The ESRB rating system is an unbiased, standardized way to help you determine whether an Xbox® or Xbox 360™ video game is appropriate for your child. Ratings are determined by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The ESRB is a self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). ESRB independently applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles adopted by the industry.
The ESRB has a Web site at http://www.esrb.org/ (available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Portugese) so that parents and consumers can access up-to-date rating information.
ESRB Rating Symbols
EARLY CHILDHOOD Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
EVERYONE Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language. Find all E games.
EVERYONE 10+ Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10+) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, and/or minimal suggestive themes. Find all E10+ games.
TEEN Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language. Find all T games.
MATURE Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and/or strong language. Find all M games.
RATING PENDING Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game's release. Find all RP games.
ADULTS ONLY Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.
To take full advantage of the ESRB rating system, it's important to check both the rating symbol (on the front of the game box) and the content descriptors (on the back of the game box).
ESRB Content Descriptors
Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages
Animated Blood - Cartoon or pixilated depictions of blood
Blood - Depictions of blood
Blood and Gore - Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts
Cartoon Violence - Violent actions involving cartoon-like characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted
Comic Mischief - Scenes depicting slapstick or gross vulgar humor
Crude Humor - Moderately vulgar antics, including bathroom humor
Drug Reference - Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs
Edutainment - Content of product provides user with specific skills development or reinforcement learning within an entertainment setting. Skill development is an integral part of product
Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life
Real Gambling - Betting like behavior
Informational - Overall content of product contains data, facts, resource information, reference materials or instructional text
Intense Violence - Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons, and depictions of human injury and death
Mature Humor - Vulgar and/or crude jokes and antics including "bathroom" humor
Mature Sexual Themes - Provocative material, possibly including partial nudity
Language - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use
Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music
Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
Partial Nudity - Brief and mild depictions of nudity
Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or other sexual acts
Some Adult Assistance May Be Needed - Early Childhood Descriptor only
Strong Language - Profanity and explicit references to sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use
Strong Lyrics - Profanity and explicit references to sex, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music
Strong Sexual Content - Graphic depiction of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity
Suggestive Themes - Mild provocative references or materials
Tobacco Reference - Reference to and/or images of tobacco products
Use of Drugs - The consumption or use of illegal drugs
Use of Alcohol - The consumption of alcoholic beverages
Use of Tobacco - The consumption of tobacco products
Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict
Are there parental control settings on the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems?
You can limit the type of content played on the Xbox video game system based on the ESRB rating level. By default, the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems are set to play all content. You can select separate parental control levels for games and DVD movies.
Xbox and Xbox 360 will play games and DVD movies that are rated at or below the selected level. For example, if the selected level is Teen (T), games rated T, E10+, E, and EC will play in the system. If you choose any level other than ALL, you must select a pass code.
