Both the MPAA and ESRB rating systems have evolved since they were introduced in 1968 and 1994 respectively. Content descriptors were only introduced by the MPAA in 1990 for R-rated films before they were added for PG and PG-13-rated films several years later. I decided to do an experiment by converting ESRB Rating Descriptors to MPAA rating descriptors. Although they are now known as the Motion Picture Association, I still call them by their former name.
Let’s start off this post with the game’s I’ve made.
Drillimation’s Own Titles
| Game | ESRB Rating | MPAA Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Chuhou Joutai: The Middle State of War | E10+ for Fantasy Violence and Comic Mischief | PG for mild thematic elements and violence |
| Chuhou Joutai 2: Paraided! | E10+ for Fantasy Violence, Comic Mischief, and Mild Suggestive Themes | PG for mild thematic elements and violence, and for some rude suggestive humor |
Franchises Represented in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
I will now list each predominantly M-rated series represented in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, whether they are a playable character or Mii Fighter costume. I am listing their most recent installment in their respective series.
| Game | ESRB Rating | MPAA Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain | M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language | R for intense scenes of war violence including torture throughout, some crude sexual content and brief strong language |
| Bayonetta 2 | M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes | R for brutal scenes of torture and pervasive language throughout, brief graphic nudity |
| Persona 5 | M for Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence | R for crude sexual content and pervasive language throughout, some bloody images and drug material |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol | R for brutal violence and gory images throughout, brief graphic nudity and some strong language, and some interactive drug and alcohol use |
| Fallout 4 | M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Drugs | R for strong violence and bloody images throughout, brief strong language and drug material |
| No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle | M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language | R for strong brutal violence including gore and pervasive language throughout, brief graphic nudity |
| Devil May Cry 5 | M for Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence | R for language throughout and brief graphic nudity, some violent images |
| The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol | R for intense scenes of fantasy violence and gore throughout, some crude sexual content and alcohol use |
Other Titles
Here are some titles that I did just for fun, including some new titles and some older titles
| Game | ESRB Rating | MPAA Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Red Dead Redemption II | M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol | R for brutal Western violence and pervasive language throughout, some sexual content including graphic nudity, interactive drug and alcohol use |
| Dungeon Travelers 2: The Royal Library and the Monster Seal | M for Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes | R for sexual content including brief graphic nudity throughout, some violent images and brief strong language |
| Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! | M for Violence, Blood, Strong Language, and Suggestive Themes | R for disturbing bloody images and thematic elements, some strong language and suggestive references |
| Grand Theft Auto V | M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol | R for sadistic scenes of brutal crime violence including torture, crude sexual humor including graphic nudity, and pervasive language throughout, interactive drug and alcohol usage |
| Yakuza 5 | M for Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol | R for intense crime violence throughout, language and brief graphic nudity, interactive alcohol use |
| Blasphemous | M for Blood and Gore, Nudity, Violence | R for violence and bloody images throughout, some graphic nudity |
| Trover Saves the Universe | M for Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Mature Humor, Strong Language, Violence | R for crude sexual humor, pervasive vulgar language, and bloody images throughout, and a drug reference |
Understanding Descriptors
As the MPAA rating descriptor elements are far too numerous to list here, here are all of the ESRB rating descriptors and their MPAA equivalents. Keep in mind this is not a complete list. If you find anything missing feel free to drop a comment below.
Definitions of some of the adjectives used in MPAA ratings:
- Brief – appears in one sequence.
- Mild – content on the lower side of the spectrum usually gets this adjective, such as situations easily distinguishable from real life
- Some – content that uses the normal situations easily found in real life. “Some brief” is used if a situation appears more than once.
- Strong – frequent use or intense situations
- Pervasive – content is prevalent throughout the game
| ESRB Descriptor(s) | MPAA equivalent(s) and examples |
|---|---|
| Mild Language | Brief language, Mild language, sometimes paired with “some brief”, “brief mild” or “some mild” |
| Language | [Brief] language, [Some] language, Language, Brief Strong Language |
| Strong Language | Strong language, Pervasive language, [Some] Strong Language, [Pervasive] Strong Language |
| Cartoon Violence | [Some] cartoon violence, [Brief] cartoon violence, [Mild] cartoon violence, sometimes paired with “some brief”, “brief mild” or “some mild” |
| Fantasy Violence | [Some] fantasy violence, [brief] fantasy violence, [mild] fantasy violence, sometimes paired with “some brief”, “brief mild” or “some mild” |
| Mild Violence | [Some] mild violence, [brief] mild violence, sometimes paired with “some brief” |
| Violence | [Some] violence, [brief] violence, sometimes paired with “some brief”. Other descriptors include [some] violent images, disturbing images/material |
| Intense Violence | [Some] intense violence, [some] strong violence, [some] brutal violence |
| Animated Blood | [Mild] stylized blood, [brief] stylized blood, some stylized blood, sometimes paired with “some brief”, “brief mild” or “some mild” |
| Mild Blood | [Mild] bloody images, [brief] bloody images |
| Blood | [Some] bloody images |
| Blood and Gore | [Some] bloody/gory images, bloody violence, graphic images, |
| Mild Suggestive Themes | Mild suggestive references, brief suggestive references, rude suggestive humor, sometimes paired with “some mild” or “some brief” or “some brief mild” |
| Suggestive Themes | Suggestive references, suggestive humor, [some] sexuality, |
| Sexual Content | [Crude] sexual content, |
| Strong Sexual Content | [Graphic] sexual content, strong [graphic] sexuality |
| Partial Nudity | [Brief graphic] nudity |
| Nudity | [Graphic] nudity |
| Comic Mischief | [Some] thematic elements |
| Crude Humor | [Some] crude humor, [some] rude humor, [some/mild/brief] bodily humor |
| Mature Humor | [Crude] sexual humor |
| Alcohol Reference | [Brief] alcohol reference, [brief/some] alcohol material, [brief/some] alcohol content, sometimes paired with “some brief” or “some mild” |
| Tobacco Reference | [Brief] tobacco reference(s), tobacco material, [brief/some] tobacco content, sometimes paired with “some brief” or “some mild”. Drug is in some cases used. |
| Drug Reference | [Brief] drug reference(s), drug material, [brief/some] drug content, sometimes paired with “some brief” or “some mild” or “some mild” |
| Use of Alcohol | [Some/Brief/Mild] drinking, [Some/Brief/Mild] alcohol use, [Some/Brief/Mild] alcohol use, sometimes paired with “some brief” or “some mild” |
| Use of Tobacco | [Some/Brief/Mild] smoking, [Some/Brief/Mild] tobacco use, sometimes paired with “some brief” or “some mild” |
| Use of Drugs | [Some/Brief/Mild] drug use, sometimes paired with “some brief” or “some mild” or “some mild” |
There may be other descriptors; those are just some of the conversions I’ve put out. Why not try making your own?
Drillimation Systems 