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

by Emily Mar 16,2025

Balatro, the roguelike deckbuilder, has received a PEGI rating reclassification, moving from PEGI 18 to PEGI 12. This follows an appeal by the publisher to the ratings board, correcting an initial assessment that placed it alongside mature titles like Grand Theft Auto. The developer, Localthunk, announced the change on Twitter.

This isn't Balatro's first brush with regulatory issues; it was briefly removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns about gambling content, despite the game not involving real money transactions. The use of in-game currency to purchase cards was misinterpreted.

The PEGI 18 rating stemmed from the depiction of gambling-related imagery, a misinterpretation that also affected the game's mobile platform classification. This highlights inconsistencies in rating systems across platforms, especially concerning in-app purchases, which are commonplace in mobile gaming.

While the reclassification is a positive development, it underscores the challenges developers face in navigating varying interpretations of game content by rating boards. For those intrigued by Balatro, a tier list of Jokers is available to help players strategize their card choices.