E for Everyone Continues to be Most Frequently Assigned Video Game Rating
In 2020, more video games were assigned the E for Everyone rating than any other Rating Category. While this is the case every year, in 2020 more physical and console downloadable video games were E-rated than 2018 or 2019! Check out the chart below to see what portion each Rating Category represents of the more than 4,200 ratings assigned in 2020.
E (Everyone)
49% of all physical and console downloadable games in 2020 were rated E for Everyone. This means about 2,058 games released in 2020 were (and are) suitable for the whole family!
E10+ (Everyone 10+)
Everyone 10+ was assigned to 16% of the games released in 2020. Your 10-year-old had almost 2,730 age-appropriate games to choose from last year!
T (Teen 13+)
21% of games were assigned T for Teen in 2020. Combined with E and E10+, 86% (about 3,612) of physical and console downloadable games in 2020 are appropriate for your teenager!
M (Mature 17+)
Like years past, M for Mature 17+ was the least common rating in 2020 with 14% (about 588) receiving this rating assignment.
Remember that the Rating Category is only one part of the equation. ESRB also assigns Content Descriptors to indicate why a game was assigned a specific rating, and Interactive Elements to highlight interactive or online features that may be of interest, such as online communications with other players and in-game purchases. While ESRB age and content ratings are a great way to see what’s in a game before you buy or download, we know that that every kid is different. Sometimes your younger one may be ready for a T-rated game, and other times your 14-year-old may need some more time. No one knows better than you, but ESRB is here to help parents make those decisions.
If you find that you need more information about a game, take a look at the rating summaries available on ESRB.org and our free rating search app. You can also use our step-by-step parental control guides to make sure you kids’ video game experiences stay age appropriate. Even when you’re not around.
