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Mortal Kombat 12 is coming soon and it is going to be everywhere. It may not garner the national attention of a game like Grand Theft Auto 6, but it is a high enough profile that everyone who is into games will be aware of it (especially our kids). There will be clips of the violence all over social media, and streamers will be playing it like mad. This is going to influence a lot of kids (maybe even your own) to ask for it. Below is all the information we have about it so far so you can make an informed decision about whether or not to let your kids play.

What We Know About Mortal Kombat 12 So Far

All that we know about Mortal Kombat 12 is that it is in development and will be released by the end of the year.

The MK team released a video on 05/01/2023 that hinted at things to come!

What is the Mortal Kombat 12 Release Date?

We don’t have a confirmed release date yet. We don’t even really have a release window yet. There is still a lot of 2023 left though, so it is possible it could release this year if it is announced during the summer.


What Kind of Game is it?

Mortal Kombat is a popular video game franchise that has been around since the early 90s. At its core, Mortal Kombat is a fighting game that features a cast of characters with unique abilities and move sets. Players fight against each other in one-on-one battles until one player is declared the winner. The game is known for its emphasis on gore and violence, with finishing moves (fatalities) that are designed to be graphic and over-the-top.

One of the core MK elements that draw a lot of attention is the Fatality system. Each best-of-three match ends with an opportunity for the victor to input a special move and be “rewarded” with an intensely violent animated scene where their character kills their opponent. These fatalities are so brutal that I honestly can’t even embed a video.

Franchise Popularity

Despite the controversy surrounding the franchise, Mortal Kombat remains popular among gamers. The franchise has sold over 49 million copies worldwide and has become a cultural icon in the gaming community. Fans eagerly await the release of each new installment, and Mortal Kombat 12 is no exception.

The Potential ESRB Rating for Mortal Kombat 12

One of the biggest concerns surrounding Mortal Kombat is the potential ESRB rating. The ESRB is the organization responsible for assigning age ratings to video games. Games are rated based on their content, with ratings ranging from “Everyone” to “Adults Only.” While we don’t know what rating Mortal Kombat 12 will receive, previous installments in the franchise have received “Mature” ratings. They simply are not intended for children. I can’t imagine a world where Mortal Kombat 12 doesn’t receive an M rating after review.

The only exception to the M ratings for MK games was a game called “Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.” This was a crossover game that featured Mortal Kombat characters facing off against DC heroes like Batman, The Flash, and Super-Man that was rated T for Teen.

Mortal Kombat 11 included the ESRB rating descriptors “Blood and Gore”, “Intense Violence,” and “Strong Language.” It sure does earn those descriptors, too. Matches are full of ultraviolent moves that show blow splashing, bones breaking, and internal organs being dismembered. I’m a grown man and I have trouble watching some of the fatalities.

It is Up to the Parents

Ultimately, it is up to parents to decide whether or not Mortal Kombat is appropriate for their children. While the game is not intended for children, some parents may feel comfortable allowing their children to play the game under their supervision. Others may choose to avoid the game altogether.

The Importance of Parental Controls and Monitoring

For parents who do choose to allow their children to play Mortal Kombat, it is important to set boundaries and monitor their children’s gameplay. Play with them if you can. This will give you a more complete view of the content they are consuming than any guide ever could. You should also talk to them about the games they are playing and the content in them so you can understand how the content is making them feel.


Alternatives to Mortal Kombat for Kids

There are plenty of alternative games that offer similar gameplay without the gore for parents who are uncomfortable with the violence in Mortal Kombat. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Street Fighter VI, and Tekken 7 are all popular fighting games that are rated either E 10+ (Super Smash Bros.) or T for Teen (Street Fighter and Tekken).

You can also check out our EFG Essentials lists for additional alternatives.

The EFG Essentials

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially announced that eSports are coming to the Olympics! 

The 2023 Olympic Esports Series is an exciting event that the whole family can enjoy together. For the first time, the series will feature live, in-person finals, giving talented players the chance to advance to the Olympic Esports Finals 2023. Hosted at Singapore’s Suntec Centre from June 22nd to 25th, these thrilling finals will be a major highlight of the newly announced Olympic Esports Week 2023.

Gathering in Singapore for this one-of-a-kind competition, participants will go head-to-head in front of enthusiastic fans, vying for the esteemed title of Olympic Esports Series champion. The (sure to be) electrifying finals will be streamed live on Olympics.com and Olympic social media channels.

“The Olympic Movement brings people together in peaceful competition. The Olympic Esports Series 2023 is a continuation of that, with the ambition of creating more spaces to play for both players and fans of elite competition. We look forward to witnessing some of the world’s best compete on the global stage, as well as exploring together shared opportunities and lessons – across health and wellbeing, training and innovation.”

David Lappartient, Chair of the IOC Esports Liaison Group 

Building on the success of the Olympic Virtual Series, the IOC’s new competition format aims to support the growth of virtual sports within the Olympic Movement. The 2021 series, held before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (which where delayed to the pandemic), saw over 250,000 participants from over 100 countries compete. 

The 2023 Olympic Esports Series shows how the Olympic Movement, gaming, and esports communities keep working together, creating fun and exciting chances for players and fans of all ages.

The events that will be included are:

  • Archery (in partnership with the World Archery Federation, played using Tic Tac Bow),
  • Baseball (in partnership with the World Baseball Softball Confederation, played using WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS),
  • Chess (in partnership with the International Chess Federation, played using Chess.com),
  • Cycling (in partnership with the UCI, played using Zwift),
  • Dance (in partnership with the World DanceSport Federation, played using JustDance)
  • Motor sport (in partnership with theFédération Internationale de l’Automobile, played using Gran Turismo).
  • Sailing (in partnership with the World Sailing, played using Virtual Regatta),
  • Taekwondo (World Taekwondo, played using Virtual Taekwondo)
  • Tennis (International Tennis Federation, played using Tennis Clash)

Is it Spelled “Esports” or “esports?”

