How to Read ESRB Ratings and Content Descriptors

An ESRB rating has two parts: a letter that suggests the age range and content descriptors that explain what in the game drove that rating. Learn both and you can judge most games from the box alone.

By Alex Morgan Oct 11, 2026 7 min read

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Here's how to read ESRB ratings: start with the letter, then check the content descriptors to see what earned it. An ESRB rating has two parts: rating symbols suggest age appropriateness for the game, and content descriptors indicate elements in a game that may have triggered the rating ^[1].

You'll find the rating symbol on the front of the packaging, and the content descriptors, where applicable, are on the back ^[2]. So the front gives you the first answer, and the back gives you the reason behind it.

The rule of thumb is to read the letter first, then the descriptors to see what the letter is based on. This article walks through each part, from what the letters mean to the interactive elements that cover online play and purchases.

What do the letters like E, T and M mean?

The letter on a game's packaging is the quickest way to judge whether it suits the player's age. Rating categories suggest age appropriateness, so each letter points to the audience the game was made for ^[3]. A higher letter means more mature content, so you can read the letters as a ladder: the further up you go, the older the intended player. Related reading: How to Set Up Parental Controls on Consoles for Kids.

E for Everyone

E is the rating you will see most often. "E" (Everyone) is by far the most common category, so most games you pick up will carry it ^[4].

The Everyone category covers content that is generally suitable for all ages. It may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language ^[3]. For a young child, an E means the game is aimed at a broad audience, not only older kids.

Higher letters mean more mature content

Moving up the ladder, the content gets stronger. Everyone 10+ is generally suitable for ages 10 and up ^[3]. It may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes ^[3].

Teen is generally suitable for ages 13 and up and may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor and/or infrequent use of strong language ^[3]. Mature 17+ is generally suitable for ages 17 and up and may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language ^[3].

So a Mature 17+ game is a poor fit for a 12-year-old, even if it looks like a game they already enjoy. Start with the letter, then decide which step fits the player in your home.

Close-up of a game case corner showing a small square rating badge, held in a parent's hand.

What do the content descriptors tell you beyond the letter?

The content descriptors tell you what sits behind a rating, which the letter alone does not show. Content descriptors indicate content that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern to some consumers ^[5]. In other words, the descriptor line answers the question the letter leaves open: what kind of content is in the game.

Two games can carry the same letter and still differ a lot. A Teen game may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language ^[3]. If one Teen game lists simulated gambling and another lists only mild violence, both are Teen, but they will not feel the same to a family.

The descriptors also show you what pushed a game into a higher category. A Mature 17+ game may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language ^[3]. If the descriptor line for a game you are considering names blood and gore, you know that is the content behind its rating.

Use the descriptors to match a game to your own limits, not just the age on the letter. Say your child handles cartoon fighting well, but you want to avoid bloody scenes. Read the descriptor line first. If it names blood or intense violence, the game may not fit, even if the letter is one you would otherwise accept.

A Teen game with simulated gambling in its descriptors may suit a 14-year-old but not a household that wants to keep gambling themes out of play. The same letter can lead to different decisions depending on which descriptor appears.

The descriptors point to specific elements in the game that may have triggered the rating ^[1]. Treat each one as a question: is this something you are comfortable with for your child?

The back of a video game case showing a row of small content icons beside a block of small print.

Does an ESRB rating cover online play and in-game purchases?

Not entirely. The letter tells you the suggested age range, but ESRB's guide handles interactive elements as a separate topic, not as part of the rating categories ^[3]. If online play or spending matters to you, you need to look at that section too. For a closer look, read A Parent's Guide to Video Games.

The guide's navigation lists Rating Categories, Content Descriptors, Interactive Elements and Rating Summaries as separate sections ^[3]. Interactive Elements is the one that goes beyond what appears on screen. It covers features beyond the game's content, so it is where you look for information about how the game works with other people and with money.

Why does this matter? A game can carry a low letter and still let your child play with strangers or offer purchases you would rather know about first. The letter tells you about suitable content for an age group. It does not tell you how the game is played with others.

Here is a simple way to use all three parts when you shop:

Read the letter on the front of the box for the suggested age range ^[3].
Turn the box over and read the content descriptors to see what drove the rating.
Look up the game's interactive elements information in the ESRB ratings guide, and read it closely if chat, multiplayer or spending is a concern.

Think of it this way. If the letter fits your child's age but the game includes online chat with other players, the letter alone will not raise that concern. The interactive elements section is where you can see it before you buy.

Use the guide as one input, not the whole decision. Pair what you learn from the letter and descriptors with what you know about your own child and how they like to play.

Where do you find the rating on a game?

The rating symbol is on the front of the box, and the content descriptors are on the back. ^[2]

Ads for the game carry the rating too, so you can check before you buy online or in a store. ^[6]

Look at the front of the game's packaging for the rating symbol. ^[2]
Turn the box over to find the content descriptors, where applicable. Some games carry none, so an empty back panel is not unusual. ^[2]
Check the ad for the rating before you buy online or in a store. ^[6]

In a store, start with the front of the box, since that is where the symbol is. Pick up the box and find the symbol before you read anything else. If it is a game for a younger child, turn the box over next and read the descriptors on the back.

Online is different, because the listing or ad is often your only view of the package. Say you are buying a shooter for a 12-year-old. Open the listing, find the rating symbol first, and then look for the descriptors in the box image or the product details if they are shown.

Once you have the symbol and any descriptors, you have the two pieces you need to judge the game. The next step is reading what each one means.

How is an ESRB rating decided, and what should you keep in mind?

A rating comes from two inputs: the material the publisher submits, and a review by the rating board. The publisher provides questionnaires and video footage of the game, and the board reviews that material before a rating is set. ^[7]

Because the publisher supplies the material, the rating reflects only what the board reviewed. Anything the submitted footage and answers did not show falls outside the rating. That makes a rating a guide, not a guarantee that every player will have the same experience.

The ESRB describes its rating system as an unbiased, standardized way to help you decide whether a game is appropriate for your child. ^[8] The standard stays consistent from game to game, but it is still a starting point rather than the final word on your family's limits.

For a quick decision, don't rely on one piece. Combine three things: the letter, the content descriptors, and the interactive elements notice. Read them together rather than stopping at the first one you see.

Here is how that plays out. Say a game's letter fits your child's age, but its descriptors name a kind of content you would rather avoid. The letter alone suggests the game is fine, while the descriptors show why you might still say no.

Now add the interactive notice. If it covers online play with strangers, that is a separate concern the letter never addresses. If any one of the three conflicts with your limits, the game is probably not a good fit, even when the other two look fine.

How do you put it together when you pick a game?

Start with the letter, then read the descriptors, and check the interactive elements if online play or spending matters to you. Used together, these three parts give you a fair picture of a game before you buy it.

Begin with the letter for the suggested age range. A Teen rating means content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up ^[3]. That gives you a starting point, but it doesn't tell you why the game got that rating.

Next, read the content descriptors to see what drove the rating. Descriptors indicate elements in a game that may have triggered its rating ^[1]. If the list names strong language and you're buying for a younger child, you know exactly what to weigh.

Last, check the interactive elements if online play or in-game purchases matter to you.

Next step: the next time you pick up a game, read the letter, then the descriptors, and decide before you pay.