Frequent readers (and why wouldn't you be?) might remember the peculiar story from last year about Balatro, the roguelike deckbuilder, which was initially slapped with a PEGI 18 rating. This placed it in the same league as games like Grand Theft Auto, a decision that left many, including the developer, scratching their heads.
However, it appears that the PEGI ratings board has acknowledged their mistake and has reclassified Balatro with a more suitable PEGI 12 rating. Developer Localthunk shared this update on Twitter, crediting the appeal made by the game's publisher to the board for this change.
This isn't the first time Balatro has faced scrutiny from external organizations. The game was temporarily removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns about its gambling-like content. Yet, it's worth noting that players can't actually win real money or place bets; the only use of currency in the game is to buy more cards within each run.
As mentioned earlier, one of the primary reasons for the initial harsh rating was the game's use of gambling-adjacent imagery. It's ironic that the depiction of a straight flush or a flush could be considered as severe as vehicular homicide in GTA.
The misclassification also affected other platforms, including mobile, despite the widespread presence of in-app purchases across many games. It's a relief that the rating has been corrected, though it should not have been an issue to begin with.
If this news piques your interest in trying out Balatro, why not check out our tier list of Jokers? It'll help you decide which of these game-changing cards are worth your attention and which ones you might want to skip.
