An "R rated game" is not an official rating designation for video games by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which is the primary rating system used in North America. The "R" rating is typically used for movies, indicating restricted viewership. However, when people refer to an "R rated game," they are generally alluding to games with content so mature that they fall under the ESRB's Adults Only (AO) rating.
Understanding ESRB Ratings for Video Games
The ESRB assigns ratings to video games to help consumers, especially parents, determine content suitability. Unlike movie ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17), the ESRB utilizes a different set of categories. The content description often associated with an "R" rating in movies – intense, adult-oriented material – most closely aligns with the ESRB's Adults Only (AO) rating for video games.
The ESRB rating system includes several categories, each indicating a recommended age group and describing typical content:
| ESRB Rating | Age Recommendation | General Content Description |
|---|---|---|
| E (Everyone) | Ages 6+ | Content is generally suitable for all ages. May contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent mild language. |
| E10+ (Everyone 10+) | Ages 10+ | May contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes. |
| T (Teen) | Ages 13+ | May contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language. |
| M (Mature) | Ages 17+ | May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and/or strong language. |
| AO (Adults Only) | Ages 18+ | Content suitable only for adults ages 18 and up. |
The ESRB Adults Only (AO) Rating Explained
The Adults Only (AO) rating from the ESRB is the highest and most restrictive rating a game can receive. It signifies that the content is suitable only for adults ages 18 and up. Games with an AO rating often contain material that is considered highly explicit or potentially harmful for younger audiences.
Key characteristics that might lead to an AO rating include:
- Prolonged Scenes of Intense Violence: This goes beyond what is seen in M-rated games, featuring very realistic, graphic, or disturbing depictions of violence.
- Graphic Sexual Content: Explicit nudity, sexual acts, or highly suggestive themes that are central to the game's experience. This is distinct from suggestive themes found in T or M-rated games.
- Gambling with Real Currency: Games that allow or encourage direct gambling with real money, simulating casino-style games or other forms of betting where actual financial loss or gain is involved.
Due to the nature of their content, AO-rated games are rarely sold by major retailers, and console manufacturers typically do not allow them on their platforms. This makes them much less common than games with M (Mature) ratings.
In summary, while there is no "R rated game" as an official category, the term colloquially refers to games that would be considered too mature for an M rating and instead fall into the ESRB's Adults Only (AO) category due to highly explicit or intense content.
