Every game sold in the UK, boxed or digital, carries a small square with a number on it. That is the PEGI rating, and beside it you will often see one or more black-and-white icons. Plenty of parents read the number and skip the rest. Here is what each rating means, what the icons add, and where the label stops being useful.
What PEGI is and why it matters in the UK
PEGI stands for Pan European Game Information, the age rating system used across most of Europe. In the UK the ratings are applied by the Video Standards Council and have legal weight: council trading standards guidance states that it is illegal for a retailer to sell a game rated 12, 16 or 18 to someone under that age. Ratings of 3 and 7 are advisory. The law targets shops and online stores, so what a child plays at home remains the family’s decision.
PEGI also makes a point that often gets missed. A rating reflects whether the content suits an age group, not how difficult the game is. A PEGI 3 puzzle game can still be fiendishly hard.
The five age ratings in plain English
PEGI 3 suits all ages: any violence is very mild and comic, such as cartoon characters bumping into each other, and there is no bad language. PEGI 7 allows scenes or sounds that might frighten younger children, plus very mild violence that is implied or clearly unrealistic. PEGI 12 steps things up, with slightly more graphic violence towards fantasy characters, mild swearing and possible sexual innuendo.
PEGI 16 applies once violence or sexual activity looks much as it would in real life, and the game may include strong language or show tobacco, alcohol or drugs. PEGI 18 is the adult category, covering gross violence, violence against defenceless characters, the glamorisation of drugs, explicit sexual content and simulated gambling.
Reading the content descriptors
The number gives the level; the icons give the reason. Two PEGI 16 games can be very different, one rated for realistic combat and another for heavy swearing and drug references. PEGI’s guide to its labels covers descriptors for violence, bad language, fear, gambling, sex, drugs and discrimination, each shown as a pictogram on the box or store page.
The in-game purchases icon shows whether a game contains additional content or items which can be purchased within the game using real money. Some of these purchases may be random (e.g. in loot boxes or card packs) and this will be indicated on the label. It is often of greatest interest to families to know where unexpected spend is occurring within a game.
Checklist: using PEGI ratings at home
- Read the descriptor icons as well as the number, and decide which content types you are relaxed about.
- Look up any title on pegi.info to see its rating and descriptors before buying.
- If the in-game purchases icon appears, set spending limits on the console or store account first.
- Treat the rating as a guide to the game’s own content; chat with strangers depends on how the game and console are set up, so check those settings too.
Quick questions
Is it illegal to let my child play a PEGI 18 game?
No. The legal restrictions on the sale of games with 12/16/18 ratings by retailers to minors do not apply to parents at home. It is up to individual parents. However, an explanation of the rating criteria that have been used for a particular game and a specification of the reasons why it has been rated as a PEGI 18 (e.g. crude language as opposed to graphic violence) can help in coming to a decision as to whether or not to buy the game for minors.
Why does a game have a rating but no content icons?
For PEGI 3 games this is normal, so nothing needs to be flagged. Higher ratings are almost always explained by at least one of the descriptors for that rating. If a store lists a higher rating for a game and no icons have been added, search for the game title on the PEGI website as sometimes the descriptors for a game are hidden away in the storefront.
Do PEGI ratings apply to mobile games and apps?
On Android yes, as Google Play shows PEGI ratings on games and apps within the UK and across Europe. In contrast to this, Apple’s App Store uses its own age ratings. They don’t align exactly with PEGI’s. Either way, pair the ratings with the parental controls available on the device itself rather than relying solely on the ratings.
