The Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a European video game content rating system established to help European parents make informed decisions on buying computer games with logos on games boxes. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) and came into use in April 2003; it replaced many national age rating systems with a single European system. The PEGI system is now used in more than thirty countries, and it is based on a code of conduct, a set of rules to which every publisher using the PEGI system is contractually committed. PEGI self-regulation is composed by 5 age categories and 8 content descriptors to advise the age suitable to play and to describe the kind of game content.[1]
Age ratings[]
PEGI has six age categories. In Portugal, because the film classification system has some age ratings that conflict with the PEGI system, two of the PEGI categories were changed to avoid confusion; the categories that were changed are 3+ (changed to 4+) and 7+ (changed to 6+). Another country that changed one of the PEGI age categories is Finland. Before January 1, 2007, in that country 12+ became 11+, and the 16+ classification was changed to 15+. Finland changed its legislation to fully adopt PEGI beginning 1 January 2007, and this also made the 11+ category 12+ again, but the 15+ category remained. When ESRB came out with the E10+ rating, PEGI removed the E10+ and T ratings from ESRB, causing the 12+ rating on PEGI to remain.
| Country | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ | Parental Guidance Recommended |
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| PEGI countries members | 
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| Portugal | 
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PEGI is a voluntary system. In the United Kingdom, PEGI articulates with the legal legislation of the British Board of Film Classification, the film rating system, which also gives ratings for some 16+ and all 18+ games. Previously PEGI had no UK legal status, and only BBFC ratings limited who games can be sold to, but as of 16 June 09 PEGI has become a legally enforced body for the rating of all games in the UK. Following this, the age ratings will become colour coded, with green for 3+ and 7+, yellow for 12+ and 16+ and red for 18+.[2]
Here are the ratings for the games:
- 3+ rating: Suitable for ages 3 and over. Contains very mild violence or suggestive themes. These include edutainment games. Similar to the ESRB's Early Childhood and the Everyone (low end) ratings.
- 7+ rating: These games are the same as Early Childhood ratings but may include content descriptors like mild violence and in a rare case, very mild action violence. Suitable only for persons of 7 years of age and older and similar to the Everyone (high end) and the Everyone 10+ rating (low end) ratings in the ESRB.
- 12+ rating: Suitable only for persons of over ages 12 and older. This rating contains mild action violence or suggestive themes and mildly suggestive song lyrics. Similar to the ESRB's Teen (low end) and Everyone 10+ (high end) ratings.
- 16+ rating: This rating is suitable only for persons of 16 years of age or older. Some situations include strong action violence, mild references to gambling, and rude humor, which makes this rating similar to the Mature (low end) and the Teen (high end) ratings from the ESRB.
- 18+ rating: This rating is suitable only for persons 18 years of age and older, and is similar to the ESRB's Adults Only and Mature (high end) ratings. Graphic violence, strong sexual content, explicit references to gambling, and vulgar language (spoken and used in song lyrics) are permitted. This rating is fairly rare.
- Parental Guidance Recommended (!): Games marked by this rating are available to all ages, but parental supervision is recommended for anyone under the age of 18.
Content descriptions[]
The 18+ PEGI rating and violence descriptor on the cover of Max Payne 2
The eight content descriptors are:
| Icon | Content descriptor | Explanation | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
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Bad Language | The game contains bad language. This descriptor can be found on games with a PEGI 12 (mild swearing), PEGI 16 (e.g. sexual expletives or blasphemy) or PEGI 18 rating (e.g. sexual expletives or blasphemy). | Grand Theft Auto IV, Fallout 3, Call of Duty: World at War,Dead Space, Need for Speed Unbound |
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Discrimination | The game contains depictions of ethnic, religious, nationalistic or other stereotypes likely to encourage hatred. This content is always restricted to a PEGI 18 rating (and likely to infringe national criminal laws). | Original War, Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend, Postal 2: Share the Pain, SWAT: Target Liberty |
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Drugs | The game refers to or depicts the use of illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco. Games with this content descriptor are always PEGI 16 or PEGI 18. | Grand Theft Auto, Deus Ex: Invisible War |
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Fear/Horror | This descriptor may appear as 'Fear' on games with a PEGI 7 if it contains pictures or sounds that may be frightening or scary to young children, or as 'Horror' on higher-rated games that contain moderate (PEGI 12) or intense and sustained (PEGI 16) horror sequences or disturbing images (not necessarily including violent content). | Avowed, Lies of P, Subnautica Below Zero |
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Sex | This content descriptor can accompany a PEGI 12 rating if the game includes sexual posturing or innuendo, a PEGI 16 rating if there is erotic nudity or sexual intercourse without visible genitals or a PEGI 18 rating if there is explicit sexual activity in the game. Depictions of nudity in a non-sexual context do not require a specific age rating, and this descriptor would not be necessary. | The Sims 4, BMX XXX, Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust, Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 |
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Violence | The game contains depictions of violence. In games rated PEGI 7 this can only be non-realistic or non-detailed violence. Games rated PEGI 12 can include violence in a fantasy environment or non-realistic violence towards human-like characters, whereas games rated PEGI 16 or 18 have increasingly more realistic-looking violence. | Grand Theft Auto V, Counter-Strike, Doom Eternal, Just Cause 3, Halo: Combat Evolved |
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Gambling | The game contains elements that encourage or teach gambling. These simulations of gambling refer to games of chance that are normally carried out in casinos or gambling halls. Some older titles can be found with PEGI 12 or PEGI 16, but PEGI changed the criteria for this classification in 2020, which made that new games with this sort of content are always PEGI 18. | Red Dead Redemption, BioShock, Final Fantasy XI, Fable II |
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Online | May contain online interactions. | Among Us, Sea of Thieves, Minecraft |
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In-Game Purchases | The game offers players the option to purchase digital goods or services with real-world currency. Such purchases include additional content (bonus levels, outfits, surprise items, music), but also upgrades (e.g. to disable ads), subscriptions to updates, virtual coins and other forms of in-game currency. | Fortnite, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Halo Infinite, FIFA 23 |
The 'Gambling' content descriptor was first used on September 29, 2006, with the title 42 All-Time Classics.
See also[]
- Official Website
- ESRB, the North American video game rating system.
- ELSPA, the former British computer and video game rating system, replaced by the PEGI ratings.
- Australian Classification Board, the Australian media rating system
- CERO, the Japanese video game rating system