Following an appeal, Balatro, the breakout indie title that combines roguelike gameplay elements with the game of poker, has had its PEGI rating changed from PEGI 18 to PEGI 12. The game, which was nominated for The Game Awards' 2024 Game of the Year, had originally been hit with a PEGI 18 rating for featuring "prominent gambling imagery," even though no real money or microcurrencies are gambled on.
How exactly is PEGI protecting children from Balatro?
The news, which was shared on Twitter by the game's creator, LocalThunk, has been confirmed in a press release from PEGI, the overarching body responsible for rating games for Europe.
In that release, PEGI affirmed that the appeal filed by Balatro's publisher, Sold Out Sales & Marketing, was successful, and the game would have its rating modified.
"The Complaints Board concluded that, although the game explains the various hands of poker, the roguelike deck-building game contained mitigating fantastical elements that warranted a PEGI 12 rating."
As it turns out, Balatro wasn't the only title that was hit with a PEGI 18 rating for having gambling themes. Luck Be A Landlord was also hit with a PEGI 18, and similarly to Balatro, had its rating...