The correct spelling is “esports” (with no capitalization).

I’m sure more than a few of you are questioning that since I spelled it two different ways in this article. The reason for the difference is that it is spelled Esports when included in the title of an event. Hope that clears it up!

What do you think? Are you going to watch these Olympics esports events? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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GTA6 is coming! And that means parents need to start paying attention. This game is rated M for a reason. It’s not appropriate for kids. In this blog post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about GTA6 (that we know so far) so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not it’s appropriate for your child.

GTA games are known for their violence, gore, and sexual content. GTA games have always been popular among kids and teens. GTAV was no different. The game was so popular that it sold over 11 million copies in its first week. That’s a lot of copies! And that means a lot of kids were playing it.

I’ve said it before on Engaged Family Gaming content. I’m not here to judge. You know your kids and your family better than any of us here at EFG do. So if you want to let them play, then by all means. Our goal is to provide as much information as we can about the content of the game so that you can make a real decision.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Is Going to be Everywhere

A recent report revealed that GTA6 is deep in development. We also know that Rockstar Games, the developer behind the game, has all hands on deck developing it. That tells us that an official announcement isn’t far off and the hype train for its launch will only start building from there. GTAV is one of the best-selling games of all time. Its successor will likely be a MONSTER. It will be a major topic in every available form of media once it releases. There won’t really be any way for you to avoid it.

And if you can’t avoid it, then your kids can’t either. They will see ads. They will likely watch streams and YouTube videos. And, more importantly, they’ll hear about it from other kids either at school, in sports, or on the bus. It is almost inevitable that they will ask for the game so we want to make sure you have all the information that you can so you can be prepared.


When is GTA 6 Coming Out?

We don’t have anything even close to a release date. But fans are speculating that it will be announced before the next Take 2 Earnings call on May 17th. It is worth mentioning that a reveal wouldn’t necessarily mean that a release is imminent, but they could announce a release window. If the reveal comes before May 17th, then there is an outside chance that GTA6 could release this Fall ahead of the Holiday season. But I think it is more likely that it would be released in 2024.

The Potential ESRB Rating

Grand Theft Auto 6 is still in development and doesn’t have a release date (or even a release window at this point.) That means we don’t have ESRB information about it yet. But, we can infer what the ESRB rating will be based on the rating information for GTA5. It was rated M for mature with the content descriptors “Blood and Gore,” “Intense Violence,” “Mature Humor,” “Nudity,” “Strong Language,” “Strong Sexual Content,” and “Use of Drugs and Alcohol.” That is quite the laundry list of mature descriptors.

Sexual Content and Violence Against Women

One thing that I think is worth being called out separately is the sexual content. Parents often think of violence when they think about GTA games. But, the sexual content is often either forgotten or isn’t even thought about at all. This leads parents who are less concerned about violence to let the game slide. (This is a pretty common thing in the US. Many parents are far more concerned about nudity and sexuality than they are about guns and violence.)

Another detail from the Bloomberg report is that GTA6 will feature a Latina protagonist. That is, admittedly, a big step for the franchise. It does mean that all of the violence being done against you while playing the game will likewise be done to a woman.

GTA Online 2?

GTA 5 included GTA Online which has been one of the most prolific online games of the last decade. In fact, “Shark Cash,” the game’s digital currency, generates more than $800 million annually. That kind of success isn’t something that Rockstar can ignore. It is very safe to assume that GTA 6 will include either GTA Online access OR access to a sequel to the smash hit online game.

GTA Online is a very different beast than the main game. It includes the expected content, but also the added “spice” of online interactions. The community that plays GTA Online is broad and robust and includes players of all ages. So this is definitely something parents will want to be aware of and consider.

The Choice is Ultimately in Parents’ Hands

So there you have it, parents. Everything you need to know about Grand Theft Auto 6. It’s coming out soon and it looks like it will be just as violent and explicit as its predecessors. Let us know what you think in the comments below! Are you going to let your kids play? or will you be staying away?

Looking For Alternatives to GTA 6?


If you are a parent looking into alternatives to buying GTA 6 for your kids, then look no further than the EFG Essentials. These are family-friendly games that the Engaged Family Gaming staff has vetted as high quality. None of them are rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

The EFG Essentials

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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The Nintendo Switch is wildly popular, and Nintendo is pairing it with an online subscription service similar to both Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus. Their service, called Nintendo Switch Online, launched in the fall of 2018 and is a great value for families looking to get more out of their Switch experience. 

The Pitch

Nintendo Switch Online is an annual subscription service that is required into order to play Nintendo Switch games like Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate online. It also includes bonus features like access to cloud saves, and access to a suite of NES and SNES games. Subscribers also get access to exclusive sales offers and Switch online exclusive games like Tetris 99. 

Nintendo Switch Online is an annual subscription service that is required into order to play Nintendo Switch games like Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate online. It also includes bonus features like access to cloud saves, and access to a suite of NES and SNES games. Subscribers also get access to exclusive sales offers and Switch online exclusive games like Tetris 99.

How Does it work?

You can subscribe to either Nintendo Switch Online (the base subscription) OR Nintendo Switch Online with Expansion Pack (the base subscription with additional features).

Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription-based service that can be purchased annually, or in smaller increments. The service needs to be maintained in order to continue the benefits and maintain access to the features. 

The service includes: 

Online Play – Online multiplayer gaming using the Nintendo Switch Online platform

NES and SNES – Nintendo Switch Online – Nintendo Switch Online members have access to curated library of more than 60 NES and Super NES classic games. The collection initially only includes NES games, but was updated a year later to include SNES titles. The curated library of games will grow over time. These games also include online competitive/cooperative play with friends. Certain games (like Super Mario Bros.) even include the ability to virtually pass the controller back and forth.

Save Data Cloud – Subscribers can back up their save game data to the cloud. This makes it easier to retrieve their save data if they lose their Switch or start to use a new one. It is worth mentioning that some games aren’t compatible with cloud saving. The most noteworthy examples are Pokemon Sword and Shield and the upcoming Animal Crossing: New Horizons. 

Smartphone App – Nintendo has released a smartphone app (available for iOS and Android). It syncs with the subscriber’s Nintendo account and includes some minor enhancements for different Switch games. You can also use it to use voice chat with your Nintendo friends as you play. (Certain games, like Fortnite, circumvent Nintendo’s app and allow voice chat through the game software itself. This isn’t universal though.)

Special Offers – Subscribers will have access to exclusive sales and product offerings. They have included controllers, discount game vouchers, and even an exclusive game (Tetris 99). 

Nintendo Switch Online With Expansion Pack

This subscription includes all of the benefits of the base subscription with the below additional benefits. 

Nintendo 64 Games

The Expansion pack includes Nintendo 64 games like Mario Kart 64

Gameboy Advance Games

The Expansion pack includes Game Boy Advance games like The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap and Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3.

Sega Genesis Games

The Expansion pack includes access to a collection of Sega Genesis games like Golden Axe and Sonic the Hedgehog.

Game Expansions

The Expansion Pack also includes the DLC to several popular Switch games like:

  • The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass
  • The Animal Crossing New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise Expansion
  • The Splatoon 2: Octo-Expansion

How Much Does it Cost?

Nintendo Switch Online can be purchased annually, quarterly, or monthly. The service also has a 7 day free trial. 

Annual Subscription: $19.99

3 Month Subscription: $7.99

1 Month Subscription: $3.99

Nintendo Switch Online also has a Family Membership option where up to 8 Nintendo Accounts can share an online subscription for $34.99 annually.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass can be purchased annually for $49.99. 

Advice

This basic Nintendo Switch Online service is a great value for families. The cost is relatively low at $20 a year and it includes a wide array of free games to play.

The Expansion Pack is a significant increase in price, but the fact that it includes additional DLC content for some the best Switch games on the market helps a lot.

If your kids aren’t interested in the NES/SNES games and only play Fortnite, then this is a service you can likely avoid. Fortnite doesn’t require an active subscription to play.

There are a ton of other premium video game services out there so we wrote guides for all of them.  Take a look below:

A Parent’s Guide to EA Origins Access

A Parent’s Guide to EA Access

A Parent’s Guide to the Xbox Game Pass

A Parent’s Guide to PlayStation Now

A Parent’s Guide to PlayStation Plus

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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Every week the EFG staff will be defining a gaming term that is either confusing or ill-defined. Please leave a comment with any terms you are confused by and we will try to include them in future editions!


Social Deduction is a mechanic found in both video games and board games. In a Social Deduction game, players have a hidden roll and/or objective and typically a person who betrays the other players. The other players try to deduce the roll of their opponents based in the choices and actions they take. In many Social Deduction games player roles are secretly assigned. Depending on their role, player may have a different win condition or objective.

These games often call for players to lie, be deceitful, and try and undermine the other players, which can be challenging for some, and especially for younger players.

Social Deduction games, especially with hidden traitors, often have themes suited for older kids and adults. The target audience typically included teens and up across both board and video games.

Board Game Example

Human Era, players are randomly and secretly assigned the role of crew members in the last time machine. Players need to save space and time from the chaos created by human time travel. However, there is a problem, some crew members are machines or cyborgs (half humans-half machines) who have their own agenda.

Other Board Game Examples

  • Shadows Over Camelot
  • Hand to Hand Wombat
  • Betrayal at House on the Hill

Video Game Example

Among Us is a popular online app and Steam game. Players are on a spaceship and there is at least one imposer, who is an alien. Players have to figure out the impostors, before the impostors kill too many humans. The humans try to decide who is a alien and throw them out of the ship.


Thinking critically about the games our kids play and the way that our kids play them provides great insight. It is also a great way to connect with them. You’ll understand the games they enjoy better. You might even enjoy them a little better too!

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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If you’re looking for some new games to keep your teens entertained, look no further! Here are 5 Meta Quest games that are sure to please. Each one is recommended by teens who knows what’s hot right now. So put down the phones and tablets, and get your (VR) family game on!

Note: You can read our report about VR safety for kids.

Beat Saber

Buy Beat Saber here

Imagine, dual-wielding light sabers, while red and blue boxes are rapidly flying toward you, your goal, cut the boxes in half. Now imagine that but with epic music in the background. The main premise cutting boxes to the rhythm of the music. with many styles of music from pop to county to rock there is a style for everyone. There is also a campaign that gives special win conditions for different levels in different difficulties, such as moving your hands a certain distance or only having a certain number of misses or incorrect cuts. In addition it also gives you a good arm workout and feels like you have actually been swinging around lightsabers at high speed. Doesn’t that sound fun? If it does, Beat Saber is the game for you. If it isn’t, your insane. Beat saber is a VR rhythm game where you’re trying to cut boxes out of the air, and its amazing.

