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In a surprising turn of events, the roguelike deckbuilder Balatro has been reclassified from PEGI 18 to the more fitting PEGI 12 rating. This decision by the ratings board places Balatro on more even footing, distancing it from the mature content associated with games like Grand Theft Auto. Developer Localthunk announced this change on Twitter, attributing it to a successful appeal by Balatro's publisher.
This isn't the first time Balatro has faced scrutiny from external organizations. Previously, it was briefly removed from the Nintendo Eshop due to concerns over its gambling-like elements. However, it's important to note that Balatro does not involve real money betting; in-game currency is merely an abstract means to acquire more cards during gameplay.
The initial PEGI 18 rating stemmed from the game's use of gambling-adjacent imagery, such as references to poker hands like straight flushes. This classification extended to mobile platforms as well, despite the prevalence of in-app purchases in many mobile games. While the reclassification to PEGI 12 is a welcome change, it raises questions about the initial decision and its impact on the game's availability and perception.
If you're now considering giving Balatro a try, why not check out our tier list of Jokers? It's a great resource to discover which of these game-changing cards are worth your attention and which ones you might want to skip.
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