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

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, addresses concerns that the initial PEGI 18 rating—a classification shared with games like Grand Theft Auto—was overly harsh. The developer, Localthunk, announced the change on Twitter.

This isn't Balatro's first brush with regulatory issues; it was briefly removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns about its depiction of gambling mechanics. However, the game doesn't involve real-money transactions; in-game currency is used solely to purchase cards within each playthrough.

The PEGI 18 rating stemmed largely from the game's use of gambling-related imagery, a point of contention that led to the misclassification. This inaccurate rating also impacted Balatro's mobile versions, despite the prevalence of in-app purchases in many mobile games.

The reclassification to PEGI 12 provides a more accurate reflection of Balatro's content. For those now considering trying the game, a tier list of Jokers—game-changing cards—is available to help guide your strategy.