Super Hot VR

Buy Super Hot VR here

If you have ever watched the Matrix and wanted to do that cool bullet time thing, SUPERHOT is the perfect game. Time only moves when you move, and only moves at the speed you move, making it an amazing puzzle shooter, where it makes you feel like an action movie star bobbing and weaving between an onslaught of bullets. Superhot forces you to pay attention to not moving at all when you assess a situation, while doing so moving around locations where you can throw weapons to yourself just before moving to that next location. It also has you make do with what is around you to defend yourself and attack the enemy. Fighting with everything from wine bottles and ashtrays, to ninja stars, to pistols and machine guns.

Moss

Buy Moss here

Moss is a third-person action game where you guide a mouse through a wildlife adventure. With beautiful graphics, fast-paced combat, and Zelda style puzzles, Its one of the best VR games for new players, as it takes a familiar genre, and puts it into a new perspective. Check out the impressions from the E3 Team in 2017 here.

Job Simulator

Buy Job Simulator here

Job Simulator is a physics-based VR game that is a basic simulation of how jobs work narrated and lead by JobBot. There are four jobs to choose from, office worker, gourmet chef, auto mechanic, and convenience store clerk. It uses floating CRT monitors to simulate people and interact with them, and it allows you to just mess with everything if you want. everything has physics and throwing things at the robots will cause them to respond. The tasks you are given range from giving a presentation to your coworkers to being on TV with CookBot Ramsey. It is a fun game you you can play for countless hours, changing different things every time, or going into infinite overtime narrated and lead by TempBot, which is and endless mode with countless other things to do. These things range from playing silly knockoff games on the computer, like flappy bot, to supping up a bots car for a street race.

Cooking Simulator

Buy Cooking Simulator here

Cooking simulator VR takes the chaos of working in a kitchen, but makes it harder by giving you semi-realistic physics. A super fast-paced, and chaotic physics game. It’s a must-have for those who like bringing their headset to parties, and like social games. In the story mode it is your job to take orders and turn a 1 star restaurant into a 5 star restaurant, with one catch, you are by yourself, and are taking multiple orders at a time. There is a time constraint. or you can play in free play and make whatever you like, refining your skills to that of a professional cook. It also allows you to find and learn how to make real recipes (with the exception of how much time they take to make) and gives you all the tools to make almost whatever food you want. With several locations/kitchens to cook in and explore.


This article was created with contributions from Isaac Wrobel

Photo Credits: Isaac Wrobel


What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that assigns ratings to video games based on their content. The ESRB rating system is designed to inform parents and consumers about the content and age-appropriateness of video games. The ratings range from “Early Childhood (which has since been retired) to “Adults Only” and are assigned based on factors such as violence, sexual content, and language. In this blog post, we will explain the ESRB rating system in more detail and provide tips for parents on how to use the ratings to make informed decisions about the video games their children play.

What Does the ESRB Stand For?

ESRB stands for the Entertainment Software Ratings Board.

What is the ESRB?

They are a non-profit organization that assigns content ratings and establishes advertising and privacy practices for the “software entertainment” (Read: video game) industry.

The History of the ESRB

Video games started with very simple graphics because of hardware and software limitations. The first home console was the Odyssey, which released in 1972. (source History.com) That changed over time as computers and consoles became much more powerful. Eventually, games like Doom, Wolfenstein, and Mortal Kombat were on store shelves. These games, and others like them, featured more realistic depictions of violence than ever before and it definitely ruffled feathers among parents, educators, and politicians around the globe. Up until this point the console manufacturers did their own ratings for the games on their platforms. This led to inconsistency and confusion among parents.

The US Congress took action in 1994 and introduced the Video Game Rating Act. Its listed purpose was “to provide parents with information about the nature of video games which are used in homes or public areas, including arcades or family entertainment centers.”

This by itself doesn’t sound bad, but video game companies immediately took action to present consistent rating information themselves in order to avoid handing the process off to the government. (It is worth noting here that the film industry did the same thing with the MPAA.)

First, the major players in the industry formed the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA). Then, the IDSA formed the ESRB later that same year with five rating categories and seventeen content descriptors. The goal was simple: to help consumers understand the content of the games they were buying and to help calm down the politicians. 

Why is the ESRB Important?

The ESRB is considered important because it helps to ensure that children are not exposed to inappropriate content by assigning ratings to video games based on their content. These ratings are prominently displayed on the game’s packaging and in digital storefronts, making it easy for parents and other consumers to determine whether a game is appropriate for children. The ESRB rating system assigns one of the following ratings to video games: Early Childhood, Everyone, Everyone 10+, Teen, Mature, Adults Only.

Additionally, the ESRB also provides detailed information about the content of a game on its website, including a content descriptor that indicates the specific types of content that prompted the rating. This information is intended to help consumers make more informed decisions about which games to buy.

Furthermore, the ESRB also offers an online service called “Privacy Certified” that helps developers to ensure that their games comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the ESRB Privacy Certified program requirements. This helps to protect children’s personal information from being collected and shared without their parents’ consent.

In summary, the ESRB is considered important because it helps to ensure that children are not exposed to inappropriate content, it allows consumers to make informed decisions about which games to buy, and it also helps to protect children’s personal information when they play online games. 

How does the ESRB Enforce Its Rating System?

Technically, participation in the ESRB rating system is voluntary. However, all of the major console manufacturers (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo), as well as all major retailers require that the games they sell be rated. This applies enough pressure to ensure that just about any game your kids want to buy will have been rated.

