The Entertainment Software Rating Board “assigns the age and content ratings for video games and mobile apps, enforces advertising and marketing guidelines for the video game industry, and helps companies implement responsible online privacy practices.”¹⁴ The ESRB ratings function much like movie ratings, for better or worse. The ratings are clearly subjective, but like movie ratings, a harsher rating is generally a good indication that the game contains inappropriate content that you probably want to avoid. I like to think about it this way: if a group of people who don’t necessarily have the same gospel standards as me look at a game and assess the appropriateness of its content, would they tend to be more accepting of inappropriate content than me, or less accepting?

Here are the ESRB Ratings with their definitions.¹⁵

• EARLY CHILDHOOD: Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
• EVERYONE: Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.
• EVERYONE 10+: Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.
• TEEN: Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.
• MATURE: Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.
• ADULTS ONLY: Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.
• RATING PENDING: Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. (This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game’s release.)

Specific content descriptions are provided to justify and explain game ratings. The following are the content descriptions currently used by the ESRB:¹⁶

• 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
• Fantasy Violence – Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life
• 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
• 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 Content – Non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity
• Sexual Themes – References to sex or sexuality
• Sexual Violence – Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts
• Simulated Gambling – Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency
• 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 – Explicit and/or frequent 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. May contain bloodless dismemberment
• Violent References – References to violent acts