PEGI - USK - What do these ratings mean?

Labels help in choosing the right game for the child.

PEGI Age Rating

Everyone is familiar with film age ratings. It’s a categorization system that assigns a minimum age to content. These ratings help people decide whether content is “intended” for their age.

Since 2003, the PEGI system has regulated the age suitability of games consumed in Europe. PEGI stands for “Pan European Game Information” and is used and recognized throughout Europe, with enthusiastic support from the European Commission. The system is considered a model for European harmonization in the area of child and youth protection.

But be aware that the PEGI system, like all other age ratings, only indicates whether a game is suitable for the stated age, not whether the game has a corresponding level of difficulty for that age.

What does an age rating mean?

For example: A game has a PEGI 3 rating. This means that the game contains content suitable for children aged 3 and older. However, this does not mean that a child of that age can complete the game or that the difficulty level is appropriate for a 3-year-old. Conversely, a PEGI 18 game might be manageable for a younger child in terms of difficulty, but the content is unsuitable for those under 18, for example, due to depictions of violence or drug use.

USK Age Rating

The USK-rating stands for Entertainment Software Self-Regulation and is the age rating for computer games in Germany, recognized in the German Youth Protection Act and the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media.

International Age Ratings and Gaming Platforms

The International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) oversees the European and German ratings system and ensures that PEGI and USK ratings are also available for digitally distributed games and apps. Furthermore, the IARC system also offers additional information about games, such as user interaction, data sharing, and online purchases.

The following platforms participate in the IARC system:

  • Google Play Store
  • Nintendo eShop
  • Oculus Store
  • Windows Store

Apple, with its iOS Store, offers its own age rating system based on a similar principle, but it cannot be compared to PEGI or IARC ratings.

Steam, one of the leading gaming platforms for computers, from Valve, and its own handheld console “Steam Deck,” currently does not provide age ratings based on youth protection. Content rated 18+ requires a date of birth to be entered. However, this date is not verified. This means that, in effect, any date 18 years or more in the past can be entered.

Age Ratings and Everyday Life

Therefore, an age rating is not a strict minimum age for playing a game, but rather an indication of the content one can expect in the game. Each PEGI, USK, or IARC rating indicates the content that can be expected with the corresponding rating.

A PEGI 3 rating, for example, means that the game must not contain images or sounds that could frighten or scare young children. Very mild forms of violence (in a funny, humorous context or a child-friendly environment) are acceptable. Vulgar language is not permitted.

A PEGI 7 rating, on the other hand, means that the game contains scenes or sounds that could frighten younger children. Mild forms of violence (implicit, non-detailed, or unrealistic violence) are acceptable for a game with a PEGI 7 rating. Every parent or guardian knows their child best and can assess whether, for example, a 7-year-old can handle a PEGI 7 rating or whether it might be better to wait a little longer. Various ratings simply help you assess a game before buying it, thus helping you decide whether it should be a Christmas or birthday present.

Besides personal research, there are also initiatives like BUPP-Bundesstelle für die Positivprädikatisierung von digitalen Spielen, which has tested and categorized numerous games on the market based on a set of criteria. Here, you can also search for games according to the child’s age group, the game’s objective, or the platform and get an initial assessment.

If the game has already been purchased or—the classic scenario—is given to the child as a gift without consulting the parents/guardians, then in case of doubt, it’s always best to consult a reputable source.

And who knows, maybe behind an ominous title lies not only the child’s favorite game, regardless of age?!

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Posted by Alexander