The ratings themselves are based on self-reporting though. This means it is technically up to the manufacturers to send complete information regarding the contents of the game. Failing to do so triggers different processes within the ESRB depending on whether the game is digital or physical.

Digital games are straightforward. The ESRB can rapidly update the rating information. This has proven to be a sufficient deterrent. These changes would be obvious and traceable which would create a PR nightmare for the manufacturers, and no one wants that. 

Physical games are a different beast. Updating the rating information can be costly, and very confusing. The ESRB discourages this with sanctions and significant fines (That can be up to a million dollars!).

Advertisements and Marketing

The ESRB also has an Advertising Review Council (ARC) that ensures that accurate and appropriate rating information is displayed on the packaging and in marketing materials like trailers and ads.  Publishers that participate in the ESRB rating process are contractually obligated to follow “Principles and Guidelines for Responsible Advertising Practices.”

The Principles are general rules that publishers need to follow with their marketing. None of them should really surprise anyone. They include things like: 

  • A requirement that advertising accurately reflects the nature of the game and its rating. 
  • A requirement that advertising for a game rated T or M may not be targeted to younger audiences. 

The guidelines get much more specific and list content that needs to be avoided in marketing materials. Some of these guidelines include things like:

  • Graphic and/or excessive depictions of violence
  • Allusions or depictions of acts of verbal or physical abuse toward children
  • Allusions or depictions of acts of sexual violence
  • References to illicit drug use and/or depictions of illicit drugs and any accompanying paraphernalia. 

The ARC performs what they call “compliance reviews” for marketing materials to ensure that the principles and guidelines have been followed. One key thing to note is that they don’t just perform these reviews with consumers in mind. They make their assessments with their eyes on the broader general public because public sentiment is important for the industry as a whole and no one wants an advertising campaign for one game to potentially impact another one.

The ESRB Rating Process

The rating process is detailed on their website (which you can find here), but largely consists of a group of trained reviewers looking over written documentation, early builds, and video footage of the most extreme examples of the content in the game. The game developers need to be careful to include everything; the ESRB makes rating decisions based on all of the content included on the game disks. This even includes game data that is locked out and unavailable for play.

After the content is reviewed, each game is designated with one of six rating categories and is assigned content descriptors. These descriptors document what parts of the game are responsible for the rating or may be a point of concern for consumers.

ESRB rating is not mandatory. There is no state or federal mandate (currently) demanding that all games go through the process. However, most major retailers, like Wal-Mart and GameStop, will not carry a game that has not been rated by the ESRB so it is encouraged in order to help games be commercially viable.

The Two Different ESRB Rating Processes

There are two different rating processes that the ESRB uses to rate games. The process used depends on whether the game will be released on a physical disc on store shelves or if it will only be released digitally.

Physical Games

The long-form process starts when the game’s publisher submits two key pieces of data to the ESRB for review. They are (quoted directly from the ESRB website):

A completed ESRB online questionnaire detailing the game’s pertinent content, which essentially translates to anything that may factor into the game’s rating. This includes not only the content itself (violence, sexual content, language, controlled substances, gambling, etc.), but other relevant factors such as context, reward systems and the degree of player control; and a DVD that captures all pertinent content, including typical gameplay, missions, and cutscenes, along with the most extreme instances of content across all relevant categories. Pertinent content that is not playable (i.e., “locked out”) but will exist in the game code on the final game disc must also be disclosed.

Once this information is received a set of at least three ESRB raters review the content and they work together to decide what rating the game should be given. The ESRB staff will then review the information that the raters gave and might even do ANOTHER review to make sure there is parity between the recommendations.

Rating Summary

Shortly after this is completed the ESRB will generate a rating summary that goes into more detail and will include info about the contributing factors. This is where they get into the “why” behind the rating itself.

That rating is then returned to the publisher who has the opportunity to change the game to reduce their rating. If they choose to do so the process will start again. I would guess that HALO 5 went through a lot of these revisions as they deliberately went after a T rating.

Once the rating has been completed and the game is published the ESRB completes yet another review of the games to make sure that nothing snuck in and to ensure compliance with any of their changes. The packaging and the inserts are reviewed as well! (No stones are left unturned here!) A lot of the post-release review comes in the form of playtesting which is really similar to what we at EFG do when we review a game. They, however, are mainly focused on the content of the game and whether or not it matches up with what they were told in the pre-launch screening process.

Digital Games

The short form process is intended for games that will only be available for purchase online. It is aptly named as it consists mainly of a questionnaire that is made up of multiple-choice questions. The digital game’s publishers will answer questions similar to the above, but will also answer questions about location sharing, monetization, and if the user is granted unrestricted internet access through its use.  These responses are used to automatically generate the rating category, content descriptors,  and interactive elements.The short form process is intended for games that will only be available for purchase online. It is aptly named as it consists mainly of a questionnaire that is made up of multiple-choice questions. The digital game’s publishers will answer questions similar to the above, but will also answer questions about location sharing, monetization, and if the user is granted unrestricted internet access through its use.  These responses are used to automatically generate the rating category, content descriptors,  and interactive elements.


How Does the ESRB handle DLC?

Generally speaking, the rating of the “core product” applies to its DLC as well. However, publishers are expected to resubmit if it contains content that is different from the core game. 

The Four Parts of An ESRB Rating\

Rating Categories

This is the part we all know about. Each game reviewed by the ESRB is assigned a “Rating Category” that suggests its age appropriateness.

