AO (Adults Only 18+)

How to read it

In the ESRB’s words, an AO game “may include prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content and/or gambling with real currency.” The ESRB’s descriptors for that content include Real Gambling (the player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency), Strong Sexual Content (explicit and/or frequent depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity) and Nudity (graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity). The ESRB system is voluntary, but all console makers and some US retailers and online stores require an ESRB rating for the games they offer.

Also searched as: adults only rating, rated ao.

AO and M

The two boxes differ by a year and by degree. M (Mature 17+) may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and strong language; AO adds prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content and gambling with real currency. Simulated Gambling, gambling without real money, can appear as low as T.

Selling AO games

The ESRB says most major retailers verify age for the sale or rental of M and AO games. The Supreme Court’s 2011 opinion in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association records that the Video Software Dealers Association encourages retailers to refrain from renting or selling adults-only games to minors. These are store policies; the rating system itself is voluntary.

Elsewhere

The MPA film rating closest to AO is NC-17. In Europe, PEGI 18 is the adult classification, for gross violence, apparently motiveless killing, violence towards defenceless characters, explicit sexual activity and the simulation of gambling.