PEGI Ratings
Authority: Pan European Game Information (PEGI)
Pan European Game Information rates games across five age categories: 3, 7, 12, 16, and 18. Ratings escalate from mild fantasy violence at PEGI 3 to realistic-looking violence, drug references, and explicit content at PEGI 18, and are assigned based on depicted content, not gameplay difficulty.
| Rating | Content Guidance |
|---|---|
| PEGI 3 | Suitable for all ages; no frightening content, at most very mild comical violence |
| PEGI 7 | May contain mildly frightening scenes or very mild non-realistic violence |
| PEGI 12 | More graphic violence toward fantasy characters, mild bad language, sexual innuendo |
| PEGI 16 | Realistic-looking violence or sexual activity, stronger language, drug/alcohol depiction |
| PEGI 18 | Gross violence, motiveless killing, or explicit sexual activity/drug glamorization |
History & Origin
PEGI launched in April 2003, developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe to replace a patchwork of separate national age-rating systems -- including the UK's ELSPA system -- with a single scheme usable across most of the continent. Rather than building an entirely new framework, PEGI's structure was based on the Dutch Kijkwijzer film classification system, adapted for games, pairing an age rating with a set of standardized content descriptor icons that flag specific concerns like violence, bad language, or gambling content.
PEGI is now used in dozens of European countries, though it isn't universal across the continent -- Germany notably maintains its own separate USK rating system rather than using PEGI. Because PEGI ratings are based specifically on depicted content rather than gameplay difficulty or target audience, a game can carry a high PEGI rating even if it is mechanically simple, if its content includes realistic violence or other flagged material.
Related Pages
Referenced By
ACB Ratings
Australia's Classification Board rates games G, PG, M, MA 15+, R 18+, or Refused Classification (RC). G and PG are advisory for general and younger audiences; M is recommended for mature audiences; MA 15+ and R 18+ are legally restricted by age; RC content cannot legally be sold, hired, or exhibited in Australia at all.
Comparison TableUSK Ratings
Germany's Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle rates games under five legally binding age categories: USK 0, 6, 12, 16, and 18. Each threshold is set in German youth protection law, and retailers must enforce the printed age at the point of sale; USK 18 titles are not approved for anyone under 18.
Comparison TableCERO Ratings
Japan's Computer Entertainment Rating Organization rates games from A (All ages) to Z (18 and up only). B suits ages 12+, C suits ages 15+, and D suits ages 17+; Z is a legally restricted category, and retailers in Japan can be penalized for selling a Z-rated game to a minor.