The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings are designed to provide information about video and computer game content, so you can make informed purchase decisions. ESRB ratings have two parts—rating symbols suggest age appropriateness for the game, and content descriptors indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern.
To take full advantage of the ESRB rating system, it's important to check both the rating symbol (on the front of the game box) and the content descriptors (on the back of the game box).
ESRB Rating Symbols
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Early Childhood
Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content
that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material
that parents would find inappropriate. |
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Everyone
Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may
be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain
minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use
of mild language. |
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Everyone 10+
Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have
content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this
category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild
language and/or minimal suggestive themes. |
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Teen
Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be
suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain
violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated
gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language. |
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Mature
Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be
suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category
may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or
strong language. |
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Adults Only
Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that
should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this
category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or
graphic sexual content and nudity. |
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Rating Pending
Product has been submitted to the ESRB and is awaiting final rating. |
ESRB Content Descriptors
- Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or images
of alcoholic beverages
- Animated Blood - Discolored and/or unrealistic
depictions of blood
- Blood - Depictions of blood
- Blood and Gore - Depictions of blood or the mutilation
of body parts
- Cartoon Violence - Violent actions involving cartoon-like
situations and characters. May include violence where a character
is unharmed after the action has been inflicted
- Comic Mischief - Depictions or dialogue involving
slapstick or suggestive humor
- Crude Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving
vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor
- Drug Reference - Reference to and/or images of
illegal drugs
- Edutainment - Content of product provides user
with specific skills development or reinforcement learning within
an entertainment setting. Skill development is an integral part of
product
- Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a fantasy
nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily
distinguishable from real life
- Informational - Overall content of product contains
data, facts, resource information, reference materials or instructional
text
- Intense Violence - Graphic and realistic-looking
depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic
blood, gore, weapons and depictions of human injury and death
- Language - Mild to moderate use of profanity
- Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality,
violence, alcohol or drug use in music
- Mature Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving
"adult" humor, including sexual references
- Mild Violence - Mild scenes depicting characters
in unsafe and/or violent situations
- Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
- Partial Nudity - Brief and/or mild depictions of
nudity
- Real Gambling - Player can gamble, including betting
or wagering real cash or currency
- Sexual Themes - Mild to moderate sexual references
and/or depictions. May include partial nudity
- Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or other violent sexual
acts
- Simulated Gambling - Player can gamble without
betting or wagering real cash or currency
- Some Adult Assistance May Be Needed - Intended
for very young ages
- Strong Language - Explicit and/or frequent use
of profanity
- Strong Lyrics - Explicit and/or frequent references
to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol or drug use in music
- Strong Sexual Content - Graphic references to and/or
depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity
- Suggestive Themes - Mild provocative references
or materials
- Tobacco Reference - Reference to and/or images
of tobacco products
- Use of Drugs - The consumption or use of illegal
drugs
- Use of Alcohol - The consumption of alcoholic beverages
- Use of Tobacco - The consumption of tobacco products
- Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict
Online Rating Notice
Online games that include user-generated content (e.g., chat, maps,
skins) carry the notice "Game Experience May Change During
Online Play" to warn consumers that content created by
players of the game has not been rated by the ESRB. For the most up to date list of content descriptors and definitions, go to www.esrb.org.
About Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). ESRB independently applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles adopted by the industry.
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