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As of 30th July 2012, the PEGI Ratings on video games stopped being voluntary guidelines and are now legally enforceable ratings.

The PEGI (Pan European Game Information) system was introduced several years ago as a way of indicating the age ranges that a game is suitable for. The PEGI System is now classified by the Video Standards Council, rating each game on its content, rather than its playability or difficulty.

Each game is rated at one of five age levels, and like BBFC ratings, it is an offence to supply a game to anyone below the rightful age limit, and punishable by a fine up to £5000 or up to 6 months in prison. ID may be required to purchase higher age-rated games.

The BBFC will continue to rate non-game footage in games, such as trailers, featurettes, and bonus DVDs. They will also remain responsible for classifying any games featuring pornographic material.

So you can be sure the game you are choosing is appropriate for you or your child, the age logo will appear on the front cover, and on the listing page for the game on our website.

PEGI RATING	DESCRIPTION
	The content of games with a PEGI 3 rating is considered suitable for all age groups. The game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to frighten young children. A very mild form of violence (in a comical context or a childlike setting) is acceptable. No bad language should be heard.
	Game content with scenes or sounds that can possibly be frightening to younger children should fall in this category. Very mild forms of violence (implied, non-detailed, or non-realistic violence) are acceptable for a game with a PEGI 7 rating.
	Video games that show violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy characters or non-realistic violence towards human-like characters would fall in this age category. Sexual innuendo or sexual posturing can be present, while any bad language in this category must be mild.
	This rating is applied once the depiction of violence (or sexual activity) reaches a stage that looks the same as would be expected in real life. The use of bad language in games with a PEGI 16 rating can be more extreme, while the use of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs can also be present.
	The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes a depiction of gross violence, apparently motiveless killing, or violence towards defenseless characters. The glamorisation of the use of illegal drugs and of the simulation of gambling, and explicit sexual activity should also fall into this age category.
	In addition to the numerical PEGI ratings, you will also see the "Parental Guidance Recommended" rating for some non-game apps, introduced by PEGI for storefronts that use IARC. This serves as a warning that these apps can offer a broad variety of user generated or curated content. Typically, this applies to products such as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

Content Descriptors

PEGI also have a series of Content Descriptors, which provide extra information detailing what kind of content is in the game and why it has been given a particular rating. This should help customers make an informed decision whether the game is right for them.

CONTENT DESCRIPTOR	DESCRIPTION
Violence	The game contains depictions of violence. In games rated PEGI 7 this can only be non-realistic or non-detailed violence. Games rated PEGI 12 can include violence in a fantasy environment or non-realistic violence towards human-like characters, whereas games rated PEGI 16 or 18 have increasingly more realistic-looking violence.
Bad Language	The game contains bad language. This descriptor can be found on games with a PEGI 12 (mild swearing), PEGI 16 (e.g. sexual expletives or blasphemy) or PEGI 18 rating (e.g. sexual expletives or blasphemy).
Fear/Horror	This descriptor may appear as 'Fear' on games with a PEGI 7 if it contains pictures or sounds that may be frightening or scary to young children, or as 'Horror' on higher-rated games that contain moderate (PEGI 12) or intense and sustained (PEGI 16) horror sequences or disturbing images (not necessarily including violent content).
Sex/Nudity	This content descriptor can accompany a PEGI 12 rating if the game includes sexual posturing or innuendo, a PEGI 16 rating if there is erotic nudity or sexual intercourse without visible genitals or a PEGI 18 rating if there is explicit sexual activity in the game. Depictions of nudity in a non-sexual context do not require a specific age rating, and this descriptor would not be necessary.
Drugs	The game refers to or depicts the use of illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco. Games with this content descriptor are always PEGI 16 or PEGI 18.
Gambling	The game contains elements that encourage or teach gambling. These simulations of gambling refer to games of chance that are normally carried out in casinos or gambling halls. Some older titles can be found with PEGI 12 or PEGI 16, but PEGI changed the criteria for this classification in 2020, which made that new games with this sort of content are always PEGI 18.
Discrimination	The game contains depictions of ethnic, religious, nationalistic or other stereotypes likely to encourage hatred. This content is always restricted to a PEGI 18 rating (and likely to infringe national criminal laws).
In-Game Purchases	The game offers players the option to purchase digital goods or services with real-world currency. Such purchases include additional content (bonus levels, outfits, surprise items, music), but also upgrades (e.g. to disable ads), subscriptions to updates, virtual coins and other forms of in-game currency.
Online Gaming	These serve a useful purpose on a pan-European basis where there are different views on levels of acceptability in the matter of bad language, sex and nudity.
Paid Random Items	This content descriptor is sometimes accompanied by an additional notice if the in-game purchases include random items (like loot boxes or card packs). Paid random items comprise all in-game offers where players don't know exactly what they are getting prior to the purchase. They can be purchased directly with real money and/or exchanged for an in-game virtual currency. Depending on the game, these items may be purely cosmetic or they may have functional value.  The notice is always displayed underneath or near the age label and content descriptors.

To find out more about PEGI and PEGI ratings, or for any questions or comments regarding PEGI ratings, please visit www.pegi.info. To learn more about legal classification of games, please visit www.gamesratingauthority.org.uk.