Balatro, an innovative card game with roguelike mechanics, has been one of the most outstanding titles of the year, achieving important nominations at events such as The Game Awards 2024However, despite its success, the creator of the game, known as LocalThunk, is facing an unexpected controversy due to the age rating assigned to it by the European agency PEGI.
PEGI has given the game an 18+ rating, something that has caused outrage among its developer.According to the organization, the ranking is based on the fact that Balatro “teaches skills and knowledge that could be applied in real-world poker games.” This decision has negatively impacted the perception and visibility of the game, something that LocalThunk has not hesitated to publicly criticize.
The Irony of Ratings: Is Balatro More Harmful Than EA Sports FC?
In a message on his social networks, LocalThunk expressed his displeasure with an ironic tone: “It seems that microtransactions, lootboxes or real bets should be added to the game to get it downgraded to +3, like EA Sports FC.” This statement points directly to the contradiction in PEGI’s criteria. While Balatro, a title that contains no monetization elements, receives a restrictive rating, EA Sports FC 25, which includes mechanics such as loot boxes and in-app purchases, is rated XNUMX+.
The developer noted that while PEGI warns against in-app purchases in EA Sports FC, it also states that the game can be enjoyed without spending any money. This double standard, according to LocalThunk, is unfair and detrimental to indie games like Balatro.
Since PEGI gave us an 18+ rating for having evil playing cards maybe I should add microtransactions/loot boxes/real gambling to lower that rating to 3+ like EA sports FC
— localthunk (@LocalThunk) December 15, 2024
What does this classification mean for Balatro?
PEGI's decision not only affects the game's image, but also its marketing. A +18 rating means that Balatro has less visibility on digital sales platforms, as many e-stores impose additional restrictions on this type of content. This is a significant barrier, especially for indie titles that rely heavily on reach in these digital storefronts.
Furthermore, The rating damages public perception, associating the game with inappropriate or controversial content, when in reality its essence lies in a creative and strategic experience. LocalThunk considers this label to be an injustice to independent developers, who do not have the necessary resources to counteract this type of decisions in regulatory bodies.
Why is Balatro +18?
According to PEGI, the main reason for giving such a high rating is that the game includes “card content that replicates real skills used to play poker.” According to the organization, these mechanics could easily be transferred to a real gambling game, something they consider inappropriate for underage players.
However, the creator claims that this approach is completely decontextualized. Balatro does not promote or teach betting or games of chance, but rather uses cards in a conceptual and creative way within a completely fictional and playful framework. For many, this decision by PEGI seems exaggerated and disconnected from the reality of the game.
The paradox of EA Sports FC
In contrast, LocalThunk has pointed out how a title like EA Sports FC, famous for introducing loot boxes, still has a much lower PEGI rating (+3). These boxes have been rated by experts and authorities in several countries as a form of «aggressive monetization», and have even been compared to real gambling mechanics. Despite this, PEGI places the responsibility on parents, indicating that it is their duty to supervise the activities of minors in these types of games.
This contrast has been the trigger for criticism, where LocalThunk questions consistency in ranking standardsWhile a game like Balatro, with no lucrative elements, is restricted for “teaching poker skills,” EA Sports FC faces fewer restrictions despite incorporating systems that have been the cause of international controversy.
This controversy has opened a broader debate about how age rating agencies apply their criteria and whether they should be reviewed to ensure greater equity, especially for independent titles that face obvious inequalities compared to productions from large corporations.
The controversy between Balatro and PEGI has brought into focus the need for a change in rating policies. The perception that a double standard is applied based on the business model behind the game is something that has not gone unnoticed by the gaming community and industry experts.