What do those big black letters on the front of your video game box mean? That’s the rating assigned by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to inform you about the maturity level of the game's content. Like movie ratings, they are designed to help parents make informed purchasing decisions.

ESRB ratings have two parts: Rating symbols suggest age appropriateness, and content descriptors indicate specific elements that may be of interest or concern. Be sure to consider both.

Here are all video game ratings and content descriptors:

Titles rated EC—early childhood—have content suitable for children 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

Titles rated E—everyone—have content that suitable for persons age 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal violence, some comic mischief, and/or mild language.

Titles rated E10+—everyone 10 and older—have content that may be suitable for older children age 10 and up. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy, or mild violence, mild language, and/or minimal suggestive themes.

Titles rated T—teen—have content suitable for persons ages 13 and older. May contain violent content, mild or strong language, and/or suggestive themes.

Titles rated M—mature—have content suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain mature sexual themes, more intense violence, and/or strong language.

Titles rated AO—adults only—have content suitable only for adults. Titles in this category may include graphic depictions of sex and/or violence. Adults-only products are not intended for persons under the age of 18.

Titles listed as RP—rating pending—have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting a final rating.

Alcohol reference—Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages.

Animated blood—Cartoonish or pixilated depictions of blood.

Blood—Depictions of blood.

Blood and gore—Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts.

Cartoon violence—Violent actions involving cartoon-like characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted.

Comic mischief—Scenes depicting slapstick or gross vulgar humor.

Crude humor—Moderately vulgar antics, including scatological ("bathroom") humor.

Drug reference—Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs.

Edutainment—Content provides specific skills-development or reinforcement learning within an entertainment setting; skill development is an integral part of product.

Fantasy violence—Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or nonhuman characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life.

Gambling—Betting-like behavior.

Informational—Overall content contains data, facts, resource information, reference materials,

or instructional text.

Intense violence—Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons, and depictions of human injury and death.

Mature humor—Vulgar and/or crude jokes and antics, including scatological ("bathroom") humor.

Mature sexual themes—Provocative material, possibly including partial nudity.

Mild anguage—Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use.

Mild lyrics—Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music.

Mild violence—Mild scenes depicting characters in unsafe and/or violent situations.

Nudity—Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity.

Partial nudity—Brief and mild depictions of nudity.

Sexual violence—Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts.

Some adult assistance may be needed—Early childhood descriptor only.

Strong language—Profanity and explicit references to sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use.

Strong lyrics—Profanity and explicit references to sex, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music.

Strong sexual content—Graphic depiction of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity.

Suggestive themes—Mildly provocative references or materials.

Tobacco reference—Reference to and/or images of tobacco products.

Use of drugs—The consumption or use of illegal drugs.

Use of alcohol—The consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Use of tobacco—The consumption of tobacco products.

Violence—Scenes involving aggressive conflict.

Additionally, online games that include user-generated content (e.g., chat, maps, skins) carry the notice "game experience may change during online play" to warn consumers that content created by players has not been rated by the ESRB.