A PEGI number is the game’s age category; the content-descriptor icons and wording explain which content elements or interactive risks are present. For violence, bad language, and sex, read the descriptor alongside the age category—not as a complete account of every scene in the game.
What PEGI descriptors tell you
PEGI’s descriptors explain why a rating was given and identify content elements or interactive risks associated with a game. They are clues for understanding the rating, not a scene-by-scene report. The same descriptor can cover different presentations, so the age category and the specific game’s PEGI entry matter too.
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PEGI’s official What do the labels mean? page defines the categories and descriptors. Check the entry for the particular title you are considering; general definitions cannot establish everything that happens in that game.
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PEGI’s Violence descriptor means, in its wording, “The game contains depictions of violence.” The icon alone does not say how realistic or detailed that violence is, or who is targeted. PEGI’s guidance distinguishes between these factors across age categories:
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- PEGI 7: Violence can appear only in a non-realistic or non-detailed form.
- PEGI 12: The guidance allows fantasy violence or non-realistic violence towards human-like characters.
- PEGI 16 or 18: The presentation of violence becomes increasingly realistic.
PEGI 18 also covers particularly serious cases such as gross violence, apparently motiveless killing, or violence towards defenceless characters. So a Violence descriptor is not a simple yes-or-no measure of severity: consider the age category and the kind of depiction described in the game’s entry.
What does PEGI say about bad language?
PEGI’s Bad Language descriptor means “The game contains bad language.” Its guidance differentiates language by rating: PEGI 3 says no bad language should be heard; PEGI 12 can include mild swearing; and PEGI 16 can include strong language. The descriptor signals that language is present, while the age category helps indicate the level PEGI’s guidance permits.
What does the PEGI Sex descriptor mean?
The Sex descriptor covers several kinds of sexual content rather than one uniform level. PEGI’s guidance describes:
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- PEGI 12: Sexual innuendo or sexual posturing may appear.
- PEGI 16: Erotic nudity or sexual intercourse without visible genitals may appear.
- PEGI 18: Explicit sexual activity falls into this category.
Nudity by itself does not always require the Sex descriptor. PEGI says nudity in a non-sexual context does not require it, so the context matters.
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Why the age category still matters
These three descriptors do not exhaust what can shape a PEGI age category. For example, PEGI’s guidance says prominent gambling themes can be rated PEGI 12, while simulation of casino-style games of chance is PEGI 18. A game’s number therefore reflects the system’s overall category guidance, while its descriptors point to particular content elements or risks.
PEGI ratings are system guidance, not an individualized decision about what is suitable for every child or household. Use the age category and descriptors to understand the rating, then consult the specific game’s current PEGI entry for title-level advice.
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