Explained âē Ratings âē ESRB (US, Canada, Mexico games)
ESRB ratings explained: every level and descriptor
- The Entertainment Software Rating Board rates video games and apps in North America.
- Levels: E, E10+, T, M, AO, RP.
- ESRB says interactive elements do not influence the age rating. An E game can have open chat. ESRB also notes online music add-ons in music games are not rated.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board rates video games and apps in North America. A rating has three parts: the rating category (age), content descriptors (why it got that rating), and interactive elements (online features that do not change the rating).
Every ESRB level
| Rating | What it means | Typical content | Age context |
|---|---|---|---|
| E â Everyone | Generally suitable for all ages. | Minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence; infrequent mild language. | Fine for most young kids; still check chat and purchases. |
| E10+ â Everyone 10+ | Generally suitable for ages 10 and up. | More cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, minimal suggestive themes. | Ages 10+. Many popular games (e.g. Minecraft) sit here. |
| T â Teen | Generally suitable for ages 13 and up. | Violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, infrequent strong language. | Ages 13+. Fortnite and many shooters are T. |
| M â Mature 17+ | Generally suitable for ages 17 and up. | Intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, strong language. | Ages 17+. Includes Call of Duty and GTA. |
| AO â Adults Only 18+ | Suitable only for adults 18+. | Prolonged intense violence, graphic sexual content, gambling with real currency. | Adults only. Major consoles generally don't sell AO games. |
| RP â Rating Pending | Not yet rated. | Appears only in ads/marketing before release. "RP â Likely Mature 17+" means ESRB expects an M rating. | Wait for the final rating. |
ESRB's current guide lists E, E10+, T, M, AO and RP. Older boxes may show EC (Early Childhood); it is no longer listed on ESRB's ratings guide.
Content descriptors
| Violence group | Fantasy Violence, Violence, Intense Violence, Violent References |
|---|---|
| Blood | Animated Blood, Blood, Blood and Gore |
| Language | Language, Strong Language, Lyrics, Strong Lyrics |
| Humor | Comic Mischief, Crude Humor, Mature Humor |
| Sexuality and nudity | Suggestive Themes, Sexual Themes, Sexual Content, Strong Sexual Content, Sexual Violence, Partial Nudity, Nudity |
| Substances | Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Reference; Use of Alcohol/Drugs/Tobacco |
| Gambling | Gambling Themes, Simulated Gambling (no real money), Real Gambling (real money) |
"Mild" before a descriptor means low frequency, intensity or severity. Descriptors are not a complete list of content.
Online features & purchases
| In-Game Purchases | Real-money offers: skins, coins, season passes, subscriptions, ad removal. |
|---|---|
| In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) | You pay without knowing what you get: loot boxes, item packs, mystery rewards. |
| Users Interact | Possible exposure to unfiltered user content and user-to-user chat or media sharing. |
| Shares Location | The app can show your child's location to other users. |
| Unrestricted Internet | Includes open web access (browser or search). |
âšī¸ ESRB says interactive elements do not influence the age rating. An E game can have open chat. ESRB also notes online music add-ons in music games are not rated.
Official source: www.esrb.org
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