World War Z was released yesterday (April 16) on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. If you’ve seen footage of the zombie apocalypse third-person shooter or even played the game already, you may be wondering what the World War Z Game Rating is. The title is doesn’t shy away from gory zombie-centric violence so wondering “what is the age rating?” is natural, especially if you’re wondering if someone under your supervision should give it a go. Ratings can differ from country to country, but we’ve got all the information you need down below.
What is the World War Z age rating?
The World War Z Game Rating very much reflects the game itself. The game features a ton of ways to kill zombies as well as scenes of zombies devouring humans in a pretty graphic way. Consequently, to answer the question “what is the age rating?”, it is rated “Mature” in the US.
This rating means that players should be 17+, but it isn’t an exact science. Parent or guardians are advised to use their judgment. The ratings board for the US, the ESRB, define a Mature game rating as “Content is generally suitable for ages 17 and up. May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.”
In the UK, it is PEGI who rate games for release. The UK has different thresholds for ratings and as such the World War Z Game Rating falls into the “18” category. A year older than the US. This is referred to as an adult rating and is defined with some stronger wording than the US equivalent. “[18] is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes a depiction of gross violence, apparently motiveless killing, or violence towards defenseless characters. The glamorization of the use of illegal drugs and explicit sexual activity should also fall into this age category.” So, if you’re under 18, you won’t be able to buy World War Z in the UK.
For ratings outside of the US and UK, you should check with the ratings board in your local country. Ratings boards tend to have a searchable database. They also provide helpful guidance on what the ratings mean and how they should be implemented.
