To help you make appropriate choices, we have included age rating information from the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board), PEGI (Pan European Games Information), ELSPA (European Leisure Software Publishers Association) and BBFC (British Board of Film Classification).
The ESRB is a self-regulatory body that assigns ratings to computer and video games. They use rating symbols (which suggest age appropriateness for the game) and content descriptors (which indicate elements in a game that may be the reason for a specific rating).
The PEGI age-rating attempts to protect children/minors from content that is inappropriate for their age. In addition to minimum age recommendations, PEGI provides descriptive graphics which help to explain the content of a game.
The ELSPA ratings are designed in association with the Video Standards Council to give consumers an indication of the age ranges a certain product is most suitable for. ELSPA-recommended ages relate to suitability for viewing and not to the difficulty or playability of the game itself. Click here for a brief document by ELSPA about age ratings.
The BBFC is an independent British body that uses minimum ages to categorise films and PC and video games.
This is a website that has been created specifically to help answer any questions you may have about age ratings on video and computer games. It provides links to industry bodies, explains the rating symbols you are likely to find on games, and offers a range of other useful information.
