Frequent readers of our site (and why wouldn't you be?) might remember the unusual situation last year when Balatro, the engaging roguelike deckbuilder, was initially slapped with a PEGI 18 rating. This placed it in the same category as games like Grand Theft Auto, which left many, including the game's developer, scratching their heads in confusion.
However, it seems that the ratings board at PEGI has acknowledged their oversight and has now reclassified Balatro to a more fitting PEGI 12 rating. This change came after an appeal from the game's publisher, as announced by developer Localthunk on Twitter. This reclassification puts Balatro on a more level playing field, aligning it better with its actual content.
This isn't the first time Balatro has faced scrutiny from external organizations. It was previously removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns over its perceived gambling content. Yet, it's important to note that players cannot win real money or place bets in the game; the use of cash is purely abstract and used only to purchase more cards during each run.
As previously mentioned, one of the primary reasons for Balatro's initial rating was its depiction of gambling-related imagery. The idea that players might learn what a straight flush or a flush is was considered as severe as vehicular homicide in GTA, which is quite a stretch.
The initial classification also affected Balatro's availability on mobile platforms, despite the widespread presence of in-app purchases in many other games. While it's better late than never for the rating to be corrected, it's frustrating that it happened at all.
If this news has piqued your interest in trying out Balatro, why not check out our tier list of Jokers? It's a great resource to discover which of these game-changing cards are worth your attention and which ones you might want to skip.
