ESRB stands for Entertainment Software Rating Board. ESRB gives out ratings to games showing what age groups the game
is appropriate to.
Ratings:
(These are the content ratings given out by ESRB and can be found on the front and back of the box.)
A/O stands for Adults Only and games rated A/O are suitable for 18+. (please note that sometimes games rated A/O are
only rated so for gambling and not always violence and/or sexual content)
M stands for Mature and games rated M are suitable for ages 17+.
T stands for Teen and games rated T are suitable for ages 13+
E-10+ stands for Everyone 10 years or older.
E stands for Everyone and games rated E are suitable for ages 6+.
EC stands for Early Childhood and games rated EC are suitable for children ages 3 to 5. (I doubt a child under 3
will be playing games.)
K-A stands for Kids to Adults and games rated K-A are suitable for ages 6+. (K-A was the old form of E and has not been
used for some time)
RP stands for Rating Pending and games rated RP have not yet been rated by ESRB and usually aren't released until it
is.
Descriptors:
(These are the descriptions of why a game is rated a certain way and can be found on the back of the
box.)
- Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages
- Animated Blood - Discolored and/or unrealistic depictions of blood
- Blood - Depictions of blood
- Blood and Gore - Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts
- Cartoon Violence - Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and characters. May include violence where
a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted
- Comic Mischief - Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor
- Crude Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor
- Drug Reference - Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs
- Edutainment - Content of product provides user with specific skills development or reinforcement learning within
an entertainment setting. Skill development is an integral part of product
- Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily
distinguishable from real life
- Informational - Overall content of product contains data, facts, resource information, reference materials or instructional
text
- Intense Violence - Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic
blood, gore, weapons, and depictions of human injury and death
- Language - Mild to moderate use of profanity
- Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music
- Mature Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including sexual references
- Mild Violence - Mild scenes depicting characters in unsafe and/or violent situations
- Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
- Partial Nudity - Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity
- Real Gambling - Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency
- Sexual Themes - Mild to moderate sexual references and/or depictions. May include partial nudity
- Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or other sexual acts
- Simulated Gambling - Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency
- Some Adult Assistance May Be Needed - Intended for very young ages
- Strong Language - Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity
- Strong Lyrics - Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music
- Strong Sexual Content - Graphic references to and/or depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity
- Suggestive Themes - Mild provocative references or materials
- Tobacco Reference - Reference to and/or images of tobacco products
- Use of Drugs - The consumption or use of illegal drugs
- Use of Alcohol - The consumption of alcoholic beverages
- Use of Tobacco - The consumption of tobacco products
- Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict
Online Play:
Because ESRB can't filter out what players say, make, or do in online multiplayer, they have given a warning stating
that "Game Experience May Change During Online Play" to a game that has online multiplayer.