A video game content rating system is a system used for the classification of video games based on suitability for target audiences. Most of these systems are associated with and/or sponsored by a government, and are sometimes part of the local motion picture rating system. The utility of such ratings has been called into question by studies that publish findings, such as 90% of teenagers claim that their parents "never" check the ratings before allowing them to rent or buy video games, and as such, calls have been made to "fix" the existing rating systems. Video game content rating systems can be used as the basis for laws that cover the sales of video games to minors, such as in Australia. Rating checking and approval is part of the game localization when they are being prepared for their distribution in other countries or locales. These rating systems have also been used to voluntarily restrict sales of certain video games by stores, such as the German retailer Galeria Kaufhof's removal of all video games rated 18+ by the USK following the Winnenden school shooting.
Comparison table A comparison of current video game rating systems, showing age on the horizontal axis. Note however that the specific criteria used in assigning a classification can vary widely from one country to another. Thus a color code or age range cannot be directly compared from one country to another.
Key:
White – No restrictions: Suitable for all ages / Aimed at young audiences / Exempt / Not rated. Yellow – Advisory: Parental guidance is suggested for designated age range. Purple – Strong advisory: Not recommended for a younger audience but not restricted. Red – Restrictive: Parental accompaniment required for younger audiences. Black – Prohibitive: Exclusively for older audiences / Restricted to licensed premises / Banned.
Country/System Age rating Other 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 National/Regional Ratings Systems Argentina ATP +13 +18 — Australia G M R 18+ MA 15+ Brazil L 6 10 12 14 16 18 — Chile 8+ 14+ 18+ — TE China — 8+ 12+ 16+ — Europe (PEGI) — 3 7 12 16 18 Germany USK 0 USK 6 USK 12 USK 16 Indonesia — 3+ 7+ 13+ 15+ 18+ Refused classification International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) — 3+ 7+ 12+ 16+ 18+ — Iran —+3 +7 +12 +15 +18 — Japan () A B C D Z Japan () G 12 15 18 — Mexico A B B15 New Zealand G R13 R15 R18 PG R16 North America (ESRB) E10+ T M E Russia 0+ 6+ 12+ 16+ 18+ — Saudi Arabia — 3 7 12 16 18 21 Singapore ADV16 M18 Refused classification Slovakia 12 15 18 — U 7 South Africa PG 13 16 18 — South Korea ALL 12 15 19 Refused classification Taiwan 0+ 6+ 12+ 15+ 18+ — United Arab Emirates — 3 7 12 16 18 21 — Vietnam 00+ 12+ 16+ 18+ — Country/System 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Other Specific Storefront Ratings Systems App Store (iOS/iPadOS) — 4+ 4+ 4+ — 13+16+18+ 4+ 9+ Google Play (South Korea) — 3 7 12 16 19 Unrated Google Play (Russia) — 3 7 12 16 18 Unrated Samsung Galaxy Store All 4+ 12+ 15+ 18+ Banned
Initial controversy
Similar to other forms of media, video games have been the subject of argument between leading professionals and restriction and prohibition. Often these bouts of criticism come from use of debated topics such as video game graphic violence, virtual sex, violent and gory scenes, partial or full nudity, drug use, portrayal of criminal behavior or other provocative and objectionable material. Video games have also been studied for links to addiction and aggression. A meta analysis of studies from both eastern and western countries yielded evidence that "strongly suggests that exposure to violent video games is a causal risk factor for increased aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, and aggressive affect and for decreased empathy and prosocial behavior."
There are also groups that have argued to the contrary, that few if any scientifically proven studies exist to back up these claims, and that the video game industry has become an easy target for the media to blame for many contemporary issues."Video Violence: Villain or Victim?", Guy Cumberbatch, London Video Standards Council, 2004"It's Not the Media", Karen Sternheimer, Westview Press, 2003 Researchers have also proposed potential positive effects of video games on aspects of social and cognitive development and psychological well-being. It has been shown that action video game players have better hand-eye coordination and visuo-motor skills, such as their resistance to distraction, their sensitivity to information in the peripheral vision and their ability to count briefly presented objects, than non-players.
Rating systems Argentina
The law 26.043 (passed in 2005) states that the National Council of Children, Youth and Family ('Consejo Nacional de la Niñez, Adolescencia y la Familia') in coordination with the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts will be the government agencies that assigns age ratings. The Argentine Game Developer Association (Asociación de Desarrolladores de Videojuegos Argentina) was critical of the law. There are three ratings: "Suitable for all public", "Suitable for those over 13 years of age" and "Suitable for those over 18 years of age". In practice, this system has never been enforced or put in active use. Storefronts and retailers choose to use the ESRB, instead.
