Summary
- LocalThunk mocked Balatro's PEGI 18 rating, describing it as "comedy."
- The Canadian developer sarcastically pondered whether he should add real gambling mechanics to Balatro in order to get a lower rating, pointing to EA Sports FC 25 as an example of a PEGI 3-rated game with such features.
- PEGI says Balatro's unusually high rating is due to it teaching poker mechanics, which can be used for gambling.
Balatro developer LocalThunk mocked the Pan-European Game Information system for its harsh rating of his hit deck-building roguelike. Balatro was previously given a PEGI 18 rating.
LocalThunk is a one-man developer based out of Canada. While he keeps his identity hidden from the public, the Balatro creator has been fairly active on social media even before his debut game took the world by storm in early 2024.
In yet another testament to this trend, LocalThunk took to Twitter on December 15 to criticize Balatro's PEGI 18 rating. He sarcastically pondered whether he should add real gambling mechanics like loot boxes in order to receive a lower rating, specifically name-dropping EA Sports FC 25 as an example of a PEGI 3-rated game with such a feature set. The fact that EA's latest football sim received the lowest PEGI rating while Balatro got the highest one is something LocalThunk described as "comedy" in conclusion.
PEGI Cites Balatro's Poker Theme as Reason for High Rating
The PEGI database states that Balatro's high age rating is a result of it featuring "prominent gambling imagery" which teaches people how to play real-life poker. LocalThunk famously doesn't play poker at all, having said as much in a February 2024 interview with PC Gamer. Half a year later, the developer wrote on social media that he hated the thought of Balatro ever being used to promote gambling so much that he made a will stipulating the IP can never be sold or licensed to any gambling entity. So, although Balatro's ruleset definitely has some overlap with poker, it's in no way meant to be an endorsement of the game.
Balatro Has a Much Lower ESRB Rating
Balatro also doesn't feature the gambling aspect of poker, as players cannot make wagers during runs. ESRB recognized this distinction in its own rating, which is why it classified Balatro as suitable for everyone aged 10 and up. Even Germany's USK, which is historically stricter with ratings than PEGI, categorized Balatro as suitable for ages 12 and above.
LocalThunk's recent tweet isn't the first occasion on which the Canadian developer criticized PEGI's handling of his game. During a March 2024 Reddit AMA, LocalThunk labeled the rating as "unwarranted" and disappointing. PEGI's restrictive age rating didn't stop Balatro from becoming a huge hit, with the game selling over 3.5 million copies as of mid-December 2024. Balatro also had an amazing showing at The Game Awards 2024 by winning three accolades, tying Metaphor: ReFantazio for the second-most wins at the ceremony.
Sources: PC Gamer, LocalThunk / Twitter, ESRB, USK, LocalThunk / Reddit
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 100%
- Released
- February 20, 2024
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes
- Developer(s)
- LocalThunk
- Publisher(s)
- Playstack
- Engine
- LÖVE
WHERE TO PLAY
Balatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder all about creating powerful synergies and winning big.
The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.
Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds. Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. You’re going to need every edge you can get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante and secure victory
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Digital Card Game, Roguelike
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
