PEGI Rethinks Classification: Balatro No Longer Rated 18+

Balatro, the buzzworthy roguelike, has seen a change in its European age rating. PEGI, the authority responsible for age classifications in games across Europe, has updated Balatro’s rating from PEGI 18 down to 12 after complaints from the game’s publisher.

Initially, Balatro was slapped with an adult-only rating due to its poker-centric theme. PEGI’s decision aimed to prevent the game from being a tutorial for real-world poker, potentially enticing players toward gambling. The widespread criticism of this classification from LocalThunk, the game’s anonymous Canadian developer, especially on social media, underscores the community’s disagreement with such a harsh rating. Despite these hurdles, Balatro launched to widespread acclaim last February, albeit with limited visibility on European digital storefronts.

Now, this peculiar chapter has concluded. On February 24, PEGI adjusted Balatro’s age rating to PEGI 12. The push for this re-evaluation came from Sold Out Sales & Marketing, Balatro’s European publisher, who appealed the original rating. The PEGI Complaints Board stated that while Balatro does explain poker hands, the deck-building game also incorporates fantastical elements that justified a lower age rating.

Acknowledging the need for a more nuanced approach, PEGI admitted the Balatro case highlighted gaps in its rating system. Consequently, it has tasked its experts with creating more detailed classification criteria. These changes aim to differentiate between games that merely depict gambling elements and those that glorify the activity. “The PEGI system continuously evolves alongside cultural norms and expert recommendations,” the organization noted, emphasizing a commitment to refining its age classification approach, drawing on over two decades of experience.

In another development, Luck Be a Landlord, another engaging roguelike, experienced a similar outcome. Initially given an 18+ rating due to its slot machine mechanic, this game’s undercurrent of critiquing capitalism, rather than promoting gambling, eventually led to its PEGI rating being lowered to 12. This adjustment came after publisher Fangamer’s complaint.

While PEGI hasn’t provided a specific timeline for when these new classification criteria will be in effect, LocalThunk, Balatro’s creator, called the decision a positive step towards a fairer and more nuanced system, preventing developers from being “unfairly punished” for their creative endeavors.

For those unfamiliar with Balatro, it is a strategy-driven digital card game with roguelike elements, released in February 2024. Developed by LocalThunk and published by Playstack, it has achieved remarkable commercial success and continues to capture the hearts of gamers around the world.