Parents' guide

Before a game moves into your house

Most games are fine. Some are built to keep children playing and paying. These are the questions that tell them apart, and the settings that keep you in control either way.

Four questions to ask about any game

1. Is there a ceiling? Can you buy everything it sells and be done, or can money keep going in forever? A ceiling is the single best sign of a fair game.

2. Is anything random for money? Loot boxes, packs, gacha pulls and spins sell a chance, not a thing. That is the structure of gambling.

3. What does the game do when you stop? Timers, streaks that break, rewards that expire and friends who need you are designed to pull players back.

4. Who can talk to my child? Voice and text chat with strangers, and worlds built by other players, need settings switched on before play starts.

Games with a spending ceiling No paid randomness Low addictive design G or PG, and fair

How to read a game page

Money health is our verdict on the business model, from Fair to Harmful. It's set by the worst badge that matters, so a fair game with even a minor gambling-like feature is not rated fair.

Price-tag badges show how you pay — the business model. Hooked badges show the techniques used to keep players paying or playing. Tap any badge for a plain-English explanation of what you're actually buying.

Content labels — the square badges such as Violence or Simulated gambling — show what's in a game, read from the official age-rating descriptors (Australia's Classification Board, ESRB, PEGI and USK). Each carries a mild, moderate or strong pill: the strongest level any board gives. They have no money rating and never change a game's verdict or addictive-design score.

Addictive design counts the engagement hooks built into the game, from 0 to 5. It isn't a medical measure and doesn't mean your child will get addicted: it tells you how hard the design works to bring players back.

Spending ceiling tells you whether there's a limit. "No ceiling" means the game sells things you can buy again and again — currency, boxes, boosts.

Average price is the regular price across Australian stores. For free games we show what the in-game purchases cost instead.

What age ratings do — and don't — tell you

In Australia, games are classified by the Australian Classification Board: ACBG ACBPG ACBM ACBMA 15+ ACBR 18+. Ratings judge content — violence, language, drug use, sex, gambling themes — and add consumer advice such as "in-game purchases" or "online interactivity". Each game page in this guide shows its ACB, ESRB, PEGI and (where available) USK ratings side by side.

Since 22 September 2024, Australian rules say a game with in-game purchases linked to chance, such as paid loot boxes, must be rated at least M, and a game with simulated gambling at least R 18+. The rule isn't retrospective, so older games can still carry lower ratings.

Overseas boards are moving the same way. North America's ESRB and Europe's PEGI flag in-game purchases and, since 2020, paid random items. PEGI's criteria from 2026 add notices for time-limited offers and pressure to play, and push games with paid random items to PEGI 16 by default.

What ratings don't do is tell you how a game is built to make money: whether it runs on timers, streaks, limited-time pressure or a shop that never runs out. A game can be rated G and still be designed around a constant stream of purchases. That's the gap the badges fill.

Reading a rating from another country

Imported games and online stores often show an American, European or German rating. Find it in its column, then read across to the Australian rating in the same row. The match is rough: each board draws its lines at different ages, and only some ratings are backed by law.

