ESRB and PEGI are regional video game rating systems, not interchangeable age scales. ESRB is used in the United States and Canada; PEGI is used across Europe. To judge a particular game, check its exact regional listing, age category, content descriptors and online or purchase notices—then decide whether it fits your child and family rules.
How ESRB and PEGI differ
The systems use different categories and procedures, so a printed age or number should not be converted directly from one system to the other. A game’s rating may vary by region or release. Compare the specific regional version rather than assuming the same title has one universal rating.
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| System | Where it is used | Age categories | What the label means |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESRB | United States and Canada | E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature 17+), AO (Adults Only 18+) | A category accompanied by content descriptors; interactive elements may also appear. |
| PEGI | Across Europe | PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16 and 18 | An age-suitability label, not a measure of difficulty or the skills needed to play. |
These categories are not a claim that every child of the stated age is ready for a game. Nor does a larger number in one system establish that a game is more or less appropriate than another system’s category.
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Read the details behind the age category
ESRB content descriptors and interactive elements
ESRB content descriptors identify content in the game, such as violence or language. Interactive elements are separate notices that can flag features such as online interaction or purchases. ESRB says these elements do not affect the rating category: “Interactive Elements highlight interactive or online features that may be of interest or concern but do not influence the rating assignment of a product.” See the ESRB ratings information and its ratings guide for the specific label and descriptor meanings.
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PEGI descriptors and consumer information
PEGI descriptors explain why a particular age category was assigned. Some PEGI game pages also provide additional consumer information about purchases. Check the exact game page rather than relying on the age number alone. PEGI’s overview explains that its rating “does not take account of the level of difficulty or skills needed to play a game.” Consult PEGI’s label explanations and search for the game.
How games receive ratings
The systems describe different routes for physical and digital releases. ESRB says trained raters assess physical releases, while digital games use IARC-based questionnaires. PEGI says publishers complete a content questionnaire to receive a provisional rating, followed by administrative review; IARC supports ratings on digital storefronts. These process differences are another reason not to treat category numbers as direct equivalents.
For the systems’ own explanations, see ESRB’s rating process and PEGI’s rating process.
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- Identify the market and system. Check the package or store listing to see whether it shows ESRB or PEGI.
- Read the category and every descriptor. Focus on the specific content flagged, not a supposed numeric conversion between systems.
- Check online and purchase information. Look for notices about communication, online features and spending. These are distinct from ESRB content descriptors; PEGI pages may include purchase information too.
- Find the exact listing if anything is unclear. Search the official rating database or PEGI game search for the title and, where available, the relevant platform or release.
- Set family controls and make a child-specific decision. Consider the child’s maturity and your household rules alongside the rating. Platform controls can help manage access, chat, spending and play time.
Use parental controls alongside ratings
Ratings describe a game’s content; controls can help manage how a child accesses and uses it. PEGI describes controls for age-rated access, online interaction, spending, browsing and time. ESRB also provides parent tools. The available settings and steps depend on the platform, so check the platform’s own parental-control options for the device or account your child uses. See PEGI’s parental-controls guidance and ESRB’s tools for parents.
What ESRB’s recent rating figures do—and do not—show
ESRB reported that it assigned more than 6,500 ratings in 2025 to physical and console-downloadable games. Among those ratings, it reported 52% E, 15% E10+, 23% T and 10% M. ESRB also characterized 90% as appropriate for a 13-year-old; that is the organization’s framing of its ratings, not a universal recommendation for an individual child. These figures cover ESRB ratings in that stated release scope, not all games or all rating systems. See ESRB’s 2025 year-in-review.
Separately, ESRB’s parent-tools page reports that 65% of ratings it assigned to physical and console-downloadable games in 2024 were E or E10+. That statistic describes those ratings, not a survey estimate of every game or family. The page attributes separate statements about parents’ views to Hart Research Associates, 2025; those views should not be conflated with the 65% rating figure. See ESRB’s parent-tools page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why there is no reliable ESRB-to-PEGI conversion
The systems have different category names, regional coverage, descriptors and rating procedures. A fair comparison needs the exact regional release and its category, content descriptors, online or purchase notices and rating context. The available official information does not establish a dependable title-by-title equivalence table or an apples-to-apples study proving that one system is universally stricter. Compare the game details, not just the printed numbers.
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