PEGI

The Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a rating system used in 38 out of 44 countries in Europe, as well as in Israel. It is a participating authority in the International Age Rating Coalition.

Age ratings[]

PEGI 3[]

The content of games with a PEGI 3 rating is considered suitable for all age groups. The game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to frighten young children. A very mild form of violence (in a comical context or a childlike setting) is acceptable. No bad language should be heard.

Equivalent to E (low end) and EC (which is no longer used). 435 titles were rated PEGI 3 in 2020.

Examples: FIFA 22, Forza Horizon 5 and Super Mario Maker

PEGI 7[]

Game content with scenes or sounds that can possibly be frightening to younger children should fall in this category. Very mild forms of violence (implied, non-detailed, or non-realistic violence) are acceptable for a game with a PEGI 7 rating.

Equivalent to E10+ and E (high end). 354 titles were rated PEGI 7 in 2020.

Examples: Minecraft, Super Mario Odyssey, and Lego Batman: The Videogame

PEGI 12[]

Video games that show violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy characters or non-realistic violence towards human-like characters would fall in this age category. Sexual innuendo or sexual posturing can be present, while any bad language in this category must be mild.

Equivalent to T. 376 titles were rated PEGI 12 in 2020.

Examples: Terraria, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and WIi U, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F, Minecraft: Story Mode and Sea of Thieves

PEGI 16[]

This rating is applied once the depiction of violence (or sexual activity) reaches a stage that looks the same as would be expected in real life. The use of bad language in games with a PEGI 16 rating can be more extreme, while the use of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs can also be present.

Equivalent to M. 296 titles were rated PEGI 16 in 2020.

Examples: Beyond: Two Souls, Battlefield 2042, Call of Duty: Ghosts, FInal Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, Elden Ring, Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice, and Destroy All Humans!

PEGI 18[]

The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes a depiction of gross violence, apparently motiveless killing, or violence towards defenceless characters. The glamorisation of the use of illegal drugs and of the simulation of gambling, and explicit sexual activity should also fall into this age category.

Note: It is illegal to supply a PEGI 18 game to a minor in countries where the PEGI system is recognised.

Equivalent to AO. 282 titles were rated PEGI 18 in 2020.

Examples: Grand Theft Auto V, Call of Duty: Warzone, Final Fantasy XVI, The Last of Us, System Shock, South Park: Fractured but Whole, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Starfield, and 80 Days And Overboard!

Parental guidance[]

This PEGI rating can only be found on the Google Play Store and indicates that parental guidance is advised. It's mostly used for products that allow for interaction with other users, like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Content descriptors[]

Eight content descriptors are used by PEGI. While they do indicate the presence of inappropriate material, they do not measure the intensity of such content. Thus, a user has to go onto PEGI's website to find out such material.

Current[]

Content descriptor	Explanation	Corresponding age ratings
Bad Language	The game contains bad language. This descriptor can be found on games with a PEGI 12 (mild swearing), PEGI 16 (e.g. sexual expletives or blasphemy) or PEGI 18 rating (e.g. sexual expletives or blasphemy).
Discrimination	The game contains depictions of ethnic, religious, nationalistic or other stereotypes likely to encourage hatred. This content is always restricted to a PEGI 18 rating (and likely to infringe national criminal laws). This descriptor is extremely rare; only five titles have ever received this descriptor.
Drugs	The game refers to or depicts the use of illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco. Games with this content descriptor are always PEGI 16 or PEGI 18.
Fear/Horror	This descriptor may appear as 'Fear' on games with a PEGI 7 if it contains pictures or sounds that may be frightening or scary to young children, or as 'Horror' on higher-rated games that contain moderate (PEGI 12) or intense and sustained (PEGI 16) horror sequences or disturbing images (not necessarily including violent content).	Fear: Horror:
Gambling	The game contains elements that encourage or teach gambling. These simulations of gambling refer to games of chance that are normally carried out in casinos or gambling halls. Games with this sort of content could previously be classified at PEGI 12 or PEGI 16. As of 2020, all new games with such content are rated PEGI 18, although older games retain their existing classification.	Former:
Sex	This content descriptor can accompany a PEGI 12 rating if the game includes sexual posturing or innuendo, a PEGI 16 rating if there is erotic nudity or sexual intercourse without visible genitals, or a PEGI 18 rating if there is explicit sexual activity in the game. Depictions of nudity in a non-sexual context do not require a specific age rating, and this descriptor would not be necessary.
Violence	The game contains depictions of violence. In games rated PEGI 7 this can only be non-realistic or non-detailed violence. Games rated PEGI 12 can include violence in a fantasy environment or non-realistic violence towards human-like characters, whereas games rated PEGI 16 or 18 have increasingly more realistic-looking violence.
In-Game Purchases	Introduced in 2018. The game presents players with the options to purchase digital goods or services with real-world currency. These purchases include but are not limited to bonus levels, skins, surprise items, music, virtual coins and other forms of in-game currency, subscriptions, season passes and upgrades (e.g. to disable ads). This descriptor may be accompanied by an additional notice that the game includes random items such as loot boxes.

