All games released in the UK are now PEGI marked. It is the gaming industry itself that mark the games, and PEGI gives you useful information on recommended age and strong content.

Recommended age limits
As well as the age symbol there might be one or more symbols that indicate a strong content. The age limit is meant as a recommendation considering what age group the game is suitable for, but it doesn’t say anything about level of difficulty. A game which, for example, is marked with “3”, might be too difficult for a 3-year-old to play.

Use Kids and Media’s games reviews to find out what age groups the games are most suitable for: we inform about both the PEGI marking and our own assessment of the game’s level of difficulty.

Complaints
On PEGI’s webpage www.pegi.info you can read more about the marking and check the age limits for different games for yourself. It’s also possible to make complaints if you think a game should have a different age or content marking.

How the age limits on games are decided

What does a game with an 18-year limit contain? Or one with a 7-year limit? Why do games receive the age limit they do? Here are the answers.

Below you find an overview over what content can be featured for the different age groups:

PEGI 3

The game might contain:

• Some violence in a cartoon-like situation

PEGI 7

The game might contain:

• Violence against non-realistic fantasy figures
• Images or sounds that might scare children
• Nudity in a non-sexual situation

PEGI 12

The game might contain:

• Graphic/bloody violence against fantasy figures
• Non-graphic/bloody violence against people or animals
• Clear sexual descriptions or images
• Mild swearing

PEGI 16

The game might contain:

• Graphic/bloody, detailed and prolonged violence against unrealistic people or animals
• Graphic/bloody and detailed descriptions of murders or harm against unrealistic people or animals
• Sexual situations or intercourse
• Sexual language or blasphemy
• Suggestions to use tobacco or alcohol
• Use of illegal drugs
• Glorification of crime

PEGI 18

The game might contain:

• Strong violence against realistic people or animals (torture, dismembering and sadism)
• Graphic/bloody, detailed and prolonged violence against people or animals
• Violence against vulnerable or defenceless people
• Porn, rape or sexual threats
• Detailed descriptions on how illegal actions can be carried out
• Glorification of illegal drugs use
• Racism, ethnic or religious discrimination
  

Kids and Media’s suggestion for points of discussion between parents and children about games:

• Experiences: What TV and computer games do you like the most? What can be learnt from games?
• On/off: How much time is okay to use on TV and computer games (When during the day is it okay to play?
• Age limits: Why are there age limits on games? Should they be kept?
• Influence: How are we influenced by playing games with violent content? Are there commercial messages in games?
• Games contents: Are there any games you don’t think are okay? Where do you draw the line between what content is okay and what isn’t?
• Negative experiences: What can you do if you see something you find disgusting or uncomfortable?