TL;DR
ESRB ratings are a helpful baseline, but they don't tell the whole story. The "T for Teen" rating has become a catch-all for games that range from "basically a cartoon" to "pretty intense combat." The real risks today aren't just the pixels on the screen, but the Interactive Elements—like unmonitored chat and "surprise" credit card bills.
Quick Links to Popular Rated Games:
- Rating E/E10+: Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Odyssey, Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Rating T: Fortnite, Roblox (Content varies), Apex Legends, The Sims 4
- Rating M: Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto V, Cyberpunk 2077
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is the industry’s self-regulatory body that assigns age and content ratings to video games. If you’ve ever looked at the bottom-left corner of a game box or a digital storefront, you’ve seen the letters: E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), and M (Mature).
But here is the catch: ESRB ratings are based on the static content of the game—the stuff the developers put there. They don't (and can't) rate the behavior of the 12-year-old from across the country screaming into a headset in a lobby of Fortnite.
For years, parents used the "T" rating as a safe harbor. It meant "no excessive gore" and "no explicit sex." But as graphics have become more realistic and "live service" games have taken over, the line between "Teen" and "Mature" has blurred.
Today, a "T" rated game like Apex Legends features fast-paced tactical killing, while The Sims 4 (also rated T) deals with complex social relationships and "woohoo." They are vastly different experiences. Understanding the nuances helps you avoid that awkward moment when you realize the "teen" game your 11-year-old is playing is actually a gambling simulator in disguise.
Ask our chatbot about the difference between T and M ratings
Think of this as the "G" rating for movies. It’s generally safe for all ages, with minimal cartoon violence.
- Examples: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Just Dance 2025.
- The Trap: Even E-rated games can have "In-Game Purchases." If your kid is playing Pokemon GO, the content is fine, but your bank account might not be.
This is where things get a bit more "fantasy" and "mild." You’ll see more slapstick or fantasy violence.
- Examples: Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
- The Reality: Minecraft is rated E10+ primarily because of the "scary" elements like Creepers and the Enderman, but the biggest concern for parents is often the unmoderated multiplayer servers.
This is the Wild West of ratings. It covers everything from Sea of Thieves to Destiny 2.
- The Content: You’ll see "suggestive themes" (characters in revealing outfits), "crude humor," and "violence" (shooting, sword fighting, etc.).
- The "New M" Factor: Because developers want to reach the widest possible audience, they often "sanitize" games that would have been "M" ten years ago. They remove the blood spray but keep the gritty, realistic military combat.
This is the 17+ category. Think "R" rated movies.
- Examples: Grand Theft Auto V, The Last of Us.
- The Reality: If your 12-year-old is asking for Call of Duty, they aren't just asking for a game; they are asking to enter an environment where the "f-bomb" is the primary adjective used by other players.
The letter is just the headline. The Content Descriptors on the back of the box (or the digital info page) are the actual story. Here’s what to look for:
- Blood vs. Animated Blood: "Blood" means it looks real. "Animated Blood" means it looks like red pixels or slime.
- Drug Reference: This means someone mentions drugs. "Use of Drugs" means the player or characters are actually doing them.
- Suggestive Themes: This is code for "mildly sexual." Think The Sims 4 characters flirting or wearing skimpy outfits.
- Violence: This is the most subjective. Fortnite has "Violence" but it's very "Looney Tunes"—people disappear in a blue flash when they "die." Call of Duty has "Intense Violence," which involves realistic death animations.
Learn more about what 'Suggestive Themes' really means in games
This is the section most parents skip, but it’s actually the most important. At the bottom of the ESRB label, you’ll see "Interactive Elements."
Users Interact
This is a fancy way of saying "There is a chat feature and we can't control what people say." In a game like Roblox, this is the biggest safety concern. While Roblox has filters, kids are creative. They use "leetspeak" or "Ohio" or "Skibidi" slang to bypass filters, or they try to lure kids onto Discord where there is zero monitoring.
In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)
This is the "Loot Box" warning. If a game has this, it means it’s designed to be addictive. It uses psychological tricks to get your kid to want that new "skin" or "emote."
We see a lot of parents feeling guilty because "everyone else's kid" is playing a certain game. Here is the data-driven reality:
- Grade 3-5: Most kids are in Minecraft and Roblox. If they are playing Fortnite, they are usually the "early adopters" in the grade.
- Grade 6-8: Fortnite becomes the primary social square. This is where you'll start seeing requests for Call of Duty or Overwatch 2.
- High School: Ratings basically stop mattering to the kids, but the "Interactive Elements" (toxic chat) still matter to their mental health.
A note on Roblox: Roblox recently updated its own internal rating system because the ESRB "E10+" didn't cover the millions of user-generated games within it. Now, individual "experiences" within Roblox have their own age recommendations (All Ages, 9+, 13+, 17+). Pay attention to those!
Instead of being the "Rating Police," try being the "Content Consultant."
- Ask for a "Tour": "Hey, I see this is rated T for Teen. Can you show me what a typical battle looks like?"
- Discuss the "Why": "The rating says 'Crude Humor.' What kind of jokes are people making in the chat?"
- Set the Financial Boundary: "I’m okay with the T rating, but the 'In-Game Purchases' warning makes me nervous. Let's set a $0 spend limit on your account for now."
Ask our chatbot for a script to talk to your kid about violent games
The ESRB is a tool, not a rulebook. A "T" rating for a game like The Sims 4 is a very different parenting conversation than a "T" rating for Fortnite.
The most important things to check are:
- The Content Descriptors (Is it "Blood" or "Animated Blood"?)
- The Interactive Elements (Can strangers talk to my kid?)
- Your Community Context (What are other parents in your Screenwise circle doing?)
- Check the WISE score: Before you hit "buy," search for the game on Screenwise to see the WISE score and how other intentional parents rate it.
- Audit the settings: If a game has "Users Interact," go into the settings and turn off "Voice Chat" or "Global Chat" immediately.
- Take the Survey: If you haven't yet, complete your Screenwise family profile to see exactly how your kid's gaming habits stack up against their peers.
Check out our guide on setting up parental controls for all consoles