Balatro's PEGI rating has been revised from 18 to 12, following an appeal by its publisher. This decision rectifies an initial misclassification that unfairly equated the roguelike deckbuilder's content with mature titles like Grand Theft Auto.
Last year's PEGI 18 rating, based on the game's depiction of gambling-related imagery, surprised both the developer, Localthunk, and players. This misinterpretation, despite the game's lack of real-money transactions or betting, led to confusion and even a brief removal from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns about gambling content.
The revised PEGI 12 rating is now consistent across platforms, including mobile, resolving a frustrating issue stemming from the initial misjudgment. While the developer welcomes the correction, they highlight the absurdity of the original classification and the inconsistencies in applying such standards across different gaming platforms.
The inaccurate PEGI 18 rating stemmed from the game's use of card game terminology and imagery, which was misinterpreted as promoting harmful gambling behavior. This highlights the challenges of accurately assessing the content of games, especially those incorporating elements that might be misconstrued out of context.
The resolution of this rating issue may finally encourage players to explore Balatro. For those interested, a comprehensive tier list of Jokers within the game is available to guide players in optimizing their card selections.
