The European game rating regulator, PEGI, has officially downgraded the age rating of the popular deck-building roguelike, Balatro, from 18+ to 12. This follows a successful complaint lodged by the game's European publisher, Sold Out Sales & Marketing.

Balatro, developed by the anonymous Canadian developer LocalThunk, achieved international acclaim upon its release in February 2024 despite limited European visibility due to its initial adult-only classification. PEGI's initial decision cited the game's poker theme, arguing it could serve as a gateway to gambling by teaching players real-life poker. This rationale was repeatedly challenged by LocalThunk on social media.

The publisher's complaint resulted in a two-category reduction in the rating. The PEGI Complaints Board stated, "Although the game explains the various hands of poker, the roguelike deck-building game contained mitigating fantastical elements that warranted a PEGI 12 rating."

Balatro's revised rating highlights a need for change within PEGI's classification system. The organization has tasked its experts with developing more nuanced criteria to better distinguish between games that glorify gambling and those that simply incorporate gambling-related imagery.

PEGI acknowledged the need for evolution, stating, "The PEGI system continuously evolves in line with cultural expectations and the guidance of independent experts."  This suggests the Balatro case will inform a significant shift in their 21-year-old approach.

The recent PEGI Complaints Board session also saw a similar age rating revision for the relaxing deck-building roguelike, Luck Be a Landlord. Initially given an 18+ rating due to its slot machine mechanic, where players gamble their last coin to pay rent, the game's rating was also downgraded to PEGI 12 following a complaint from publisher Fangamer. This decision further underscores PEGI's reconsideration of how it evaluates gambling-related content, particularly in games with satirical or critical undertones.

LocalThunk welcomed the decision as a positive step toward a more nuanced classification process, hoping it will prevent developers from being unfairly penalized for creative choices. While PEGI has not provided a specific timeline for the completion of its new classification criteria, the changes prompted by the Balatro case promise a more refined approach to rating games with gambling themes.