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

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

Author : Claire Mar 21,2025

Balatro, the roguelike deckbuilder, has received a revised PEGI rating. Initially classified as PEGI 18—a rating comparable to games like Grand Theft Auto—it has been reclassified as PEGI 12. This decision, following an appeal by the publisher to the PEGI board, places Balatro on a more appropriate rating level.

This isn't Balatro's first encounter with regulatory issues. The game was briefly removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns about its depiction of gambling mechanics, despite the fact that no real-money betting or winnings are involved; in-game currency is used solely to purchase additional cards within each playthrough.

The PEGI 18 rating stemmed largely from the game's use of gambling-related imagery, a misinterpretation that led to a rating seemingly disproportionate to its actual content. This misclassification unfortunately extended to mobile platforms as well, highlighting inconsistencies in rating systems across different platforms.

While the reclassification is a positive development, it underscores the need for clearer guidelines and more consistent application of rating systems. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges developers face in navigating the complexities of game ratings.

Now that Balatro has a more accurate PEGI 12 rating, interested players might want to explore our tier list of Jokers to determine which cards offer the most strategic advantage. yt

Latest Articles More
  • Unison League Collaborates with Vocaloid Stars

    Unison League announced a collaboration featuring the iconic virtual idol Hatsune Miku.Miku will be joined by other popular Vocaloid characters as part of this limited-time event.Players can unlock exclusive branded cosmetics and special collaboratio

    Feb 25,2026
  • Nintendo Cites GameStop Office Space Meme Amid Switch 2 Repair Process

    Nintendo and GameStop have responded to the Switch 2 launch day problem where consoles with cracked screens were sold to customers after receipts were stapled to the boxes.Impacted customers have informed IGN that GameStop has started providing repla

    Feb 23,2026
  • Master Julia: Skills, Builds & Team Tactics in Realms of Pixel

    In Realms of Pixel, Julia stands out as a Mythical-grade hero who masterfully combines offensive versatility with tactical flexibility. Valued for her reliable area-of-effect damage, scalable utility, and seamless synergy with various allies, she has

    Feb 23,2026
  • inZOI Karma System Sparks Ghost Town Concerns

    Cities in inZOI may transform into ghost towns when numerous Zois perish with negative karma. Discover how inZOI's innovative karma mechanics work ahead of its early access launch.inZOI Cities Can Become Overrun By SpiritsPopulation Growth Stalls Whe

    Feb 21,2026
  • "July 2025 Manga Disaster Prediction Spurs Travel Cancellations"

    In recent weeks, a previously obscure manga has captured headlines in Japan and internationally. "The Future I Saw" (Watashi ga Mita Mirai), by author Ryo Tatsuki, suggests Japan will experience a massive natural disaster in July 2025. This forecast

    Feb 20,2026
  • Valhalla Survival challenges your boss-slaying skills with new raid content and Nightmare Mode

    Chapter 6 of Nightmare Mode is now availableNew boss, Idun, Night Eternal joins the frayBalance adjustments includedIf you’ve finished exploring Niflheim last month, Lionheart Studio is kicking off the Halloween season with Chapter 6 of Nightmare Mod

    Feb 19,2026