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ESRB Game Ratings & Content Descriptors The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings are designed to provide information about video and computer game content, so you can make informed purchase decisions. ESRB ratings have two parts: rating symbols suggest age appropriateness for the game, and content descriptors indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern. To take full advantage of the ESRB rating system, it's important to check both the rating symbol (on the front of the game box) and the content descriptors (on the back of the game box).

ESRB Rating Symbols
	EARLY CHILDHOOD (EC) Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 3 and older. Titles in this category contain no material that parents would find inappropriate.	EVERYONE (E) Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.
	EVERYONE (10+) Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, and/or minimal suggestive themes.	TEEN (T) Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.
	MATURE (M) Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons 17 years and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and/or strong language.	ADULTS ONLY (AO) Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have 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.
	RATING PENDING (RP) Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. (This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game’s release.)

Alcohol Reference
Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages

Animated Blood
Discolored and/or unrealistic depictions of blood

Blood
Depictions of blood

Blood and Gore
Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts

Cartoon Violence
Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted

Comic Mischief
Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor

Crude Humor
Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor

Drug Reference
Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs

Fantasy Violence
Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life

Intense Violence
Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons, and depictions of human injury and death

Language
Mild to moderate use of profanity

Lyrics
Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music

Mature Humor
Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including sexual references

Nudity
Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity

Partial Nudity
Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity

Real Gambling
Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency

Sexual Content
Non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity

Sexual Themes
References to sex or sexuality

Sexual Violence
Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts

Simulated Gambling
Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency

Strong Language
Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity

Strong Lyrics
Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music

Strong Sexual Content
Explicit and/or frequent depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity

Suggestive Themes
Mild provocative references or materials

Tobacco Reference
Reference to and/or images of tobacco products

Use of Drugs
The consumption or use of illegal drugs

Use of Alcohol
The consumption of alcoholic beverages

Use of Tobacco
The consumption of tobacco products

Violence
Scenes involving aggressive conflict. May contain bloodless dismemberment

Violent References
References to violent acts

When a content descriptor is preceded by the term ‘Mild’, it conveys low frequency, intensity or severity of the content it modifies.

Online Rating Notice
Online-enabled games carry the notice “Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB.” This notice warns those who intend to play the game online about possible exposure to chat (text, audio, video) or other types of content created by other players (e.g., maps, skins) that have not been considered in the ESRB rating assignment.

For the most up to date list of content descriptors and definitions, go to http://www.esrb.org