  • E (Everyone)
  • E10+ (Everyone 10+)
  • T (Teen)
  • M (Mature 17+)
  • AO (Adults only 18+)
  • RP (Rating Pending)

Content Descriptors

These descriptors are short phrases that identify what elements of the game caused an age rating to be assigned. Some examples might be Violence, Drug use, etc. These are, in my opinion, the most important part of the rating. Every family is different and every parent has different priorities regarding the kinds of content they want to let their kids see. These categories help with that!

Substances

  • Alchohol
  • Tobacco
  • Drugs

Blood/Gore

  • Animated Blood
  • Blood
  • Blood and Gore

Violence

  • Cartoon Violence
  • Fantasy Violence
  • Intense Violence
  • Violence
  • Violent References

Humor

  • Comic Mischief
  • Crude Humor
  • Mature Humor

Language

  • Language/Lyrics
  • Lyrics/Strong Lyrics

Nudity

  • Nudity
  • Partial Nudity

Gambling

  • Real vs Simulated

Sexuality

  • Sexual Content
  • Sexual Themes
  • Sexual Violence
  • Strong Sexual Content
  • Suggestive Themes

Interactive Elements

These are points of interest in the mechanics of a game that are noteworthy but don’t necessarily impact the age appropriateness of the game. Some examples of these types of elements are:

Online interactions

  • Online purchases
  • User information being available to other users

What if the ESRB Makes a Mistake?

Mistakes can absolutely happen in any system. This is especially true for any system that involves people. Fortunately, the ESRB has systems in place to make corrections in the event that a game hits retail with incorrect rating information. 

They also have processes in place to demand that a game be pulled from shelves in the event that the rating error was a result of a developer providing incomplete or misleading information

What if I disagree with the ESRB’s Rating of a Game?

The ESRB rating system doesn’t leave much room for interpretation on the part of the reviewers. They have a strict rubric for their ratings. It isn’t unreasonable to disagree with them though. I’ve gone on record as disagreeing with the ESRB’s rating of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. I feel pretty strongly that it should have been rated M instead of T based on the consistent adult language and a scene with strongly implied sexual violence.

They have a contact form on their website where you could ask questions about a rating. This would be a good opportunity to provide feedback if you have it.
The ESRB president, Patricia Vance, was on the What’s Good Games podcast and said pretty clearly that they intend for their ratings to be guidelines. They know that there will be differing opinions from house to house and even by region.

ESRB Rating Categories in Detail

ESRB E Rating Explained

This rating is fairly self-explanatory. The games themselves are generally appropriate for players of all ages.

They will contain no (or at the very worst: minimal) violence. Any violence that is depicted will be animated or fantasy violence. You might see Mario bouncing on a Koopa’s head, but you won’t see anything much more intense than that.

Most games that I would consider “family-friendly” will fall into this category by default. Board games, most mini-game collections, and most mascot platform games (eg: Mario and Sonic) fall here. Even the most conservative parents will have a hard time finding anything objectionable in these games. Many of them are tamer than an episode of Spongebob.

One thing that I need to stress is that ERSB ratings are rating the CONTENT. They do not rate difficulty. The perennial Madden series is a great example here. These games are rated E for Everyone. But, the game has a steep learning curve because it is a professional Football simulator. Most 5-6-year-olds would have a difficult time navigating the menus and playing the game even if the content itself is appropriate for them.

There used to be a rating category labeled EC for Early childhood, but it was retired in 2018. There just weren’t enough games in the category to justify it. Instead, these games are rolled up into the E rating. 

ESRB E 10+ Rating Explained

Games that are assigned the E 10+ rating by the ESRB contain content that should be suitable for children 10 years and older. The content is often described as “moderate impact.” These games may contain minimal cartoon or animated violence. There may also be animated blood, foul language, and minimal suggestive themes. This roughly translates to the video game equivalent of most Disney films. You might see a fight, but it won’t be any more impactful than most Saturday morning cartoons.

Many games in this category can be classified as family-friendly. As I mentioned above, these games are rated as equivalent to most Disney films. If you are a more conservative parent, then it is best to check the content descriptors used on the back of the game’s box or on ESRB.com. You can use those descriptors to make decisions about what content you might want to exclude and what you find acceptable. For example, you may be fine with mild cartoon violence but push a game aside because it contains mild language.

Trivia: This rating was implemented on October 1, 2004 by the ESRB. The first game ever given this rating was Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. (Who knew?)

ESRB T Rating Explained

Games with this rating may contain content that is suitable for people age 12 and older. It is worth noting, however, that there is no restriction for children under the age of 12 from purchasing these games without an adult. The content in these games is a step above games rated E 10+ in that they have a stronger impact and often contain more intense violence, suggestive themes, and crude humor (like in a Simpsons or Futurama episode). These games can also include simulated gambling. These games are rated similarly to moves that are rated PG-13.

Many parents dismiss games rated T for Teen by the ESRB outright, and I don’t think that is necessary. Many of these games are perfectly acceptable for young children with parental supervision. The “More intense violence” descriptor places most games that involve any sort of combat to this category. 

I remember being a father with young sons and there was a wide selection of games that are rated T for Teen that I played with them. Some specific examples are Street Fighter 5 Ratchet and Clank, and Marvel’s Spider-Man. The key here is to make sure you focus on the content descriptors and make sure that you only exclude games that include content you find questionable.

ESRB M Rating Explained

Games with this rating are a significant step above games rated T for Teen. They often contain more/more realistic gore. They may also have more significant sexual themes and/or vulgar humor. These are the games that we hear about on the news for pushing the boundaries of “appropriate.” Some of the more significant examples that have reached the mainstream media are games like those found in the Mortal Kombat and Grand Theft Auto series.

