Game Ratings Explained

Game ratings are, to be honest, not a brilliantly useful way of telling if a game is suitable for your child.  A lot of ratings seem very harsh, and they don't usefully tell you if a child will actually LIKE that game, or be capable of playing it.  Plus when you compare the ratings in America and Europe some of the differences are odd - such as Just Dance being deemed suitable for 3+ in Europe and 10+ in America, or Pokemon Red being deemed suitable for 6+ in America and 10+ in Europe (due to its depiction of gambling!).

Due to the ratings being a bit hit and miss, in our experience so far the best thing you can do is PLAY WITH YOUR KIDS.  We all want to play good games, so this shouldn't be a hardship if you like playing games!  Check games out that they want to play.  Play with them.  Show an interest.  Watch YouTubers with them on the TV in the living room.  Whatever!  Just be involved with what they're doing.

As a side note, in the UK, PEGI ratings are legally enforceable.

Europe:
In Europe games are rated using the PEGI ratings system.  You can search for ratings on the PEGI website.

PEGI 3
The content of games given this rating is considered suitable for all age groups. Some violence in a comical context (typically Bugs Bunny or Tom & Jerry cartoon-like forms of violence) is acceptable. The child should not be able to associate the character on the screen with real life characters, they should be totally fantasy. The game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to scare or frighten young children. No bad language should be heard.
Examples: FIFA 19, Slime Rancher, Overcooked, Animal Crossing New Leaf, Just Dance 2019, Rocket League, Super Mario Maker 2, Super Mario Party, Yoshi's Crafted World.

PEGI 7
Any game that would normally be rated at 3 but contains some possibly frightening scenes or sounds may be considered suitable in this category.
Examples: Minecraft, Roblox, Super Mario Odyssey, Lego Worlds, Pokemon: Let's Go, Hollow Knight, Steamworld Dig, Hello Neighbor, A Hat in Time, Slay the Spire, Spyro Reignited, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, No Man's Sky, Mario Kart 8, Splatoon 2.

PEGI 12
Videogames that show violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy character and/or non graphic violence towards human-looking characters or recognisable animals, as well as videogames that show nudity of a slightly more graphic nature would fall in this age category. Any bad language in this category must be mild and fall short of sexual expletives.
Examples: Pokemon Red, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Terraria, Overwatch, Fortnite, World of Warcraft, Five Nights at Freddy's, The Sims 4, Sea of Thieves, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

PEGI 16
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. More extreme bad language, the concept of the use of tobacco and drugs and the depiction of criminal activities can be content of games that are rated 16.
Examples: Horizon Zero Dawn, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Apex Legends, Marvel's Spider-Man, Battlefield V.

PEGI 18
The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes a depiction of gross violence and/or includes elements of specific types of violence. Gross violence is the most difficult to define since it can be very subjective in many cases, but in general terms it can be classed as the depictions of violence that would make the viewer feel a sense of revulsion.
Examples: Grand Theft Auto V, Skyrim, Fallout 4, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, God of War, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.

Descriptors shown on the back of the packaging indicate the main reasons why a game has received a particular age rating. There are eight such descriptors: violence, bad language, fear, drugs, sexual, discrimination, gambling and online gameplay with other people.


America:
In America games are rated using the ESRB system.  If you want to search for a game rating check out the ESRB website.

EC (Early Childhood), 3+
Content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
Examples: various Sesame Street games, etc.

E (Everyone), 6+
Content that may be suitable for general audiences. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, and/or infrequent use of mild language.
Examples: FIFA 18, Slime Rancher, Overcooked, Pokemon Red, Animal Crossing New Leaf.

E10+ (Everyone 10 and older), 10+
Content that may be suitable for general audiences ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, and/or minimal suggestive themes.
Examples: Minecraft, Roblox, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Lego Worlds, Just Dance 2018, Lego Rock Band.

T (Teen), 13+
Content that may be suitable for persons ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humour, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language.
Examples: Terraria, Overwatch, Fortnite, Horizon Zero Dawn, World of Warcraft.

M (Mature), 17+
Content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.
Examples: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Grand Theft Auto V, Skyrim, Fallout 4.

AO (Adults Only), 18+
Content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.
Examples: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Manhunt 2.