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

Balatro's PEGI rating revised to 12 after initial PEGI 18 classification sparks controversy.

The roguelike deckbuilder, Balatro, initially received a PEGI 18 rating, a classification typically reserved for mature titles like Grand Theft Auto. This surprised developers and players alike, given the game's content.

However, following an appeal by the publisher, the PEGI board has corrected its assessment, reclassifying Balatro as PEGI 12. Developer Localthunk announced the news on Twitter.

This isn't Balatro's first brush with regulatory issues. The game was briefly removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns about its depiction of gambling mechanics, despite the absence of real-money transactions or betting. The game uses in-game currency to purchase cards, a mechanic deemed problematic by some rating boards.

The PEGI 18 rating stemmed from the game's use of gambling-related imagery, a detail that apparently led to its initial comparison with violent titles. This misclassification also affected Balatro's mobile release, despite the prevalence of in-app purchases in mobile gaming.

While the corrected PEGI 12 rating is welcomed, the initial misjudgment highlights inconsistencies in video game rating systems. The experience underscores the need for clearer guidelines and a more nuanced approach to assessing games with potentially controversial elements.

For those intrigued by Balatro, a tier list of Jokers is available to help players strategize their card selections.