Balatro Wins Appeal to Overturn 8+ Classification in Europe

The recent decision from the Complaints Board has stirred quite a conversation in the gaming community. They determined that while this unique roguelike deck-building game does provide an explanation of poker hands, it also includes imaginative elements that justify its PEGI 12 rating.

Balatro, which launched in February 2024, quickly found itself at the center of controversy when its rating skyrocketed from 3+ to a whopping 18+ due to “prominent gambling imagery.” This abrupt change led to the game being temporarily pulled from shelves in certain countries. In response, Playstack, the game’s publisher, assured fans they would address these concerns with PEGI. Meanwhile, the game’s developer, LocalThunk, didn’t mince words, labeling the situation as a “comedy” and highlighting the inconsistency with the EA Sports FC series, which still holds a 3+ rating despite including loot boxes—often criticized for resembling gambling.

In a similar twist, the rating for the slot machine-inspired game Luck Be a Landlord, published by Fangamer, faced a downgrade today following an appeal. Moving forward, PEGI has committed to refining their classification criteria, aiming to better address gambling themes along with how it’s simulated, taught, or glamorized across different age categories.

LocalThunk took to Bluesky to express optimism about these changes, saying, “This new direction by PEGI is promising, adding much-needed nuance where it was previously all-or-nothing with an 18+ rating. It’s a move that hopefully gives developers the breathing room they need to innovate without the fear of unjust penalties.”