The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is an organization that assigns age and content ratings to video games in the Americas.
Ratings[]
Icon | Description | Example |
---|---|---|
Early Childhood
| ||
Content is intended for young children. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate. | Rayman Brain Games | |
Everyone
| ||
Content is generally suitable for all ages. May contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language. | LittleBigPlanet 2 | |
Everyone 10+
| ||
Content is generally suitable for ages 10 and up. May contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes. | Ape Escape 3 | |
Teen | ||
Content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up. May contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language. | MediEvil: Resurrection | |
Mature 17+ | ||
Content is generally suitable for anyone aged 17 and up. May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, nudity and/or strong language. | The Order: 1886 | |
Adults Only 18+
| ||
Content is suitable only for anyone aged 18 and up. May include prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content including nudity, and/or gambling with real currency. | Thrill Kill |
Other labels[]
Content descriptors[]
Content descriptors featured on in-depth ESRB ratings
| ||||
Alcohol Reference | Animated Blood | Blood | Blood and Gore | Cartoon Violence |
Comic Mischief | Crude Humor | Drug Reference | Fantasy Violence | Intense Violence |
Language | Lyrics | Mature Humor | Nudity | Partial Nudity |
Real Gambling | Sexual Content | Sexual Themes | Sexual Violence | Simulated Gambling |
Strong Language | Strong Lyrics | Strong Sexual Content | Suggestive Themes | Tobacco Reference |
Use of Alcohol | Use of Drugs | Use of Tobacco | Violence | Violent References |
Ratings history[]
EC | KA | T | M | AO | ||
1994–1998 | ||||||
EC | E | T | M | AO | ||
1998–1999 | ||||||
1999–2005 | ||||||
EC | E | E10+ | T | M | AO | |
2005–2013 | ||||||
2013–2018 | ||||||
2018–present |
Usage[]
Key: | De facto use No official support or legislative basis |
Officially supported Voluntary compliance and/or legally enforceable |
Countries where ESRB ratings are used | ||||
Argentina | Bolivia | Canada[n 1] | Chile | Colombia |
Costa Rica | Ecuador | El Salvador | Guatemala | Honduras |
Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama | Paraguay | Peru |
United States | Uruguay |
Notes[]
- ↑ Legally enforceable in certain provinces, including Ontario and Manitoba, otherwise compliance is voluntary.