Balatro, the roguelike deckbuilder, has received a PEGI rating reclassification, moving from PEGI 18 to PEGI 12. This decision, following an appeal by the publisher to the ratings board, corrects an initial assessment that placed Balatro in the same category as mature titles like Grand Theft Auto, a classification that surprised both the developer, Localthunk, and many players.
The initial PEGI 18 rating stemmed from the game's depiction of gambling-related imagery, despite the fact that Balatro doesn't involve real-money transactions or betting. Players use in-game currency to purchase cards, a mechanic misinterpreted by the ratings board. This misclassification also impacted Balatro's availability on mobile platforms, a common issue despite the prevalence of in-app purchases in mobile games.
Interestingly, Balatro previously faced temporary removal from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns about its gambling content, highlighting the challenges developers face navigating varying interpretations of game mechanics. The PEGI 12 reclassification provides a more accurate reflection of the game's content and offers a fairer comparison to other titles in its genre.
Now that Balatro has a more appropriate rating, those interested in trying this roguelike deckbuilder might find our tier list of Jokers helpful in determining which cards offer the most strategic advantage.
