Understand Game Ratings

Basic Game Ratings The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory group established to independently determine and enforce content ratings, advertising guidelines and online privacy principles in video games — whether they're played on the PC or on consoles. Here's a quick look at ESRB rating levels and symbols.

	EARLY CHILDHOOD Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 3 and older. Titles in this category contain no material that parents would find inappropriate.
	EVERYONE Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.
	EVERYONE 10+ Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10+) 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.
	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.
	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.

	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.
	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.

ESRB Content Descriptors
The ESRB also rates games according to content descriptors. On most game boxes, these exist side-by-side with ESRB icons. Content descriptors detail why each game received its rating, with terms such as "Comic Mischief," "Strong Language" or "Partial Nudity." To see a full list of content descriptors, visit the ESRB page in our more resources section.