How many games are M-rated?

How Many Games are M-Rated?

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is responsible for assigning a rating to video games based on their content, including violence, sexual themes, strong language, and more. One of the ESRB’s ratings is "M" for Mature, which is suitable only for players aged 17 years and over. But how many games actually earn this rating?

According to a report by the ESRB, only 12 percent of physical and console downloadable games released during 2022 received an M rating. This translates to a relatively small proportion of games that are deemed suitable only for adult audiences.

What are the ESRB’s Criteria for an M Rating?

The ESRB takes a comprehensive approach to evaluating games and assesses several factors, including:

• Violence: games with intense violence, blood and gore, or realistic depictions of death are more likely to receive an M rating
• Sexual Themes: games that include suggestive content, nudity, or explicit sexuality may be rated M
• Strong Language: games with frequent or egregious use of strong language may earn an M rating
• Crude Humor: games with content that is intended to be humorous or comedic but may be offensive or immature in nature may be rated M
• Simulated Gambling: games that allow players to engage in simulated gambling, including games of chance or wagering, may be rated M
• Drugs: games that feature explicit drug use, drug dealing, or promoting the use of drugs may earn an M rating

Examples of M-Rated Games

Some notable games that have received an M rating in recent years include:

• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, a survival horror game with intense violence and gore
• Gone Home, a first-person exploration game that contains suggestive themes and strong language
• Grand Theft Auto V, an open-world game with mature themes, including drug use and strong language
• The Last of Us Part II, an action-adventure game with intense violence and mature themes
• Mortal Kombat 11, a fighting game with intense violence and graphic Fatalities

Comparison to Other Ratings

The M rating is considered a more restrictive rating than the other two adult-only ratings: AO (Adults Only) and AO-18. The AO rating is intended for games that are deemed too extreme or controversial for the M rating, and includes explicit sexual content, graphic violence, and drug use. The AO-18 rating is a variation of the AO rating and is intended for games that are released digitally only.

Conclusion

The number of games that receive an M rating may seem relatively small compared to the total number of games released each year. However, this does not diminish the importance of this rating category. The M rating is designed to protect children and young teenagers from exposure to mature content and ensures that games are marketed and consumed by an adult audience only.

Ultimately, game developers and publishers must comply with the ESRB’s ratings criteria to ensure that their games are sold or distributed in a responsible manner.