Approximate equivalents between Australian (ACB), North American (ESRB), European (PEGI) and German (USK) age ratings
Age band	ACBAustralia	ESRBUS & Canada	PEGIEurope & UK	USKGermany	Worth knowing
All ages	ACBG	ESRBE	PEGI3	USK0
Younger children, with guidance	ACBPG	ESRBE10+	PEGI7	USK6	The ages differ: PG means guidance for under-15s, E10+ is 10 and up, PEGI 7 and USK 6 are for younger children. From USK 6 up, German ratings are law: shops may not sell a game to a younger child.
Teens	ACBM	ESRBT	PEGI12	USK12	M is advice only in Australia: recommended for 15 and over, but not legally restricted. ESRB T is 13 and up. PEGI 12 and USK 12 are 12 and up. In the UK, PEGI 12, 16 and 18 are legal age limits for games on disc or cartridge, not downloads.
Older teens	ACBMA 15+	ESRBM	PEGI16	USK16	MA 15+ is legally restricted: under-15s need a parent or adult guardian with them to buy it. ESRB has no 15 or 16 step. Its M means 17 and up, so an ESRB M game may be MA 15+ or R 18+ here. ESRB ratings are not law. Big US stores check age for M and AO games under their own policies.
Adults	ACBR 18+	ESRBAO	PEGI18	USK18	R 18+ is legally restricted to adults. Sellers must refuse anyone who looks under 18 and has no proof of age. AO is rare: PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox don't sell AO games, so console games stop at ESRB M. Simulated casino gambling is R 18+ here and PEGI 18, but can appear in an ESRB T game.
Cannot be sold	ACBRC	No equivalent	No equivalent	No equivalent	RC means Refused Classification: the game cannot be sold, hired, advertised or legally imported in Australia.

Equivalents are approximate. Where a game page shows ratings from several boards, the Australian one is what applies here.

What each board means

ACB Australian Classification BoardAustralia · Law from MA 15+ up

Region: Australia
Who rates: The Classification Board, an independent statutory body set up under the federal Classification Act 1995.
Legal force: G, PG and M are advice only. MA 15+ and R 18+ are legally restricted, and shops can ask for proof of age. RC games cannot be sold, hired, advertised or legally imported.

Ratings

ACBGGeneral. Suitable for everyone, though some content may scare very young children.
ACBPGParental Guidance. Mild content. Not recommended for children under 15 without a parent or guardian's guidance.
ACBMMature. Moderate impact. Recommended for 15 and over, but not legally restricted.
ACBMA 15+Mature Accompanied. Strong content. Legally restricted: under-15s need a parent or adult guardian with them to buy or hire it.
ACBR 18+Restricted. High impact. Legally restricted to adults; sellers must refuse anyone who looks under 18 and has no proof of age.
ACBRCRefused Classification. Cannot be sold, hired, advertised or legally imported in Australia.

Consumer advice usually names the content with the most impact. The strength word rises with the rating: very mild (G), mild (PG), no qualifier (M), strong (MA 15+), high impact (R 18+), as in "Mild violence" or "Strong themes".

Content

Themes: social issues such as crime, suicide, death, serious illness, war, family breakdown or racism
Violence: fighting, injury or killing
Sex: sexual references or scenes
Language: coarse language
Drug use: drug references or use
Nudity: nudity

Money, gambling and online

In-game purchases: the game sells extra content for real money
Chance-based in-game purchases: paid items with a random result, such as loot boxes (M or higher since 22 September 2024)
Gambling themes: gambling-like content, with the same strength words as above
High impact simulated gambling: casino-style gambling without real money (R 18+ since 22 September 2024)
Online interactivity: the game connects to other players online
Online interactivity and chat: players can also message or talk to each other

Source: www.classification.gov.au

ESRB Entertainment Software Rating BoardUS & Canada · Not law: industry rules

Region: United States and Canada
Who rates: The ESRB, the games industry's non-profit self-regulatory body, set up in 1994.
Legal force: Not law. Ratings are voluntary, but all console makers and some US stores require one, and major retailers check age for M and AO games under their own policies. PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox do not sell AO games.

Ratings

ESRBEEveryone. Generally suitable for all ages. May have minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, or infrequent mild language.
ESRBE10+Everyone 10+. Generally suitable for 10 and up. More cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, minimal suggestive themes.
ESRBTTeen. Generally suitable for 13 and up. May have violence, suggestive themes, crude humour, minimal blood, simulated gambling or some strong language.
ESRBMMature 17+. Generally suitable for 17 and up. May have intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content or strong language.
ESRBAOAdults Only 18+. Adults only. May have prolonged intense violence, graphic sexual content or gambling with real money.
ESRBRPRating Pending. No final rating yet. Only seen in advertising before release.