Many major retailers have internal policies that bar the sale of games with this rating to any person age 17 or less without parental consent. It isn’t illegal though. The state of CA had passed a law making it illegal at one point, but this law was been deemed unconstitutional by SCOTUS. It is possible that CA or other states may attempt to pass similar laws in the future, but this ruling makes it less likely.

Perspective on M Games

I am regularly asked at what age-rated M games are appropriate for kids, and I always answer the same way: 

“You know your kids better than I do. It depends entirely on the maturity level of your child, and what you feel comfortable letting them experience.” 

Some parents feel comfortable watching slasher flicks with their young kids. Others wouldn’t dream of watching anything other than Disney films until their children are ten. Video games are the same way.

I would like to say that many rated M games are rated as such because they tackle serious issues and require a more mature perspective in order to really understand them. But, I’m not going to smokescreen you here. The vast majority of M rated games are patently inappropriate for most tweens and young teenagers because they are mindless examples of violence and sexuality. That’s not to say that they are never good games (many of them are excellent), but a lot of them aren’t substantially different from something like Scary Movie.

There are, however, a few that are legitimately thought-provoking. They can be used as tools to help discuss very serious subjects with your son or daughter if you feel they are mature enough to handle it. 

Example to Consider

My favorite example of this is the level “No Russian” from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (This was an Xbox 360 game… so I’m definitely dating myself here.) The players take on the role of a US agent who is deep undercover with a group of Russian terrorists. As the level progresses the player accompanies the terrorists as they assault a Russian airport that is teeming with innocent civilians. The player is not required to fire a single shot over the course of the mission, but they are forced to slowly walk through the airport while terrorist gunmen fire on, and kill, hundreds of civilians.

The media immediately attacked this level as soon as it was discovered for glorifying violence and allowing children to virtually commit heinous crimes against innocent people. They were technically correct but missed the point. I have played through the level and I felt suffocated. I was immersed at the moment, and imagined myself in that airport and wondered what it would be like near those victims. The level doesn’t glorify acts of terror. Instead, it shines a spotlight on what they mean. I can’t imagine any other form of media giving as complete of an image as a video game. These are prime opportunities to discuss these types of events… if you are talking to someone who can really understand it.

ESRB AO Rating Explained

I’m only mentioning this rating because I don’t want to leave anything out. These are games that contain content that has been deemed inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. They may include “prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual activity, and/or gambling with real currency.” 

There is good news about these games though. Games that are given an AO rating are not sold in any retail stores, nor are they sold on any of the major digital games marketplaces like Steam, iOS, or the Epic Game Store. You won’t be seeing them on your kids’ shopping lists.

It is not unheard of for some games to be given an AO rating initially, only to have the game adjusted by developers to bring it down to an M. This is a similar process to the one that movies go through when they perform additional edits or reshoots to get a PG-13 rating.

RP and RP Likely Mature 17+

Video games are often announced alongside a wave of marketing material years before they are officially released. The ESRB rating process happens very late in a game’s development. Publishers will denote games that are in this gap period with a placeholder rating. These ratings are placed on all prerelease marketing materials and will be replaced on any packaging materials once the official rating has been released.

There are two placeholder ratings that get used currently – RP and RP Likely Mature 17+.

  • RP: This placeholder rating is applied to any game that is pending a rating from the ESRB. 
  • RP Likely Mature 17+: This placeholder rating is used for games that are more than likely going to end up rated M. There are some games that are intended to be rated M from the start of development (Like Mortal Kombat or Call of Duty). They get this placeholder to help avoid consumer confusion as the release gets closer. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ESRB rating system is an important tool for parents to use when assessing the suitability of video games for their children. By understanding the ratings and the factors that go into them, parents can make informed decisions about the games their children play and ensure that they are age-appropriate. Additionally, it is important for parents to monitor their children’s gaming habits and have open and honest conversations with them about the content of the games they are playing. By following these tips, parents can help ensure that their children have a safe and enjoyable gaming experience.


What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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Are you a fan of video games and board games? Look no further! Our free digital magazine is here to bring you the latest and greatest in the gaming world. From the Video Games of the Year 2022 to the Board Games of the Year 2022, we’ve got you covered.

Get ahead of the game with our Most Anticipated Video Games and Most Anticipated Board Games sections. Learn about the upcoming releases that everyone will be talking about in 2023.

Do you own a Nintendo Switch? There’s buzz about a new one on the horizon! We’ve got the scoop on what’s to come.

Are you ready to explore new worlds? PlaneScape is finally coming to Dungeons and Dragons and we’ve got everything you need to know.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is another highly anticipated release that we’ve got the inside info on.

Disney is entering the collectible card game market and we’ve got the first look! Get ready to be amazed by this exciting new game.

Download our free digital magazine now to stay up-to-date on all things gaming. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

  • Video Games of the Year 2022
  • Board Games of the Year 2022
  • Most Anticipated Video Games
  • Most Anticipated Board Games
  • Is a New Switch On the Horizon?
  • PlaneScape is Coming!
  • Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom feature
  • Disney is Entering the Collectible Card Game Market

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What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

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Every week the EFG staff will be defining a gaming term that is either confusing or ill-defined. Please leave a comment with any terms you find confusing and we will try to include them in future editions!

The gaming definition this week is a series of terms that is applicable to video games:

What are Cozy/Wholesome Games?

A wholesome game is a little difficult to pin down because there are so many different kinds of wholesome games. The one underpinning piece of what makes up a wholesome (or cozy) game is that it is non-violent. Some wholesome games are bright and vibrant. Others are a bit more muted. Some cozy games are social simulation games like Animal Crossing or Cozy Grove or chill, low-key match-three games like Spirit Swap or even spatial awareness games like Unpacking

A picture of a player standing in front of their house in Animal Crossing New Horizons.

