Age ratings are used to ensure products such as films and computer games are clearly labelled by age according to the content they contain. Age ratings provide guidance to consumers and particularly parents to help them decide whether a product is suitable for the person intended to watch or use it.

The rating on a computer game confirms that it is suitable for players over a certain age, for example a PEGI 7 rated game is only suitable for those aged seven and above, and a PEGI 18 game is only suitable for adults aged eighteen and above.

The PEGI rating considers the age suitability of a game by its content, tone of language and imagery, however it may not describe the games level of difficulty or whom would find the game most appealing. Please see Suggested Target Audience for further information.

PEGI is used and recognised throughout Europe as the standard Age Rating System for Films and Computer Game. It has the enthusiastic support of the European Commission and is considered to be a model of European harmonisation in the field of the protection of children.

	The content of games given this rating is considered suitable for all age groups. Some violence in a comical context is acceptable, but the child should not be able to associate the character on the screen with real life characters, they should be totally fantasy. The game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to scare or frighten young children. No bad language should be heard and there should be no scenes containing nudity or any reference to sexual activity.
	Any game that would normally be rated as 3 but contains some possibly frightening scenes or sounds may be considered suitable in this category. Some scenes of partial nudity may be permitted but never in a sexual context.
	Videogames that show violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy character and/or non graphic violence towards human-looking characters or recognisable animals, as well as videogames that show nudity of a slightly more graphic nature would fall in this age category. Any bad language in this category must be mild and fall short of sexual expletives.
	This rating is applied once the depiction of violence (or sexual activity) reaches a stage that looks the same as would be expected in real life. More extreme bad language, the concept of the use of tobacco and drugs and the depiction of criminal activities can be content of games that are rated 16.
	The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes a depiction of gross violence and/or includes elements of specific types of violence. Gross violence is the most difficult to define since it can be very subjective in many cases, but in general terms it can be classed as the depictions of violence that would make the viewer feel a sense of revulsion.

Descriptors shown on the back of the packaging indicate the main reasons why a game has received a particular age rating. There are eight such descriptors: violence, bad language, fear, drugs, sexual, discrimination, gambling and online gameplay with other people.

	Game contains bad language.		Game contains depictions of, or material which may encourage, discrimination.
	Game refers to or depicts the use of drugs.		Game may be frightening or scary for young children.
	Games that encourage or teach gambling.		Game depicts nudity and/or sexual behaviour or sexual references.
	Game contains depictions of violence.		Game can be played online.