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NewsGaming NewsDec 17, 2024

Balatro 18+ Rating: Is PEGI Wrong About "Evil Cards"?

Indie card game Balatro gets an 18+ rating from PEGI for "teaching gambling," while loot box-filled games get a pass. Is the rating system broken?

Gaming Journalist2 min read
Balatro Dev Flips Out Over "Evil Playing Cards" 18+ Rating art
Balatro Dev Flips Out Over "Evil Playing Cards" 18+ Rating art

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183 words · 2 min read

GameFused Editorial

Balatro Dev Flips Out Over "Evil Playing Cards" 18+ Rating

The indie game Balatro just got an 18+ rating from PEGI, and the developer is not happy. But why? Apparently, it's all because of... playing cards?

Here's the deal:

  • Balatro uses mechanics inspired by poker.
  • PEGI slapped it with an 18+ rating because it "teaches gambling."
  • The developer thinks this is ridiculous, especially since games with loot boxes (think random in-game purchases) get a measly 3+ rating. Talk about mixed messages!

What's the dev saying?

He's basically like, "Seriously? My game doesn't involve real money gambling, but these loot box games do? Come on, PEGI!"

Should you care?

Well, it's a good point. Are games with cartoon characters and random item drops really less risky than learning some basic poker strategy?

The bottom line:

This whole situation highlights a potential issue with game ratings. Maybe it's time for a refresh? ‍

P.S. Don't worry, Balatro is still totally worth checking out, even if you can't count cards in real life. Just maybe avoid Vegas with the dev... dude seems cursed with bad luck.

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Nathan Drake Wells Art

About the author

Gaming Journalist

A lifelong gamer who traded spreadsheets for screenshots, Nathan has been dissecting game mechanics and industry trends since the SNES era. With a background in software development and a particular fondness for RPGs and strategy games, he brings both technical insight and player perspective to his analysis. When not writing or gaming, he's probably tinkering with game mods or attempting to convince people that Dark Souls is actually a relaxing experience.

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