses its own content labels and age ratings. The console itself does not have a rating.

If you are buying a handheld like the Nintendo Switch 2 or a handheld gaming PC, you still make the game-by-game decision. The advantage of a dedicated console is that the platform owner provides parental controls that can block games by rating. On a handheld PC, the same feature depends on the operating system and store settings.

For a gift, check the rating on the game, not the device. A child can use a powerful console but only play age-appropriate games. The guide on kids-friendly options explains how to set up that balance.

What a rating cannot tell you

A rating is not a quality score, and it does not guarantee how a specific child will react. It cannot replace a parent's judgment about a household. Use the rating as a starting point, then apply the console's parental controls and your own rules.

A rating also cannot tell you whether a game is fun, whether it runs well on your console, or whether it matches the interests of the person receiving it. Those are separate questions. Use the console reviews to pick the hardware, and use the rating boards to pick the games.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

What does ESRB stand for?

ESRB stands for Entertainment Software Rating Board, the organization that assigns ratings to games sold in the United States and Canada.

What is PEGI?

PEGI is the classification system used in Europe and several other markets. It works like the ESRB in principle: an age category plus content labels that describe what is in the game.

Do ratings affect which console I should buy?

The console itself does not carry a rating; the games do. Choose the console that fits your room and budget, then check each game's rating and set parental controls to match.

What does Rating Pending mean?

Rating Pending appears only in advertising and marketing for a physical game that has not yet received its final ESRB rating. It should be replaced by the final rating once assigned.

Can parental controls block games by rating?

Parental controls can block games and apps by rating, set time limits, manage purchases, and restrict internet access. Set them on the console before the first game is installed.