Explained › Ratings › PEGI (Europe & UK games)
PEGI ratings explained: every level and descriptor
✅ Last verified: Oct 14, 2026 against official sources linked below.
Quick answer
- Pan European Game Information is used across Europe and the UK.
- Levels: PEGI 3, PEGI 7, PEGI 12, PEGI 16, PEGI 18, PEGI ! (Parental Guidance Recommended).
- Unlike ESRB, PEGI's June 2026 rules let some online features (random paid items, unrestricted chat, pressure-to-play) raise the age rating for newly rated games. Older ratings were not necessarily re-rated.
Pan European Game Information is used across Europe and the UK. You see a number (3, 7, 12, 16, 18) plus descriptor icons.
Every PEGI level
| Rating | What it means | Typical content | Age context |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEGI 3 | Suitable for all ages. | No frightening sounds or images; very mild comical violence; no bad language. | All ages. |
| PEGI 7 | Mild. | Possibly frightening scenes; very mild, implied or non-realistic violence. | Ages 7+. |
| PEGI 12 | Pre-teen. | More graphic fantasy violence or non-realistic violence toward human-like characters; sexual innuendo; mild bad language; prominent gambling themes. | Ages 12+. |
| PEGI 16 | Older teens. | Realistic-looking violence or sexual activity; stronger language; tobacco, alcohol or drugs. | Ages 16+. |
| PEGI 18 | Adults. | Gross violence, motiveless killing, violence toward defenceless characters, glamorized drugs, simulated gambling, explicit sex. | Adults only. |
| PEGI ! (Parental Guidance Recommended) | For some non-game apps. | Apps with broad user-generated or curated content (PEGI cites Facebook, YouTube). | Supervise; the content varies. |
Content descriptors
| Violence | Non-realistic at 7; fantasy at 12; increasingly realistic at 16/18. |
|---|---|
| Bad Language | Mild at 12; strong at 16. |
| Fear / Horror | "Fear" at 7; "Horror" at 12 (moderate) or 16 (intense). |
| Gambling | Gambling themes = 12; simulated casino gambling = 18. |
| Sex | Innuendo at 12; erotic nudity at 16; explicit at 18. |
| Drugs | Always 16 or 18. |
| Discrimination | Always 18. |
Online features & purchases
| In-Game Purchases | Shown whenever real-money purchases exist. |
|---|---|
| Paid random items | Loot boxes/card packs. Since June 2026, newly submitted games with these are rated PEGI 16 (18 for social casino). |
| Time-limited offers | Urgency-based offers: PEGI 12 (PEGI 7 if built-in parental controls turn spending off by default). |
| Cryptocurrency | NFT/crypto purchases central to play: PEGI 18. |
| Pressure to play | Daily-reward or streak mechanics: PEGI 7; PEGI 12 if you lose rewards for not returning. |
| Unrestricted communication | Chat that can't be blocked/muted and isn't moderated: PEGI 18 (since June 2026). |
ℹ️ Unlike ESRB, PEGI's June 2026 rules let some online features (random paid items, unrestricted chat, pressure-to-play) raise the age rating for newly rated games. Older ratings were not necessarily re-rated.
Official source: pegi.info
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