Wholesome games are more about how they feel rather than what genre they are. If a game allows for a player to comfortably exist in that digital world without violence or high-stakes competition, it’s wholesome (in some way). The biggest strength of what defines wholesome/cozy games is in how subjective it is. Its breadth and depth allows for developers and players alike to define what wholesome means to them.

Cozy (wholesome) games are considered a trend, but an entire digital conference presentation has popped up around these games called Wholesome Games’ Wholesome Direct. The Wholesome Direct is a presentation that usually happens during June (around E3, whatever form that happens to be) and features a wide array of games that are considered “wholesome” in their “vibe”. The Wholesome Direct was also shrunk down to a “snack-sized” presentation in the lead-up to the Game Awards in 2022.


What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

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Minecraft is one of the biggest games in the world and will likely go down as one of the most influential games in history. One thing that is not often discussed when people talk about the Minecraft phenomenon is that there are two different versions of the game – Java and Bedrock. These two versions each have different features that can greatly alter you and your kids’ experience with the game. At the end of the day, they are the same game (Minecraft is Minecraft after all),  but there are a few key differences between the two versions that range from how multiplayer works to the availability of user-generated content like adventure maps

Multiplayer in Minecraft Bedrock vs Java

One of the most common ways that kids play Minecraft is with their friends. It has become just as much of a social gathering space as school playgrounds. This makes the version you are playing very important. 

It’s important because you can only play with people on the same version. This means that Java players can only play with other Java players and Bedrock players can only play with other Bedrock players. There isn’t any way around this limitation.

A picture of a player looking at a map while playing Minecraft

Hardware Availability for Minecraft Bedrock vs Java

Below is a list of the hardware that can play each version of Minecraft

Minecraft Java Edition

  • PC
  • Mac
  • Linux

Note: You can only buy the Minecraft Java edition from the official Minecraft website. 

Minecraft Bedrock Edition

  • Windows 10 and 11
  • Xbox One*
  • Xbox Series S and X*
  • PlayStation 4 and 5
  • Nintendo Switch
  • Amazon Fire OS/TV
  • Android
  • iOS 
  • Windows Mobile
  • Samsung Gear VR.

Note: Minecraft Bedrock edition is available on Xbox Game Pass.

Servers in Minecraft Bedrock vs Java

Another difference between the two versions is how one plays on multiplayer servers, online playspaces with special minigames and other things to play with others. Connecting to a server is very different between the two platforms. On the Java edition, you have to go into the multiplayer menu and connect to a server , by entering the server address, which will look like a link to a website. ON Bedrock, however, there is a separate tab when one is entering a world, by moving over to the servers tab, you can connect to a list of servers that are approved by Microsoft, and are moderated to be accessible and fun for all ages. 

User-Generated Content in Minecraft Bedrock vs Java

User-generated content is accessed differently in each version of Minecraft. This includes content like adventure maps, player skins, and texture packs. 

On Java edition most of those are free, and all you have to do is download them from the web, and put them into the game files. (this is hard to figure out unless you have a guide). 

It is easier to gain access to UGC on Bedrock edition. You simply buy them from the in-game marketplace using real-world currency. They are also guaranteed to be appropriate for children, because in order to be published on the marketplace they have to go through an approval process to check for things like inappropriate content, and to make sure they work as advertised. 

Mods in Minecraft Bedrock vs Java

Screenshot of the CurseForge application showing several Mod packs available for Minecraft.

Mods are a big deal for some players. This is especially true if they have spent a lot of time watching Minecraft on YouTube. Mods are pieces of code that can be added to the game files that change the way Minecraft functions. They can add items, change the appearance of the game, or make other significant changes to game mechanics and systems. (Warning: Some mods aren’t even for kids. See our report on the Minecraft Jenny Mod.)

Mods are only available on the Java edition. They require much more effort to get working but can make HUGE changes to the base game including things like adding new items to make the gameplay like Pokemon Legends Arceus. 

Bedrock players on PC have a similar feature called Resource Packs that are downloaded and added into the game through a simple menu. Resource packs are very limited in what they can do though. 


Minor Variations Between Java and Bedrock

The Minecraft Java Edition

Java edition can run shaders, and advanced texture packs, that change the graphics to look like a super high-end video game. Whereas the Bedrock edition cannot. The Bedrock version has to run on too many platforms to be able to support advanced graphics options. 

There is a difference in the way the two games are coded, whereas the Bedrock edition is less resource-intensive and less susceptible to crashing. whereas Java crashes more, and uses more resources, but can do more impressive things, with things like Redstone.

To Put It Simply

The simplest way to explain the differences is that the Java edition is more customizable, at the cost of having a limited number of people to play with.  The Bedrock edition is more controlled, but with the advantage of being able to play people on consoles and mobile devices more easily.


Which Version is Better?

There is no definitive answer to that question. It will just be a matter of opinion, personal experience, and priorities. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Minecraft is a popular and influential game that comes in two versions – Java and Bedrock. While the two versions are essentially the same game, there are some key differences between them that can greatly impact your experience with the game. These differences include how multiplayer works, the availability of user-generated content, and the ability to use mods. Java players can only play with other Java players and Bedrock players can only play with other Bedrock players. Additionally, the Java edition can run shaders and advanced texture packs, whereas the Bedrock edition cannot. Ultimately, the choice between the two versions will depend on your personal preferences and the devices you have available.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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