Video game ESRB ratings: Are your kids’ games age-appropriate?

Movies, albums, and TV shows have them, so it should come as no surprise that video games have a content rating system, too. In the U.S., the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) assigns age and content ratings to handheld, console, and computer games and apps—and has been around since 1994.

Originally created in response to concerns about violent and sexual content in video games, the ESRB now rates thousands of video games each year. These video game ratings help parents gauge the content of video games and decide what’s appropriate for their children.

What is the ESRB video game rating system?

The ESRB video game rating system includes Rating Categories and Content Descriptors so parents can decide if a game is suitable for their kids. The ESRB also highlights any Interactive Elements to be aware of. As an impartial and standardized video game rating system, it helps ensure consumers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico have the information they need to help protect their kids from inappropriate content.

ESRB Rating Categories

An ESRB rating category suggests the level of maturity needed to play a specific video game. “E” (Everyone) is by far the most common category, accounting for 47% of all ratings in 2023; the second biggest category was “T” (Teen) at 23%.

Here’s our ESRB video game rating chart containing the different classifications and an overview of why games earn these ratings:

ESRB content descriptors

The ESRB uses more than 30 content descriptors to describe what’s in a game. When a content descriptor is labeled “Mild,” it signifies low frequency, intensity, or severity. The descriptors fall into eight categories:

• Blood and gore: Animated blood, realistic blood, or mutilation is present in the game.
• Gambling: Real or simulated gambling, or themes associated with real-world gambling, can be found in the game.
• Humor: The dialogue contains comic mischief like suggestive comedy, adult humor with sexual overtones, or crude “bathroom” humor.
• Language: Characters use profanity, or the in-game music contains swearing, sexual references, violent themes, or mentions of drug and alcohol use.
• Nudity: Characters appear nude or semi-nude.
• Sexuality: The game shows sexual behavior (explicit or not), sexual violence, materials regarding sexuality, or is generally provocative.
• Substances: Alcohol, tobacco, or drugs are used or referenced.
• Violence: The game may show violence in a fantasy context, intense violence, aggressive conflict, or contain violent references.

Interactive elements

The ESRB’s Interactive Elements help parents understand in-game engagement or online features. This allows them to ensure their kids aren't inappropriately communicating with strangers, running up a credit card bill, or sharing their location. Here are the interactive components the ESRB highlights:

• In-game purchases: Can players make in-game purchases with real-world currency?
• Location sharing: Can other players see your physical location?
• Unrestricted internet access: Does the game allow unrestricted internet access (e.g., search engines and browsers)?
• User-to-user communication: Can players communicate openly with little oversight or few restrictions, and share media?
• Unrated songs: Can songs be downloaded or streamed within the game, meaning they won’t be rated by the ESRB?

How are video games rated?

The video game rating process differs slightly depending on whether the video game exists solely as a digital download or is available as a physical (boxed) product.

In either case, the overall review process usually follows this general outline:

1. The video game developer submits a questionnaire and a highlight reel of the game’s most extreme content.
2. Three specially trained reviewers analyze the submitted materials to identify any questionable themes in the gameplay, cutscenes, and other content.
3. The raters recommend a Rating Category, Content Descriptors, and Interactive Elements.
4. The ESRB board considers the raters’ recommendations and confirms the final Rating Summary.
5. The game developer receives the rating and can choose to accept it or revise the game to get a different score.
6. After a video game is released, an ESRB rater may play some of it to ensure the previously assigned video rating is accurate.

How important is it to check the ratings on my kids’ video games?

Checking video game ratings before your kids play is vital for ensuring the game is appropriate for their age and maturity level. Often, games cannot be accurately assessed simply by their title, artwork, or marketing materials, so an ESRB rating offers an easily digestible, comprehensive evaluation.

Ultimately, ratings allow you to make informed decisions that protect your child from content that may not be developmentally suitable or aligned with your family’s values. If children are exposed to certain themes before they’re ready, it could lead to aggressive behavior, behavioral issues, trouble socializing and paying attention in school, and sleep problems.

Take over the controls

While video game ratings offer valuable guidance, even age-appropriate titles aren’t always risk-free. Norton 360 for Gamers provides an extra layer of security for families, protecting against malware and other online threats kids might face while gaming. Plus, it comes with a suite of Parental Controls^‡ to ensure your child plays by your rules.

^‡Help your kids; manage their online activity, and identify potential dangers before they become a problem.