Palworld is a deceptive game. It might have an adorable, child-friendly appearance, but open the game up and you’ll see it has various types of weapons, guns, killing.
It’s not as family oriented as Minecraft or Pokémon, that’s for sure. So, if you are concerned, let’s run you through everything we know about Palworld‘s age rating.
Palworld age ratings, explained
Palworld is rated PEGI 12 in Europe and has an ESRB rating of T for Teen in North America. As outlined on the game’s Xbox store page, its rating has been assigned as such due to “Violence.”
It doesn’t matter how cutesy Palworld is: It has guns, it has depictions of violence, and its strategy and survival elements require a bit more mental capacity to process. What likely keeps it grounded in the realm of suitable-for-young-teenagers category, however, is the fact that the game doesn’t depict any blood, gore, or hyper-realistic visuals. While the game certainly has some darker undertones, its cutesy factor must be doing enough to keep the age rating low.
While PEGI 12 is suitable for teens, if you’re a concerned parent there are some other things to keep in mind. Some of the subject matter in Palworld could be deemed a tad disturbing. Enslaving your Pals to work in factories while keeping an eye on their sanity is fairly grim. Additionally, Pals and even human NPCs can be butchered for meat. While the process isn’t highly detailed or gory, it’s not exactly pleasant.
A PEGI 12 / T for Teenrating feels right on the money. Kids approaching their teens will be comforted to see that the creatures in the Palworld don’t bleed or suffer any visible damage as a result of the weapons or combat. It’s just the idea of killing cute creatures with guns and explosives feels more outlandish and out there than perhaps it is.
