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

Balatro, the roguelike deckbuilder, has received a significant reclassification by the PEGI ratings board, moving from a PEGI 18 to a PEGI 12 rating. This decision follows an appeal by the publisher, correcting what many, including the developer Localthunk, considered an overly harsh and inaccurate initial assessment. The PEGI 18 rating initially placed Balatro in the same content category as games like Grand Theft Auto, a comparison that baffled players and developers alike.

This isn't Balatro's first brush with controversy; it was briefly removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns about its depiction of gambling mechanics. Despite the game not offering real-money gambling or betting, the use of in-game currency to purchase cards was apparently misinterpreted.

The initial PEGI 18 rating stemmed largely from the game's use of gambling-related imagery, a seemingly disproportionate reaction given the lack of actual gambling. This misclassification unfortunately extended to mobile platforms, despite the prevalence of in-app purchases in most mobile games.

While the revised PEGI 12 rating is a welcome correction, the incident highlights the inconsistencies and potential for misinterpretation within video game rating systems. If this news has piqued your interest, consider checking out our Balatro Joker tier list to help you strategize your deckbuilding!