What are ESRB Ratings? All video games are required to have a rating to help customers make decisions. Below a video game rating you will see ESRB. ESRB stands for Entertainment Software Rating Board. This board rates video games according to content. The ratings are simple to understand. There are 8 ratings of E, E10+, T, M, AO, EC, KA, and RP. However, you typically see E, E10+, T, M, and RP.
E and E10+ ratings are games that are appropriate for kids. E stands for Everyone 6 and up while E10+ is for Everyone 10 and up. Typically, no matter what age, it is pretty safe to buy an E or E10+ game for anyone. There are a few E10+ games that parents may find inappropriate. E may include a small amount of mild language and mild fantasy violence. E10+ may include mild language, fantasy violence, and minimal amount of suggestive themes.
T is for 13 and older. Be careful buying T games for children. You most likely will find something a little inappropriate for children in T rated video games. This is why they are mainly for teenagers and adults. T games may include violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, and some strong language.
M rating stands for Mature. These games are for people 17 and older. They are not appropriate for kids. M games may have intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and strong language.
RP means the game doesn’t have a rating yet. It is used for early advertising and eventually the game will be given a specific rating. You may see EC which is completely okay as it stands for Early-childhood. EC has nothing you will find inappropriate. KA which means it can be for kids and adults. The difference from EC and KA is adults may not like EC games (it stands for early childhood).
You also may see AO which is for people 18+. AO has prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content, and nudity. You most likely will never see a game rated AO, but that is mostly because these games do not sell well.
If you are wondering why the game is rated a specific rating the look on the back, bottom right corner, which will tell you in more specific details as to why the game is rated as such. It should say the letter rating and then on the right side a short phrases like “mild fantasy violence” or “crude humor.”
In summary EC, E, and E10+ are for kids. T, M and AO are for adults. RP means it doesn’t have a rating and KA can be for kids and adults. Hopefully you now better understand what ESRB ratings mean and stand for.
