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The Entertainment Software Rating Board Game Ratings & Descriptor Guide
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings are designed to
provide concise and impartial information about the content in computer and
video games so consumers, especially parents, can make an informed purchase
decision. ESRB ratings have two equal 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.
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 Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have
been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. (This symbol appears
only in advertising prior to a game's release.) |
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
- Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a fantasy nature,
involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable
from real life
- 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
- 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 Content - Non-explicit depictions of sexual
behavior, possibly including partial nudity
- Sexual Themes - References to sex or sexuality
- Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or other violent
sexual acts
- Simulated Gambling - Player can gamble without betting or
wagering real cash or currency
- 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 - Explicit and/or frequent 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. May
contain bloodless dismemberment
- Violent References - References to violent acts
NOTE: When a content descriptor is preceded by the term
"Mild," it is intended to convey low frequency, intensity or
severity of the content it modifies. Content descriptors are not intended to be a listing of every type of
content one might encounter in the course of playing a game.
About ESRB
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