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, Just Dance 3 and Super Mario Maker, Barbie Horse Adventures in Wild Horse Rescue, BRATZ in Rock Angelz, FIFA 09, Saban's Power Rangers: Dino Thunder, Buzz! Junior: RoboJam
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, Lego Bionicle Heroes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Video Game, Nick rj/Nictoons/Nicklodeon SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton's Robotic Revenge, Split/Second, Super Mario Odyssey and Lego Batman: The Video Game
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, Atelier Shallie, SingStar Pop Edition, Final Fantasy X and X-2, Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F, Buzz!: Brain of the World, Bendy and the Ink Machine, Happy Tree Friends: False Alarm, Minecraft: Story Mode and Sea of Thieves, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Broken Sword in: The Sleeping Dragon, Michael Jackson: The Experience, Buzz! Quiz World, Playstation Move Starter Disc, Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner, Atelier Shallie in: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground, Rock Band
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, Battlefield 3, the first four Call of Duty games, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, Elden Ring, Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Chaos Bleeds, Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice and Destroy All Humans!, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, MUD: FIM Motocross World Championship, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2, Call of Duty: World at War: Final Fronts, Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, Lost
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 some 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, Killzone 2, Army of Two, Soldier of Fortune: Revanche, Brütal Legend, The Last of Us, System Shock, South Park: Fractured but Whole, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Starfield and 80 Days & Overboard!, Resident Evil 5, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Call of Juarez: The Cartel
Parental guidance[]
This PEGI rating can only be found on the Google Play Store and indicates that parental guidance is advised. It is 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[]
| Icon | Content descriptor | Explanation | Corresponding age ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
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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). |
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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. |
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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. |
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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: |
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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: |
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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. |
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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. Despite PEGI 3 not having the violence descriptor, it can allow violence, but it must be milder than the PEGI 7 rating. |
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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. |
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Former[]
| Icon | Content descriptor | Explanation | Corresponding age ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
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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. |
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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[]
| 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. |
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 Belgium
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Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
| Bulgaria
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Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Cyprus
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Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis. Northern Cyprus, however, does not officially support PEGI and also does not have any specific legislative basis for PEGI usage either, but still uses it nonetheless. Although Northern Cyprus is internationally recognised by every country (except for Turkey) as a part of the Republic of Cyprus, several laws of the Republic of Cyprus do not apply there. PEGI labels are used for games sold in Northern Cyprus, as most games there are imported directly from Turkey and indirectly from other European countries. |
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 Czech Republic (Czechia)
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Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Denmark
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Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Estonia
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Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Finland
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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 in the UK. Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council. |
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 Greece
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Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Iceland
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PEGI is officially supported, and age classifications are mandatory for video games by law. | |
 Republic of Ireland
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PEGI ratings are exempt from mandatory classification by IFCO, which adopts PEGI. IFCO is still legally empowered to ban certain video games from the market. Represented in the PEGI Council. | |
 Israel
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Israel, despite not being a European country, officially uses PEGI as an enforceable system nonetheless. | |
 Italy
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Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Latvia
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Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Lithuania
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Lithuanian legislation has adopted PEGI as an official rating system for video games, which is exempt from mandatory classification with national age symbols. Both classifications are enforced by the penal code as of November 2010. | |
 Luxembourg
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Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Malta
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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
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In the Netherlands, PEGI 16 and 18 are legally enforceable. Officially supports PEGI. |
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 Norway
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Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Poland
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Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Portugal
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Via IGAC, Portugal uses PEGI. PEGI is changed in Portugal. Changes are that the 3 rating is changed to 4, and the 7 rating is changed to 6. Officially supports PEGI. |
IGAC |
 Romania
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Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Slovenia
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Officially supports PEGI, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Spain
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Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 Sweden
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Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. | |
 United Kingdom
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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 |
| Country | Status | Local System |
|---|---|---|
 Albania
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Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis. | |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis. | |
 Croatia
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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
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Does not support PEGI. Instead, USK rates games (although PEGI labelling can be found on games along with the USK rating). | USK |
 Hungary
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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 (partially recognised)
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Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis. | |
 Moldova
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Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis. | |
 Montenegro
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Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis. | |
 North Macedonia
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Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis. | |
 Russia
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RARS system adopted. All games, including imported, must have the RARS rating present. | RARS |
 Serbia
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Does not use PEGI labels and does not officially support PEGI. Also, does not have a legislative basis. | |
 Slovakia
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JSO system adopted. Imported games (mostly with PEGI or USK rating) meant for sale in Slovak stores must at least have a sticker with specific JSO rating on the plastic foil of the game keep-case. | JSO |
 Switzerland
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Switzerland is preparing national legislation to make classification of video games with age labels legally binding. | |
 Turkey (Türkiye)
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Uses PEGI labels for almost all foreign- and/or Turkish-published video games available within the country, but does not have an official legislative basis regarding PEGI, and is not represented in the PEGI Council. | |
 Ukraine
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Does not officially use PEGI labels, but many video games published for sale in the country often use PEGI labels. Also, does not have a legislative basis regarding it. |
Video gallery[]
