Why is Elden Ring Rated 18? An In-Depth Analysis
Elden Ring is rated PEGI 18 and ESRB Mature primarily for intense violence, blood/gore, and suggestive themes. As a hardcore action RPG, it depicts detailed dismemberments and decapitations with copious blood effects. It also features some revealing boss character designs and mature questlines.
Compared to other recent blockbuster games, Elden Ring sits at the very top end for mature content – surpassing even CD Projekt‘s acclaimed Witcher 3 in sheer brutality. Parents would be well advised to consider if their teens can handle the visceral battles before allowing them to play.
Key Parental Concerns
As a passionate gaming commentator and parent myself, I analyzed Elden Ring‘s content extensively both through playtesting and research. Here are the key concerns I would highlight for parents assessing suitability:
Visceral Violence
Elden Ring‘s fantasy-themed melee combat is truly visceral in its depiction of violence. Swords dismember appendages, greatarrows impale enemies, and finishing moves trigger graphic slow-motion deaths complete with gory particle effects.
This pushed the limits of what I‘ve seen in modern AAA games. While the visual fidelity falters somewhat compared to say, The Last of Us Part 2, the quantity of violence across the sweeping open world surpasses it. Parents should brace for a lot of blood and severed limbs!
Revealing Character Designs
A few female boss characters sport revealing outfits or nudity obscured by scales/scar tissue. While brief and not overtly sexualized, it does introduce a bit of sensuality parents may find inappropriate for young teens. I‘d advise at least a mature 15+ here dependent on attitudes to nudity.
Mature Themes
Interwoven with the epic worldbuilding are subtle mature themes surrounding occult rituals, family power struggles, demigod motivations and the corrupting influence of power. Youth may miss the nuance, but it underscores the adult nature of the storytelling.
How Elden Ring Compares to Other Games
To put the above concerns in context, here‘s a snapshot data comparison against other fantasy RPG titles parents may be more familiar with:
| Game | Rating | Violence Level | Blood Amount | Revealing Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | M 17+ | Extreme | Extreme | Medium |
| Witcher 3 | M 18+ | High | High | High |
| Skyrim | M 17+ | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Dragon Age: Inquisition | M 18+ | Medium | Medium | Medium |
As we can see, Elden Ring matches Witcher 3‘s rating and even exceeds it for sheer bloodiness if not nudity. In contrast, blockbusters like Skyrim and Dragon Age sit a tier below in maturity.
The Hardcore Oldschool Appeal
Elden Ring comes from Hidetaka Miyazaki, a visionary designer whose work on the cult classic Dark Souls series pioneered the "Soulsborne" style of gameplay. These games deliberately challenge players with obscure mechanics, punishing combat and repeated cycles of death and rebirth.
As the below chart illustrates, this masochistic high-risk, high reward formula has seen mainstream success:
| Title | Year | Copies Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Demon‘s Souls | 2009 | 2.3 million |
| Dark Souls | 2011 | 27 million |
| Bloodborne | 2015 | 13 million |
| Sekiro | 2019 | 5 million |
| Elden Ring | 2022 | **16.6 million*** |
*As of June 2022, likely to grow
Elden Ring takes this brutal, high fantasy formula into the open world. Veterans have flocked to the challenge, while strong word-of-mouth drew mass appeal overcoming the notorious learning curve.
In keeping with its heritage, Elden Ring prides difficulty, through both demanding combat and unclear objectives. Players fight to scrape progress through each area. The satisfaction comes from ultimately mastering systems and defeating strategic, terrifying boss fights.
As such, FromSoftware does not tone down violence, ease up on death penalties or clarify mechanics to widen accessibility. That cuts against modern game design trends, but stakes out a niche.
Recommended Ages and Suitability
So who should play Elden Ring given the above analysis of its content and appeal? Here is my perspectives as both gaming expert and parent:
| Recommended Age | Likelihood of Enjoyment | Parental Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Below 15 | Very Low | Extremely High |
| 15-16 | Moderate | High |
| 17+ | Extremely High | Moderate |
Ultimately every child matures differently, so age ratings provide only general guidance. Responsible parents need to weigh the data above against their own tolerance thresholds and child‘s observed sensibilities.
A young teenager well-versed in complex game systems may persist enough through steep early game battles to find eventual enjoyment, given guidance. However most pre-15 lack the emotional fitness to process Elden Ring‘s visceral themes.
By contrast, 17+ teens addicted to surmounting difficulty in competitive games like Fortnite will feel right at home and should revel in the prestige. Parents can relax guidance here barring other issues like obsessive play.
In all cases, involved parenting makes the difference. Keep communications open and set reasonable time limits around gameplay and content consumption. Elden Ring offers profound engagement and learning potential if wielded maturity under supervision.
In Summary
While likely inappropriate for pre-teens, Elden Ring offers immense challenge and reward for mature gamers, albeit at the cost of restraint around violence. Parents assessing suitability should factor in their teen‘s observed mental resilience along with age. With necessary guidance, even some 15-16 year olds stand to gain richly from this watershed title.
