What do the PEGI and USK numbers mean?
PEGI (Pan European Game Information) says it provides age ratings for video games in 38 European countries, in five categories: 3, 7, 12, 16 and 18. PEGI considers the age suitability of a game, not its level of difficulty. Germany uses its own legally based system, the USK, with five labels for 0, 6, 12, 16 and 18.
| Rating | Typical content under PEGI criteria | Closest USK label (Germany) |
|---|---|---|
| PEGI 3 | Nothing likely to frighten young children, no bad language, at most very mild comical violence | USK 0 |
| PEGI 7 | Scenes or sounds that may frighten younger children; only very mild, non-realistic violence | USK 6 |
| PEGI 12 | Slightly more graphic violence towards fantasy characters, sexual innuendo, mild bad language | USK 12 |
| PEGI 16 | Violence or sex that looks as it would in real life; stronger language; tobacco, alcohol or drugs | USK 16 |
| PEGI 18 | Gross violence, violence towards defenceless characters, glamorised drugs, simulated gambling, explicit sex | USK 18 («Keine Jugendfreigabe») |
What do the descriptors and purchase notices tell you?
Next to the age label, PEGI shows content descriptors: Violence, Bad Language, Fear, Gambling, Sex, Drugs, Discrimination and In-Game Purchases. They explain why a game got its rating. Games with the Drugs descriptor are always PEGI 16 or 18, discriminatory content is always PEGI 18, and since a 2020 change new games that simulate casino gambling are always PEGI 18.
In-Game Purchases means players can buy digital goods or services with real money, such as extra content, subscriptions or virtual currency. For paid random items such as loot boxes, card packs or prize wheels, the PEGI Code of Conduct requires companies to show the probability of receiving each item before purchase and to make clear that paying for them is never essential to play.
According to the industry body Video Games Europe, PEGI adds «interactive risk» categories from June 2026: optional purchases, paid random items, play-by-appointment mechanics and unrestricted online communication. These may automatically lead to a higher rating.
Where are age ratings legally binding?
Ratings mostly bind shops, not families. In the UK, CEOP Education explains that PEGI 12, 16 and 18 are legally enforceable: retailers may not sell or hire those games to younger buyers, but an adult may still buy one for a child.
| Country | System and legal status | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | PEGI; 12, 16 and 18 legally enforceable | Shops may not sell to under-age buyers; parents decide at home |
| Germany | USK under the Youth Protection Act (§ 14 JuSchG) | Shops may not sell to younger children; fines up to 50,000 euros; home use not regulated |
| Austria | Each federal state sets its own rules; Vienna and Carinthia require a PEGI label | USK is not binding but often printed on games; if both appear, go by the higher rating |
| Switzerland | PEGI; Federal Act on the Protection of Minors in the Film and Video Game Sectors (adopted 30 September 2022) | The act requires providers to state the minimum age and check age; fully in force probably from 2027 |
| France | PEGI, the only approved rating system since 2015 | The Ministry of the Interior points parents to the PEGI search to check whether a game suits their child |
Switzerland is not in the EU and has its own law, which also requires on-demand services to offer parental controls. For Italy and Spain, PEGI publishes its label explanations and game search in Italian and Spanish; national retail rules are not covered here.
How do you check a rating before buying?
- Look at the box or store page. CEOP Education notes that apps on platforms such as Google Play and the Microsoft Store also receive age ratings.
- Search for the title on pegi.info. For Germany, the USK database on usk.de lists entries per platform, with the reasons for the rating.
- Treat a missing label with care: it does not mean a game suits everyone. CEOP Education adds that ratings from outside Europe carry no weight in the UK or Europe.
Example: GTA VI
In the USK database, «Grand Theft Auto VI» for PlayStation 5 is rated «Keine Jugendfreigabe» (adults only), checked on 13 October 2026. The reasons given are drastic violence, drugs and criminal role models, and the game offers in-game purchases. For the PEGI rating in your country, use the search on pegi.info.
Star ratings in a store do not replace this check; see Many stars, little detail: reading reviews that help you decide.
Does the game suit your child?
An age rating is a floor, not a recommendation. CEOP Education points out that ratings are about safety, not difficulty, although children often assume older-rated games are harder. Ask yourself:
- Which descriptors matter for your child, for example fear or realistic violence?
- Is there chat? Agree who your child may play with and show them how to block and report.
- Are there purchases or random items? Agree whether and how much money may be spent.
CEOP Education suggests playing together, talking about how a game makes your child feel and agreeing household rules. Parental controls limit spending and contacts: see Christmas console: set up parental controls and spending limits and, for mobile games, First smartphone for your child: age, ground rules and settings.
An example: Priya checks a PEGI 12 game
Fictional example: Priya in Leeds is asked by her son Arjun, 11, for a game his classmates play. The box says PEGI 12 with the descriptors Violence and In-Game Purchases. Because Arjun is a year younger, she watches a gameplay video and finds the fights cartoonish but the shop screens pushy.
They agree to wait until his birthday in two months and play the demo together until then. When he gets the game, purchases stay switched off and chat is limited to school friends.
Common mistakes
- Reading the number as a difficulty level or a recommendation for that age.
- Looking only at the number and missing the descriptors for purchases and chat.
- Assuming a game without a label in a store is suitable for everyone.
- Setting parental controls once and never reviewing them as your child gets older.
Your checklist
The checkboxes are for your own reference. No entries are sent to us. To keep a copy, print the page or save it as a PDF using your browser menu.
Common questions
What age rating is GTA 6?
The German USK rated «Grand Theft Auto VI» for PlayStation 5 «Keine Jugendfreigabe» on 13 October 2026, meaning adults only. It cites drastic violence, drugs and criminal role models, plus in-game purchases. PEGI issues its own rating; check pegi.info. In the UK, shops may not sell a PEGI 18 game to anyone under 18.
Is it illegal to let my child play an 18-rated game at home?
The rules mainly bind sellers. CEOP Education explains that UK law obliges retailers but does not stop an adult from buying a game for a child. In Germany, too, the state does not regulate what parents allow at home. The USK still advises letting children play only games rated for their age. The decision is yours.
Why does a game show both PEGI and USK labels?
Germany uses the USK under its Youth Protection Act, and games made for both the German and Austrian markets often carry both labels. The two bodies use different criteria and levels, so the numbers can differ. Saferinternet.at advises families in Austria to go by the higher rating, a sensible rule of thumb elsewhere too.
What are paid random items or loot boxes?
They are purchases where you do not know in advance what you will get, such as loot boxes, card packs or prize wheels. The PEGI Code of Conduct requires companies to show the probability of each item before purchase and to stress that paying is never essential to play. You can usually block such purchases in the parental controls.
Sources and further information
Primary sources from public authorities, consumer organisations and providers. A source may be in another language; follow the guidance that applies to your service and where you live.
- PEGI: age ratings and content descriptorsSource review date:
- PEGI: Code of ConductSource review date:
- Video Games Europe: PEGI and the interactive risk categories from June 2026Source review date:
- CEOP Education (National Crime Agency): Gaming, what's appropriate for your child?Source review date:
- USK database: Grand Theft Auto VI, PlayStation 5 (in German)Source review date:
- USK: what the labels mean for shops and parents (in German)Source review date:
- Saferinternet.at: PEGI and USK labels in Austria (in German)Source review date:
- Swiss Federal Social Insurance Office: Federal Act on the Protection of Minors in the Film and Video Game Sectors (in German)Source review date:
- Jugend und Medien (Switzerland): games and the new youth protection act (in German)Source review date:
- French Ministry of the Interior: choosing video games with PEGI (in French)Source review date:
