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

Frequent readers (and why wouldn't you be?) may recall one of the more oddball stories last year about Balatro, the roguelike deckbuilder, which was initially classified as PEGI 18 by rating boards. This rating placed it on the same level as games like Grand Theft Auto, which naturally baffled many, including the developer.

However, it appears that PEGI has recognized their mistake and reclassified Balatro to the more suitable PEGI 12 rating. According to developer Localthunk, who shared the news on Twitter, this change came about partly due to an appeal by Balatro's publisher to the board.

This isn't the first time Balatro has faced challenges from external organizations. It was briefly removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns over its perceived gambling content. This happened despite the fact that players cannot win real money or place bets, and the only use of currency in the game is as an abstract means to purchase more cards within each run.

The house always wins
As mentioned earlier, one of the primary reasons for the initial PEGI 18 rating was the depiction of gambling-related imagery. Essentially, the game was considered as severe as vehicular homicide in GTA because it might teach someone what a straight flush or a flush is.

The misclassification was frustrating, especially since it affected platforms like mobile as well. This occurred despite the widespread presence of in-app purchases across many mobile games. So, while it's better late than never, the initial classification should not have happened in the first place.

If this news has piqued your interest in trying out Balatro, why not check out our tier list of Jokers? It will help you determine which of these game-changing cards are worth using and which ones to avoid.