Violence is one of the common content issues in media age rating systems. Each has its own guidelines.
Violence is generally treated as one of the most serious content issues.
Sexual violence, blood, gore, injury detail and threat are included.
Games[]
ESRB[]
Since 2006, E can only have mild unrealistic violence (e.g. Mild Fantasy Violence/Mild Cartoon Violence). E10+ rated video games can have Mild Violence and standard Fantasy Violence and Cartoon Violence descriptors. While some E10+ rated video games can have mild blood (and in some rare cases, E rated video games may have blood without violence), Blood (and Gore) is restricted to a T rating or higher. Gore may only be present in T rated video games if the gore is stylized or cartoony, and if it is viewed from a perspective other than first-person. Intense Violence (e.g., realistic violence with high carnage impact or realistic suffering) and first-person or detailed gore is only allowed in M and AO rated video games.
It is extremely rare for a video game to be rated AO solely for violence. Only three video games have ever been given an AO rating for extreme violence: the unreleased Thrill Kill, the uncut version of Manhunt 2, and Hatred.
PEGI[]
The violence descriptor applies to PEGI 7 or higher. 7 can only be non-detailed or implied violence (e.g. World of Warships). 12 can have mild or fantasy violence, including sporting violence. 16 can have violence in the stage of life. 18 can have strong gross violence, strong sexual violence and violence towards defenceless people.
The violence descriptor does not apply to games that have very mild slapstick or non-realistic violence, as that can be permitted at PEGI 3. However, the icon requires a PEGI 7 or higher.
CERO[]
Anything with violence is restricted to B (12 years and older) and higher. This is because A (All ages) should not have any content descriptor icon.
General[]
BBFC[]
Very mild violence can be a U. Mild violence can be a PG. Violence that does not dwell on injury detail and infliction of pain can have a 12A/12 rating. Occasional gory moments are permitted at 12A/12 provided they are justified by context and not prolonged or detailed. Stronger violence can be a 15 or 18, explicit simulated sexual violence and violent sexual practices are not allowed so would be refused classification.
ACB[]
Very mild violence can be a G. Mild violence can be a PG. Moderate violence (described neutrally as just Violence in consumer advice) can have a M rating. Stronger violence or sexual violence can be MA15+ or R18+.
Video games cannot contain depictions of sexual violence since they are interactive and therefore have a higher impact than movies. Video games may contain references to sexual violence if they are implied; any references to sexual violence, implied or graphically discussed, automatically results in an R18+ rating.
Germany[]
Germany's violence is known to be stricter than other regions: FSK 0 may have minimal or very mild unrealistic violence; FSK 6 allows mild violence; violence in FSK 12 can be moderate, intense and with mild realistic details; bloody and gory moments are usually not allowed there, with the possible exception of special contextual situations (medical, accidents, etc.), which would be normally accommodated to FSK 16 provided that they aren't frequent, detailed or prolonged which would warrant an FSK 18, similar applies to infliction of pain and emphasis on contemporary realistic weapons; extreme violence would be likely refused classification.
Movies[]
MPA[]
G rated movies can contain minimal amounts of violence. PG rated movies can not contain intense violence unless if it is unrealistic/fantastical and not too menacing. Intense/strong violence is virtually unrestricted in the PG-13 rating if it is bloodless and not sexual, but extreme, gory or sexual violence is categorized to at least the R rating. It is rare for an NC-17 movie to receive its rating for violence. Violence that is categorized to NC-17 may be explicit sexual violence, detailed prolonged gory and/or sadistic violence.
Canada[]
Outside Quebec[]
Outside Quebec, usually, the violent content is used for PG and higher although G can have minimum or mild fantasy/comical/unrealistic ones. Bloody/gory scenes would warrant at a minimum a 14A unless there is special contextual justification. An 18A classification or higher can have Brutal Violence, but rarely, 14A can use that. R can have extreme violence, but in some provinces it mustn't be exploitative or gratuitous or it would get an A. Sexual violence is limited to infrequent and discreet verbal references in PG; in 14A there can be limited visual depictions; more detailed, prolonged and frequent ones would be 18A; explicit depictions would be at least an R, or even A in provinces where it has that rating, depending on the treatment and context.
Quebec[]
In Quebec, although the classification restricts it to 13+, G can have violence as well. 16+ and 18+ can also have violence.