Entertainment Software Rating Board

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (often abbreviated to ESRB) is the American rating board for video games. It was established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association in response to the concerns of politicians and parents about children having access to violent video games. The ESRB independently enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles adopted by the industry.

The ESRB rates a game based on the content of the game. Violence, sexual content, substance abuse, and strong language are all things that are taken into consideration when rating a game. There are currently six ratings: Early Childhood, Everyone (previously Kids-Adults), Everyone 10+, Teen, Mature, and Adults Only. There's a seventh rating and that is the RP rating or Rating Pending. For more information about the ESRB rating system, see below.

Trivia

 * None of the Mario, Yoshi, and Wario games have ever been rated eC or anything higher than E10+. Donkey Konga 2 was rated T because the game contained dialogue that was not suitable for younger players; Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl also received this rating, though they are not considered part of the overall Mario series.
 * Although none of the Mario games have been rated M (Mature, ages 17 and up), GameStop made a mistake and accidentally said that Super Mario Galaxy was rated M.
 * Donkey Kong Jungle Beat was the first ever game given an E10+ rating.
 * Mario Strikers Charged was the first Mario series spin-off game to get a rating above E; the game was rated E10+. WarioWare: Smooth Moves, Wario: Master of Disguise and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team also received this rating.
 * Wario's Woods is the first and only ESRB-rated Mario NES game. It was rated K-A for Kids to Adults.