PEGI Game Ratings

PEGI (Pan European Game Information) rates computer and video games across Europe. It is a European system, not a UK-only one, so the same badge appears on game packaging and store pages in many different countries. The rating is based on what is in the game, so it tells buyers and players who a game is suitable for.

The five age ratings

Each rating means "suitable for this age and over". A PEGI 7 game is fine for a 10-year-old, not just for 7-year-olds. A high rating is not a ban: it simply limits the game to older players.

What the rating is based on

PEGI looks at what is actually in the game, including:

• violence – cartoon bumps are treated more gently than realistic injuries
• language – swearing and insults
• fear or horror – scenes and sound designed to unsettle the player
• sex, drugs and discrimination – adult themes and how they are presented
• gambling – content that teaches or encourages the player to gamble
• in-game purchases – spending money inside the game, including on loot boxes

So a game where characters bop each other with cartoon hammers might stay at PEGI 7, while one showing realistic fighting could be pushed several bands higher, because younger players may copy what they see or find it frightening. In-game purchases work differently: they do not change the age band, but the game gets an in-game purchases notice next to the badge, warning buyers that it may cost more than the price on the box.