Ratings are a tricky business, with each country having its own set of rules. Throw in the fact that movies, television shows, and video games each have their own set of rating guidelines and you could be reading the specs for ages. In North America, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is responsible for rating video games for mass consumption. Parents want to know exactly what kind of game they are buying for their children, and on the other end of the spectrum, critics want to know how to review games for their fans. Or, you know, people want to just know what to expect when buying a game off a shelf.
There are many different video games to choose from, but they all must receive an age-appropriate rating before being sold. As with movies and television shows, parents want to know what they are purchasing for their children. Ratings help them know exactly what they are buying and how that content is consumed. So, it was surprising Nintendo Switch released the indie game “Do Not Feed the Monkeys” in North America with an “E for Everyone” rating.