Australia
Advisory categories General (G) – General. The content is very mild in impact. The G classification is suitable for everyone. Parental Guidance (PG) – Parental guidance recommended. The content is mild in impact. It is not recommended for viewing or playing by persons under 15 without guidance from parents or guardians. Mature (M) – Recommended for mature audiences. The content is moderate in impact. Children under 15 may legally access this material because it is an advisory category. However, M classified films and computer games may include classifiable elements such as violence and nudity of moderate impact that are not recommended for children under 15 years. Restricted categories Mature Accompanied (MA 15+) – Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. The content is strong in impact. Restricted (R 18+) – Restricted to 18 years and over. The content is high in impact. Despite this category being legally restricted, in Queensland the restriction is not applicable to persons under 2.
The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is a statutory classification body formed by the Australian Government which classifies films, video games and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in Australia since its establishment in 1970. The Classification Board was originally incorporated in the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) which was dissolved in 2006. Originally a part of the Attorney-General's Department and overseen by the Minister for Justice, the ACB is now a branch of the Department of Communications and the Arts which provides administrative support to the Board and is overseen by the Minister for Communications & the Arts. Decisions made by the Board may be reviewed by the Australian Classification Review Board.
Brazil
The advisory rating (ClassInd) (Classificação Indicativa in Portuguese) rates films, games and television shows in Brazil. It is controlled by the Ministry of Justice (Ministério da Justiça).
L - General Audiences. 6 - Not recommended for minors under six. 10 - Not recommended for minors under ten. 12 - Not recommended for minors under twelve. 14 - Not recommended for minors under fourteen. 16 - Not recommended for minors under sixteen. 18 - Not recommended for minors under eighteen.
Chile
Games are classified by the Council of Cinematographic Classification (Consejo de Calificación Cinematográfica) which is a central agency under the Ministry of Education.
The current age ratings are: ER (Especialmente Recomendado) – Recommended for children. TE (Toda Edad) – All ages. 8+ – Not recommended for children under 8 years of age. 14+ – Not recommended for children under 14 years of age. 18+ – Not recommended for children under 18 years of age.
The manufacturers, importers, suppliers and merchants are only permitted to sell and rent video games that are classified as 8, 14 or 18, to those who prove they meet those ages respectively. In the case of each sale or lease by physical means, the respective identity card is required.
China
China introduced a pilot content rating system in December 2020 called the Online Game Age-Appropriateness Warning, which is overseen by the governmental agency (CADPA). Games with online components are required to show one of the three classifications on websites and registration pages: green for "8+" (appropriate for players 8 years and older), blue for "12+", and yellow for "16+".
Europe
The Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a European video game content rating system established to help European parents make informed decisions on buying computer games with logos on games boxes. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (now Video Games Europe) and came into use in April 2003; it replaced many national age rating systems with a single European system. The PEGI system is now used in more than thirty-one countries and is based on a code of conduct, a set of rules to which every publisher using the PEGI system is contractually committed. PEGI self-regulation is composed by five age categories and seven content descriptors that advise the suitability and content of a game for a certain age range based on the games content. The ratings are:
3: Suitable for all age groups. 7: Not suitable for younger children. 12: Not suitable for persons under 12 years of age. 16: Not suitable for persons under 16 years of age. 18: For adults.
The ratings do not indicate the difficulty of the game or the skill required to play it.
Germany
Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK; ), is Germany's video game rating organization founded in 1994. USK 0 - Approved without age restriction. USK 6 - Approved for children aged 6 and above. USK 12 - Approved for children aged 12 and above. USK 16 - Approved for children aged 16 and above. USK 18 - Not approved for young persons.
India
On 10 March 2026, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the Media and Entertainment Services Sectional Committee (SSD 13), notified IS 19690:2026 (Video and Digital Games – Age Rating and Content Descriptor Labels – Specification), establishing India's first national age-rating and content descriptor framework for video and digital games. Prior to this, India lacked a standardized domestic video game rating system, relying instead on foreign systems like PEGI or ESRB on global distribution platforms.
The standard defines a self-assessment model comprising six age categories aligned with Indian cinematic and OTT classification conventions: U/A 0+: Content suitable for all ages. U/A 3+: Content suitable for young children; minimal mature elements. U/A 7+: Content suitable for older children. U/A 13+: Content suitable for teenagers; mild violence or mature themes. U/A 16+: Content suitable for older teenagers; moderate violence, language, or mature themes. A: Adult content; explicit material or graphic violence.
The system also incorporates Content Descriptor Labels (CDLs) for elements such as violence, nudity, language, in-game purchases, and "socially sensitive themes" (covering cultural, religious, and community-related sensitivity).
As of 2026, compliance with IS 19690:2026 remains voluntary. Neither a Quality Control Order (QCO) from the government nor a mandatory notification from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been issued to tie game distribution rights to obtaining a BIS classification.
Indonesia