"Mild" in front of a descriptor means low frequency, intensity or severity. Interactive elements do not change the rating.

Violence

Fantasy Violence: fantasy violence, easy to tell apart from real life
Violence: aggressive conflict; may include bloodless dismemberment
Intense Violence: graphic, realistic-looking fighting, injury and death
Violent References: references to violent acts
Sexual Violence: rape or other violent sexual acts

Blood

Animated Blood: discoloured or unrealistic blood
Blood: depictions of blood
Blood and Gore: blood or mutilation of body parts

Language and humour

Language: mild to moderate swearing
Strong Language: explicit or frequent swearing
Lyrics: mild references to swearing, sex, violence, alcohol or drugs in music
Strong Lyrics: explicit or frequent references of that kind in music
Comic Mischief: slapstick or suggestive humour
Crude Humor: vulgar antics, including toilet humour
Mature Humor: "adult" humour, including sexual references

Sex and nudity

Suggestive Themes: mild provocative references or material
Sexual Themes: references to sex or sexuality
Sexual Content: non-explicit sexual behaviour, possibly with partial nudity
Strong Sexual Content: explicit or frequent sexual behaviour, possibly with nudity
Partial Nudity: brief or mild nudity
Nudity: graphic or prolonged nudity

Alcohol, tobacco and drugs

Alcohol Reference: references to or images of alcohol
Tobacco Reference: references to or images of tobacco
Drug Reference: references to or images of illegal drugs
Use of Alcohol: drinking alcohol
Use of Tobacco: using tobacco
Use of Drugs: taking illegal drugs

Gambling

Gambling Themes: imagery or activities linked to real gambling, without simulating it
Simulated Gambling: gambling without real money, usually casino-style
Real Gambling: betting real money

Interactive elements

In-Game Purchases: offers to buy digital goods, currency, subscriptions or season passes with real money
In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items): paid items the player can't see before buying, such as loot boxes or packs
Users Interact: possible exposure to unfiltered chat and user-made content
Shares Location: can show the player's location to other users
Unrestricted Internet: open access to the internet, such as a browser

Source: www.esrb.org

PEGI Pan European Game InformationEurope & UK · Law in the UK for 12, 16, 18

Region: The UK and most of Europe (more than 35 countries)
Who rates: PEGI, a not-for-profit company under Belgian law. Ratings are issued by the Games Rating Authority (UK) and NICAM (Netherlands).
Legal force: In the UK, PEGI 12, 16 and 18 are legal age limits for games sold on a disc, cartridge or chip, but not for downloads; PEGI 3 and 7 are advice. Portugal made PEGI its official system in 2021, and a growing number of countries back it with government rules. Elsewhere it is a voluntary industry system.

Ratings

PEGI3PEGI 3. Suitable for all age groups. Only very mild, comical violence and no bad language.
PEGI7PEGI 7. Scenes or sounds that may frighten younger children; very mild, non-realistic violence.
PEGI12PEGI 12. More graphic fantasy violence, sexual innuendo, mild bad language, or prominent gambling themes.
PEGI16PEGI 16. Violence or sexual activity that looks as it would in real life; stronger language; tobacco, alcohol or drugs.
PEGI18PEGI 18. Gross or motiveless violence, glamorised drug use, simulated gambling or explicit sex.

For games submitted since June 2026, several interactive risks also set a minimum age.

Content

Violence: depictions of violence, from non-realistic (7) to realistic (16, 18)
Bad Language: mild swearing (12) or strong language (16)
Fear / Horror: frightening scenes for young children (7), or horror (12, 16)
Gambling: prominent gambling themes (12) or simulated casino gambling (18)
Sex: innuendo (12), erotic nudity (16) or explicit sex (18)
Drugs: illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco (always 16 or 18)
Discrimination: stereotypes likely to encourage hatred (always 18)