Former[]

Icon	Content descriptor	Explanation	Corresponding age ratings
	Online	May contain online interactions. This descriptor was discontinued by PEGI in 2015, with the majority of present-day games and all consoles allowing for online interactions. Still appears for games classified before July 2015.

Further information[]

Black and white icons were used until June 2009, with new colour-coded icons: green for 3 and 7, orange for 12 and 16, and red for 18. Plus signs were removed from the icons, and the background wallpaper now says "PEGI" as opposed to "ISFE". That design was slightly altered at the start of 2010, by removing the watermark and locking the URL bar underneath the age rating icon. Reprinted games from 2010 or before often still display the old designs.

A game's ease of play or difficulty does not affect its age rating. For example, there could be difficult-to-play PEGI 3 rated games and easy-to-play PEGI 16 or 18 rated games.

Usage[]

Officially supports PEGI
Country	Status	Local System
Austria	In Austria, rules vary by state. Except for the states mentioned below, there is a free choice between PEGI or USK labels. In Vienna, PEGI is only supported. In Salzburg, USK is only supported.
Belgium	Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Bulgaria	Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Cyprus	Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis. Northern Cyprus however does not officially support PEGI, but uses it. Nor does it have a legislative basis, even though it is internationally recognised as part of the Republic of Cyprus, some laws like those do not apply there. PEGI labels are used as most are imported from Turkey and the rest of the EU.
Czech Republic	Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Denmark	Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Estonia	Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Finland	In Finland, games with PEGI ratings are exempt from mandatory classification with national age symbols. Both classifications are enforced by the penal code. Represented in the PEGI Council. Changes are 12 changed to 11, and 16 changed to 15.	KAVI
France	In France, 12, 16, and 18 are enforced by law, just like UK. Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council.
Greece	Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Iceland	PEGI is officially supported and age classifications are mandatory for video games by law.
Ireland	PEGI ratings are exempt from mandatory classification by IFCO, which adopts PEGI. IFCO is still legally empowered to ban certain video game content from the market. Represented in the PEGI Council.
Israel	Israel, even though not a European country, officially uses PEGI as an enforceable system.
Italy	Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Latvia	Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Lithuania	Lithuanian legislation has adopted PEGI which is exempt from mandatory classification with national age symbols. Both classifications are enforced by the penal code as of November 2010.
Luxembourg	Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Malta	Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, PEGI is the legally enforceable system for game classification in Malta since January 2016.
Netherlands	In the Netherlands, PEGI 16 and 18 are enforceable. Officially supports PEGI.
Norway	Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Poland	Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Portugal	Via IGAC, Portugal uses PEGI. PEGI is changed in Portugal. Changes are 3 changed to 4, and 7 changed to 6. Officially supports PEGI.	IGAC
Romania	Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Slovenia	Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Spain	Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis.
Sweden	Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis.
United Kingdom	Officially supports PEGI (PEGI is the legally enforceable system for game classification in the UK since 30 July 2012). Represented in the PEGI Council.	BBFC

Other countries
Country	Status	Local System
Albania	Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis.
Croatia	Does not officially support PEGI, but PEGI labels are shown on digital stores and localised physical releases since the 2010s. Also, does not have a legislative basis.
Germany	Does not support PEGI. Instead, USK rates games (although PEGI labelling can be found on games along with the USK rating).	USK
Hungary	Does not officially support PEGI, but PEGI labels are shown on digital stores and localised physical releases since the 2000s. Also, does not have a legislative basis.
Kosovo	Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis.
Moldova	Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis.
Montenegro	Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis.
North Macedonia	Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis.
Russia	RARS system adopted. All games, including imported, must have the RARS rating present.	RARS
Serbia	Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis.
Slovakia	JSO system adopted. Imported games (mostly with PEGI or USK rating) meant for selling in Slovak stores must have at least sticker with specific JSO rating on plastic foil of game keep-case.	JSO
Switzerland	Switzerland is preparing national legislation to make classification of video games with age labels legally binding.
Turkey	Uses PEGI labels in almost all foreign & Turkish published video games inside the country, and so do the publishers, but does not have an official legislative basis regarding PEGI, and is not represented in the PEGI council.
Ukraine	Does not officially use PEGI labels, but many video games published for sale in the country can be seen labeled with PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis regarding it.