Balatro reclassified as PEGI 12 by ratings board after appeal by publisher

Balatro's PEGI Rating Reduced to 12

Balatro, the roguelike deckbuilder, has had its PEGI rating revised from 18 to 12. This follows an appeal by the publisher to the ratings board, addressing the initial misclassification that placed it alongside games like Grand Theft Auto in terms of content maturity.

The initial PEGI 18 rating, which surprised both the developer, Localthunk, and many players, stemmed from the game's depiction of gambling-related imagery. This, despite the fact that Balatro involves no real-money gambling or betting; currency is used solely for in-game card purchases.

This isn't Balatro's first encounter with regulatory hurdles; it was briefly removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns about its gambling mechanics.

The inaccurate rating also affected mobile platforms, a common issue despite the prevalence of in-app purchases in mobile gaming. While the correction is welcome, the initial misjudgment highlights inconsistencies in rating systems.

Intrigued? Check out our Balatro Joker tier list to strategize your gameplay!