Frequent readers (and why wouldn't you be?) may recall one of the more peculiar stories from last year about Balatro, the roguelike deckbuilder, which was initially classified with a PEGI 18 rating by the ratings board. This put it in the same category as mature content like Grand Theft Auto, leaving many, including the developer, baffled by the decision.
However, PEGI has since recognized their mistake and reclassified Balatro to a more fitting PEGI 12 rating. Developer Localthunk announced this change on Twitter, attributing it to an appeal made by Balatro's publisher to the ratings board.
This isn't the first time Balatro has faced scrutiny from external organizations. It was briefly 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 only use of cash is as an abstract means to purchase more cards during each run.
The house always wins
One of the primary reasons for Balatro's initial classification was its depiction of gambling-adjacent imagery. Essentially, the concern was that players might learn about concepts like a straight flush or a flush, which was deemed as severe as vehicular homicide in games like GTA.
This classification also affected its availability on mobile platforms, despite the widespread presence of in-app purchases in many games. While it's better late than never for this correction, the initial misclassification should not have occurred.
If this news piques 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 your attention and which ones to avoid.
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