ESRB Game Ratings

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings are designed to provide consumers, especially parents, with concise, impartial guidance about the age-appropriateness and content of computer and video games so that they can make informed purchase decisions about the games they deem suitable for their children and families.

ESRB ratings have two equal parts:

1. Rating Symbols suggest age appropriateness for the game, and appear on the front of virtually every game box available for retail sale or rental in the United States and Canada.
2. Content Descriptors, which appear on the back next to the rating symbol, indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern.

About ESRB

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a non-profit, self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA ). ESRB assigns computer and video game content ratings, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines and helps ensure responsible online privacy practices for the interactive entertainment software industry.
 
Mission

To empower consumers, especially parents, with the ability to make informed decisions about the computer and video games they choose for their families through the assignment of age and content ratings, and to hold the computer and video game industry accountable for responsible marketing practices.
 
Philosophy

After consulting a wide range of child development and academic experts, analyzing other rating systems and, most importantly, listening to parents, ESRB found that what consumers really wanted in a video game rating system was both age-based rating categories as well as concise, impartial information about what type of content is in the game. Parents felt strongly that a rating system should inform and suggest, not prohibit.
 
With this philosophy in mind, the ESRB created and implemented the first two-part rating system, which includes both a rating category to suggest age-appropriateness, as well as content descriptors to indicate what content may have triggered the rating and/or may be of interest or concern to the consumer. The result is a rating system that is universally adopted by the industry, supported by retailers and is consistently described by parents and opinion leaders as the best entertainment rating system in the US.

Contact ESRB

ESRB welcomes your feedback. Due to the high volume of inquiries they receive, they may not be able to respond specifically to each and every one. However, they greatly appreciate your interest and support and will continue to work hard to provide you with the information you need.
 
If you are looking for cheat codes, gameplay information or answers to technical questions about a specific game or hardware device, it is recommended that you contact the manufacturer directly. ESRB does not and will not respond to these types of inquiries.
 
The ESRB is an organization that rates computer and video games so consumers can make educated purchase decisions. They do not create, publish, market or sell entertainment software.

Please click here to contact the Entertainment Software Rating Board. Thank you! 

More About ESRB and Game Ratings

ESBR Website
Vist the official website at http://www.esrb.org/

Ratings Guide
Review definitions for ESRB rating categories and content descriptors.

Ratings Process
Learn how the ESRB assigns ratings to computer and video games.

Enforcement
Read how the ESRB rating system and industry guidelines are enforced.

Parent Resources
Explore other online resources.

Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Copyright and Credits