PEGI Age Ratings

Showing the number of games released by PEGI age rating

UK Only

UK Certificates for Release issued by the VSC

	Certificates by Age Rating				Percentage by Age Rating
Year	12	16	18	Total	12	16	18
2020	250	206	174	630	39.7%	32.7%	27.6%
2017	240	218	153	661	36.3%	33.0%	23.1%
2016	201	151	146	498	40.4%	30.3%	29.3%
[2015]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
[2014]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2013	134	137	115	385	34.8%	35.6%	29.9%

Note: For a video game supplied in the UK for a number of different games consoles (e.g. Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch) a separate UK certificate is issued for each version of the game.

All PEGI territories

These figures include online ratings.

	No. of PEGI Licences by Age Rating						Percentage of PEGI Licences by Age Rating
Year	3	7	12	16	18	Total	3	7	12	16	18
2020	435	354	376	294	282	1,741	25.0%	20.3%	21.6%	16.9%	16.2%
2019	403	368	403	315	210	1,750	23.0%	21.0%	23.0%	18.0%	12.0%
2018	499	459	589	366	229	2,142	23.3%	21.4%	27.5%	17.1%	10.7%
2017	441	455	535	362	184	1,977	22.3%	23.0%	27.1%	18.3%	9.3%
2016	366	396	476	295	186	1,719	21.3%	23.0%	27.7%	18.3%	10.8%
2015	427	486	501	237	204	1,855	23.0%	26.2%	27.0%	12.8%	11.0%
2014	470	399	374	254	188	1,685	27.9%	23.7%	22.2%	15.1%	11.2%
2013	471	371	326	225	149	1,542	30.5%	24.1%	21.1%	14.6%	9.7%
2012	613	388	418	224	170	1,813	33.8%	21.4%	23.1%	12.4%	9.4%
2011	828	362	515	284	218	2,214	37.4%	16.4%	23.3%	12.8%	9.8%
2003 - 2010 (combined)	7,849	1,967	3,496	1,991	825	16,143	48.6%	12.2%	21.7%	12.3%	5.1%

Please note: Since 2015, the age ratings for an increasing number of games are flowing via IARC and as such PEGI's official figures may not represent the true distribution of all games released by age rating. The decline since 2010 in games rated PEGI 3 may also be influenced by the shift of more casual games to mobile platforms, some of which may not be rated by PEGI.

Age Labels

PEGI categorises games into 5 age classifications, each allowing different levels of age-appropriate content:

PEGI Age Label	Description
	The content of games with a PEGI 3 rating is considered suitable for all age groups. The game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to frighten young children. A very mild form of violence (in a comical context or a childlike setting) is acceptable. No bad language should be heard.
	Game content with scenes or sounds that can possibly frightening to younger children should fall in this category. Very mild forms of violence (implied, non-detailed, or non-realistic violence) are acceptable for a game with a PEGI 7 rating.
	Video games that show violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy characters or non-realistic violence towards human-like characters would fall in this age category. Sexual innuendo or sexual posturing can be present, while any bad language in this category must be mild. Gambling as it is normally carried out in real life in casinos or gambling halls can also be present (e.g. card games that in real life would be played for money).
	This rating is applied once the depiction of violence (or sexual activity) reaches a stage that looks the same as would be expected in real life. The use of bad language in games with a PEGI 16 rating can be more extreme, while games of chance, and the use of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs can also be present
	The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes a depiction of gross violence, apparently motiveless killing, or violence towards defenceless characters. The glamorisation of the use of illegal drugs and explicit sexual activity should also fall into this age category.

Content Descriptors

To make the nature of content that may not be age-appropriate clearer to consumers, PEGI also uses ‘content descriptors’. These appear as symbols on the boxes of games, describing content such as violence and bad language in games:

PEGI Content Descriptor Name	PEGI Content Descriptor Label	Description
Violence		The game contains depictions of violence. In games rated PEGI 7 this can only be non-realistic or non-detailed violence. Games rated PEGI 12 can include violence in a fantasy environmentor non-realistic violence towards human-like characters, whereas games rated PEGI 16 or 18 have increasingly more realistic-looking violence.
Bad Language		The game contains bad language. This descriptor can be found on games with a PEGI 12 (mild swearing), PEGI 16 (e.g. sexual expletives or blasphemy) or PEGI 18 rating (e.g. sexual expletives or blasphemy).
Fear		This descriptor may appear on games with a PEGI 7 if it contains pictures or sounds that may be frightening or scary to young children, or on PEGI 12 games with horrific sounds or horror effects (but without any violent content).
Gambling		The game contains elements that encourage or teach gambling. These simulations of gambling refer to games of chance that are normally carried out in casinos or gambling halls. Games with this sort of content are PEGI 12, PEGI 16 or PEGI 18.
Sex		This content descriptor can accompany a PEGI 12 rating if the game includes sexual posturing or innuendo, a PEGI 16 rating if there is erotic nudity or sexual intercourse without visible genitals or a PEGI 18 rating if there is explicit sexual activity in the game. Depictions of nudity in a non-sexual content do not require a specific age rating, and this descriptor would not be necessary.
Drugs		The game refers to or depicts the use of illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco. Games with this content descriptor are always PEGI 16 or PEGI 18.
Discrimination		The game contains depictions of ethnic, religious, nationalistic or other stereotypes likely to encourage hatred. This content is always restricted to a PEGI 18 rating (and likely to infringe national criminal laws).

In 2018 PEGI introduced a new content descriptor to label digital games with in-game purchases and in early 2019 this content descriptor began appearing as a label on physical releases.

PEGI Content Descriptor Name	PEGI Content Descriptor Label	Description
In-Game Purchases		The game includes an option to spend real money on in-game items or additional content.