TL;DR: The Cheat Sheet
If you only have 30 seconds before your kid asks for a new download, here is the breakdown:
- Ratings are a baseline, not a rule. An "E" rating doesn't mean a game is "safe" from strangers or credit card charges.
- Look for "Interactive Elements." This is the most important part of the label in 2026. It tells you if there’s unmoderated chat or loot boxes.
- E10+ is the new "Teen." Many games rated E10+ have complex mechanics or mild "fantasy violence" that might be a bit much for a sensitive 7-year-old.
- Check the Descriptors. "Mild Lyrics" or "Suggestive Themes" are often more helpful than the age number.
Quick Links to Popular Rated Games:
- Minecraft (Rating: E10+) - The gold standard, but the "user interaction" is where the risk lives.
- Roblox (Rating: E10+ / Teen) - A platform, not a game. Ratings vary wildly by "experience."
- Fortnite (Rating: Teen) - Cartoonish violence, but high-pressure social interaction.
- Among Us (Rating: E10+) - Social deduction that requires a thick skin for chat.
- Stardew Valley (Rating: E10+) - Cozy, but deals with some mature themes like depression and alcoholism in subplots.
When you flip over a game box or scroll to the bottom of the App Store page, you’ll see those black and white letters. In North America, that’s the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board). In Europe and other regions, you’ll see PEGI (Pan European Game Information).
They aren't government agencies. They are industry-funded groups that look at a game’s content—violence, blood, sexual content, language, and gambling—and slap a label on it.
The problem? These ratings were designed for a world where you bought a disc, played it alone in your basement, and that was it. Today, games are living, breathing social networks. A rating for Roblox can’t possibly cover every weird "Skibidi Toilet" horror map a random teenager uploads at 2 AM.
Learn more about how game ratings are decided
E (Everyone)
This is the "G" movie equivalent. Think Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There might be some "slapstick" or "comic mischief" (someone getting hit with a shell), but nothing that will cause nightmares.
E10+ (Everyone 10+)
This is the "tween" rating. It’s for games that have a bit more edge. Minecraft lives here because of the "fantasy violence" (killing zombies, exploding Creepers). It’s generally fine, but if your kid is particularly sensitive to scary imagery, some E10+ games might be a jump.
T (Teen)
This is the "PG-13" zone. You’re looking at more realistic violence, some blood (but usually not "gore"), suggestive themes, and stronger language. Fortnite and The Sims 4 are T-rated. Note: The Sims 4 is rated T for "crude humor" and "sexual themes," which is a different vibe than Fortnite's guns.
M (Mature 17+)
This is the "R" rating. Intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and/or strong language. Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto V are the heavy hitters here. Unless you want your 10-year-old learning how to run a digital drug cartel, skip these.
PEGI is a bit more literal with their age numbers: 3, 7, 12, 16, and 18.
The biggest difference is that PEGI uses icons to show why a game got its rating. If a game has a picture of a spider, it means it contains "Fear" (scary elements). If it has a picture of a syringe, it means "Drugs." It’s actually a bit more intuitive than the ESRB system.
Compare ESRB and PEGI ratings for a specific game
If you ignore everything else, pay attention to this. At the bottom of the rating box, you’ll see "Interactive Elements." This is where the real 2025 parenting happens.
Users Interact
This is the industry’s way of saying: "We have no idea what people are going to say to your kid." When a game has this label, it means there is unmoderated or filtered chat. This is where the "Ohio" memes, toxic trash talk, and potential "predatory" behavior live. Roblox and Among Us are prime examples. The game content might be E, but the "Users Interact" part is often "M" for "My goodness, why is that person saying that?"
In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)
This is the "Draining the Bank Account" warning. If you see "Includes Random Items," that means the game has Loot Boxes. This is essentially digital gambling for kids. You pay $2 for a "crate" hoping for a cool skin, but you usually get junk. It’s designed to trigger the same dopamine loops as a slot machine.
Check out our guide on how Robux is real money
Ratings are static; games are not.
Take Roblox. The platform itself has a rating, but individual games within it (like "experiences") are now being rated by Roblox’s own internal system. A kid might be playing a "9+" game that features "Mild Blood," but the social lobby of that game could be filled with teenagers discussing things way beyond a 9-year-old's pay grade.
Then there’s the "Brain Rot" factor. A game can be rated E for Everyone and still be absolute garbage. It might be filled with ads, low-quality assets, and mind-numbing loops that don't offer any creative or cognitive value. Ratings measure "objectionable content," not "quality."
Here is how to actually use these ratings without being the "no-fun" parent:
Ages 5-8: Stick to "E" and "Websites"
At this age, the "Users Interact" label should be a red flag. Stick to curated experiences.
- Recommendations: Toca Life World, PBS Kids, or Bluey: The Videogame.
- The Goal: Pure play, zero strangers.
Ages 9-12: The "E10+" Transition
This is when they want to play what their friends are playing. Minecraft is usually the gateway.
- The Strategy: Allow the game, but turn off the chat. Most E10+ games have settings to disable "User Interaction."
- Recommendations: Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Ages 13+: The "T" and Beyond
By now, they’ve seen worse on YouTube. Fortnite is the social hub for this age group.
- The Strategy: Focus on Digital Citizenship. Talk about why people are toxic in chat and how to use the "Block" button.
- Recommendations: Hogwarts Legacy (T) or Sea of Thieves (T).
Before you say yes to a game based on a rating, do a 5-minute "Vibe Check":
- Search the game on YouTube. Look for " [Game Name] gameplay no commentary." Watch three minutes. Does it look stressful? Is the music intense?
- Check the "Interactive Elements" again. Is there a way to password-protect the credit card? (Hint: Yes, and you should do it).
- Ask "Why do you want this?" If the answer is "Because everyone at school is playing it," the game is likely a social platform first and a game second.
Ask our chatbot for a "vibe check" on a specific game
Game ratings are like the "Nutrition Facts" on a cereal box. They tell you how much sugar (violence) and fat (language) is inside, but they don't tell you if the cereal is actually good for your kid’s development or if there’s a "surprise" at the bottom of the box that’s going to cost you $50.
Don't just look at the letter. Look at the descriptors. If a game is rated T for "Violence," ask yourself if your kid can handle cartoon blasters. If it's rated T for "Suggestive Themes," that's a different conversation.
- Audit your console: Go into the settings of your Nintendo Switch or PlayStation and set the "Maximum Rating" to match your child's age. It saves you from being the "bad guy" later.
- Talk about the "Why": Next time your kid asks for a game, look at the rating together. Ask them, "It says here there are in-game purchases. How are we going to handle that?"
- Get Personalized: If you're still not sure, take the Screenwise survey to see how your kid's gaming habits stack up against other families in your community.
Gaming isn't the enemy—it's just a new language. And like any language, you just need to know how to read the signs.