Interactive risks

In-game purchases: digital goods or services can be bought with real money
Paid random items: loot boxes or packs where you don't know what you get (16, or 18 for social casino games)
Time-limited offers: purchases on a countdown or limited stock (12, or 7 if spending is off by default)
Cryptocurrency: NFTs or crypto assets central to play (18)
Pressure to play: daily rewards or streaks that bring players back (7, or 12 if rewards are lost)
Unrestricted communication: chat that can't be blocked or muted and isn't moderated (18)

Source: pegi.info

USK Unterhaltungssoftware SelbstkontrolleGermany · Law in Germany

Region: Germany
Who rates: The USK, Germany's games self-regulation body. For boxed games the final rating is issued by a representative of the German states' youth protection authorities.
Legal force: Legally binding in Germany under the Youth Protection Act (JuSchG). Shops may not sell a game to a child below its age, with fines of up to €50,000. Online games and apps get USK ratings through IARC.

Ratings

USK0USK 0. Approved without age restriction. No depictions of violence, nothing that causes lasting anxiety.
USK6USK 6. Approved for 6 and above. Faster-paced games for children starting to tell games from reality.
USK12USK 12. Approved for 12 and above. More complex play; any fighting is clearly fiction.
USK16USK 16. Approved for 16 and above. Violence can be more prominent.
USK18USK 18. Not approved for under-18s. Almost always violent, often dark and threatening.

USK ratings now list the reasons for the rating and any extra functions.

Violence

Implied violence: abstract fighting with no visible injury
Comic violence: cartoonish fights and unrealistic weapons
Fantasy violence: violence in a clearly unreal, magical or futuristic world
Violence: realistic-looking violence, or violence as a main theme
Explicit violence: violence shown graphically or with emphasis
Sexualised violence: violence with clear sexual undertones
War themes: set in a war, with weapons and violence central to play

Fear and difficult themes

Scary moments: sudden scares that may upset children
Dark atmosphere: gloomy, oppressive or threatening settings
Horror: strong horror or disgust effects
Burdensome themes: heavy topics such as death, bullying or addiction

Sex, language and substances

Sexual innuendo: sexual gestures or hints
Sexual content: sex as a theme, shown or implied
Occasional swearing: some swear words
Explicit language: harsh or very vulgar language
Tobacco use: smoking shown positively or often
Alcohol: drinking shown positively or often
Drugs: drug use shown positively or often

Money, pressure and contact

Gambling themes: gambling-like elements or a casino feel
Pressure to act: frantic sequences that can overexcite young children
Increased incentives to buy: design that pushes purchases, such as pay-to-win or expiring offers
Pressure to play excessively: push messages, season passes or penalties for not playing
Problematic advertising content: ads more concerning than the game itself
Increased communications risks: chat without reporting or blocking
Contact risks: real names or location visible to strangers
Criminal role models: crime shown uncritically or glorified
Sexualised role models: stereotyped beauty ideals or behaviour

Extra functions

In-game purchases: extra content can be bought in the game
In-game purchases + random objects: paid random items, such as loot boxes
Chats: players can message or talk to each other
Location sharing: players can share their location

Source: usk.de

Apps and download stores

Google Play and the Microsoft, Nintendo and PlayStation stores use IARC: the developer answers one questionnaire and gets ACB, ESRB, PEGI and USK ratings at once, which can be checked and changed after release. Apple's App Store isn't part of IARC and uses its own bands (4+, 9+, 13+, 16+, 18+ on current software); in Australia, apps with loot boxes show 16+ and apps with simulated gambling show R 18+.

Switch on the controls

Every major platform lets a parent approve purchases, cap play time and filter by age rating. Set them up before the first game is installed — it's much harder to add limits later. Some games (Fortnite, Roblox, Minecraft) have their own extra settings; we link those on each game's page.

Nintendo Switch 2 / Nintendo Switch

Parental Controls app + Nintendo Account

Spending limits are not in the app or on the console: set eShop restrictions in the parent's Nintendo Account (family group). The free Parental Controls app sets daily play time, bedtime, age-rating presets and who your child can communicate with.