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The Entertainment Software Rating Board, or ESRB, is an organization that applies ratings for video games in the Americas. It started in 1994. The ESRB rates games based on the graphic material, language, references to alcohol, violence, and so on. Some content descriptors are listed below, along with games that have gotten them. Few games get the rating Early Childhood and Adults Only, unless they were specifically made for that target audience (other than the infamous Hot Coffee incedent with GTA: SA for the PS2.).
Ratings
The symbols ESRB uses are stylized alphabetical letters meant to indicate the game's suitability.
Unrestricted ratings
| Abbreviation | Rating | Active since |
Description | Examples | Age suitableImage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:ESRB EC.png | Early Childhood (EC) Ninos Pequenos  Jeunes Enfants  |
1994 | Content is intended for young children. |
Sesame Street: Elmo's Letter Adventure||3+ | |
| File:ESRB E.png | Everyone (E) Todos Enfants et Adultes |
1998 | Content is generally suitable for all ages. May contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language. | Mario Kart Wii |
General Audience |
 |
Everyone 10+ (E10+) Todos +10 Enfants et Adultes 10+ |
2004 | Content is generally suitable for ages 10 and up. May contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes. | Mario Strikers Charged | 10+ |
| File:ESRB T.png | Teen (T) Adolescentes Adolescents |
1994 | Content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up. May contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language. | Super Smash Bros. Brawl | 13+ |
Restricted ratings
| Abbreviation | Rating | Active since |
Description | Examples | Age suitable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:ESRB M.png | Mature 17+ (M) Maduro +17 Jeunes Adultes |
1994 | Content is generally suitable for ages 17 and up. May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. | killer7 | 17+ |
| File:ESRB AO.png | Adults Only (AO) Adultos Unicamente Adultes Seulement |
1994 | Content suitable only for adults ages 18 and up. May include prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content and/or gambling with real currency.
None of Nintendo games are ever rated by AO (rated M instead). 21 games have kept this rating (none of them are released on Nintendo). |
None. | 18+ |
Other ratings
| Abbreviation | Rating | Active since |
Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:ESRB RP.png | Rating Pending (RP) Aun Sin Calificar Cote en Attente |
1994 | Not yet assigned a final ESRB rating. Appears only in advertising, marketing and promotional materials related to a game that is expected to carry an ESRB rating, and should be replaced by a game's rating once it has been assigned. | Upcoming games. |
Former ratings
| Abbreviation | Rating | Active | Description | Examples | Age suitable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Kids to Adults (K-A) | 1994–1998 | These titles will appeal to people of many ages and tastes. Titles in this category may contain minimal violence, some comic mischief (i.e. slapstick and gross-out comedy), or some crude language. Examples are Castlevania: Dracula X, Super Mario 64, Tetris and Diddy Kong Racing. This rating got replaced in the year 1998 by the E rating, which replaced all previously rated games that were Kids to Adults. | Mario Kart 64 | 6+ |
Content
| Rating | Description | Which ratings it is in |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Reference | Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages. | E10+, T, M, AO |
| Animated Blood | Discolored and/or unrealistic depictions of blood. | E10+, T |
| Blood | Depictions of blood. | T, M |
| Blood and Gore | Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts. | M, AO |
| Cartoon Violence | Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and characters. | E ,E10+, T |
| Comic Mischief | Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor. | E, E10+, T |
| Crude Humor | Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor. | E (Mild), E10+, T |
| Drug Reference | Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs. | E10+, T, M |
| Fantasy Violence | Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life. | E, E10+, T |
| 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. | M, AO |
| Language | Mild to moderate use of profanity. | T, M |
| Lyrics | Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use in music. | E (Mild), E10+, T, M |
| Mature Humor | Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including sexual references. | T, M |
| Nudity | Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity. | M, AO |
| Partial Nudity | Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity. | T, M |
| Real Gambling | Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency. | AO |
| Sexual Content | Non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity. | M |
| Sexual Themes | References to sex or sexuality. | E10+ (Mild), T, M |
| Sexual Violence | Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts. | AO |
| Simulated Gambling | Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency. | E, E10+, T, M |
| Strong Language | Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity. | T (Mild), M, AO |
| Strong Lyrics | Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol or drug use in music. | T, M, AO |
| Strong Sexual Content | Explicit and/or frequent depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity. | M, AO |
| Suggestive Themes | Mild provocative references or materials. | E, E10+ ,T |
| Tobacco Reference | Reference to and/or images of tobacco products. | E10+, T, M |
| Use of Alcohol | The consumption of alcoholic beverages. | E10+, T, M |
| Use of Drugs | The consumption or use of illegal drugs. | T, M |
| Use of Tobacco | The consumption of tobacco products. | T, M |
| Violence | Scenes involving aggressive conflict. May contain bloodless dismemberment. | T, M |
| Violent References | References to violent acts. | E10+, T, M, AO |
Where ESRB is Used
| Country | Notes |
|---|---|
| American Samoa | Follows U.S. customs |
| Argentina | Used along INCAA ratings. |
| Bahamas | |
| Belize | |
| Bermuda | |
| Bolivia | |
| Brazil | Used along DJCTQ ratings. |
| British Virgin Islands | Follows U.S. customs |
| Canada | ESRB is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold. Used alongside PEGI ratings on French language games. |
| Chile | |
| Colombia | |
| Costa Rica | |
| Ecuador | |
| El Salvador | |
| French Guiana | |
| Guam | Follows U.S. customs |
| Guatemala | |
| Guyana | |
| Honduras | |
| Mexico | ESRB is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold. |
| Nicaragua | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Follows U.S. customs |
| Panama | |
| Paraguay | |
| Peru | |
| Puerto Rico | Follows U.S. customs |
| Samoa | Follows U.S. customs |
| Suriname | |
| United States | ESRB is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold. |
| United States Virgin Islands | Follows U.S. customs |
| Uruguay | |
| Venezuela |
Trivia
The first game ever to be rated E-10 was Nintendo's Donkey Kong Jungle Beat for the GameCube.
See also
- List of games by ESRB rating
- Computer Entertainment Rating Organization
- Pan European Game Information