What age is GTA 6 OK for?
GTA 6 is rated Mature 17+ in the US. Not for children.
Read the exact game’s rating and content notes before buying.
What is GTA?
Grand Theft Auto, or GTA, is a series of action games made for adults. GTA 6 is the newest one.
You play criminals. In GTA 6 you play Jason and Lucia, caught up in a crime plot across a made-up sunny American state.
In the game before it, the missions were about stealing cars, big robberies and shootouts with gangs. Players could also hurt people on the street, and then the police came after them.
The world is huge, and you can drive almost anywhere. That freedom is a big part of why children ask for it.
UK & Europe · PEGI
Rating check pending
PEGI 18 is the rating for GTA V, the game before it. Check GTA 6 on the PEGI site before you buy.
See GTA V on the PEGI siteOur view
We would not give GTA 6 to anyone under 17.
The violence, sex and drugs are the story, not one rare scene. Playing next to them does not change what is on the screen.
For a 16-year-old, you know your teen best. If you say yes, use the three checks further down. For anyone younger, give one of the games below. They have a big world to explore, without the crime.
Games to give instead, by age
Find their age, then pick a game for the console they own. Each one shows its rating.
Ages 6 to 8
Pokémon Pokopia
Nintendo Switch 2
Build a town and make friends with Pokémon.
US: ESRB E Europe: PEGI 3
See this gameAnimal Crossing: New Horizons
Nintendo Switch
Their own island to explore, build on and decorate.
US: ESRB E Europe: PEGI 3
See this gameHello Kitty Island Adventure
Nintendo Switch, PS5
Explore a whole island with Hello Kitty and her friends.
US: ESRB E Europe: PEGI 3
See this gameAges 9 to 11
Minecraft
Nintendo Switch
Build anything out of blocks, then go and explore.
US: ESRB E10+ Europe: PEGI 7
See this gamePokémon Legends: Z-A
Nintendo Switch, and a Switch 2 Edition
Catch and train Pokémon all over one big city.
US: ESRB E10+ Europe: PEGI 7
See this gameLEGO Horizon Adventures
PS5, Nintendo Switch
A LEGO adventure with robot dinosaurs, for one or two players.
US: ESRB E10+ Europe: PEGI 7
See this gameAges 12 to 14
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo Switch
A huge kingdom to cross on foot, by glider or in machines they build.
US: ESRB E10+ Europe: PEGI 12
See this gameStardew Valley
Nintendo Switch
Run a farm in a small town, at their own pace.
US: ESRB E10+ Europe: PEGI 12
See this gameHogwarts Legacy
PS5
Be a student at Hogwarts and roam the castle and the land around it.
US: ESRB T Europe: PEGI 12
See this gameESRB E means Everyone. E10+ means 10 and up, so at nine it’s your call. T means Teen, 13 and up. PEGI numbers are the age ratings used in Europe.
If you say yes: three things to check
The exact game
Match the title, edition and console on the box to the game you intend to buy.
The content notes
Read the rating’s explanation of violence, language, sexual content and other themes.
Online play & spending
Check who can play together, chat settings and spending controls on their account. The ESRB’s parental controls guide has the steps for each console.
Buying it for a grown-up?
Then it can be a good gift. It plays on PS5 and Xbox Series, so check which one they own, and give the boxed game. The game also sells in-game money; we leave those cards off our lists.
Read the full guide
Short answer. Not for children. GTA 6 is rated ESRB M for Mature 17+, and the game before it is PEGI 18.
Our view: we would not give it to anyone under 17. For younger players, give a game with a big world to explore instead.
What is GTA, and what do you do in it?
Grand Theft Auto, or GTA, is a series of action games made for adults. GTA 6 is the newest one.
You play criminals. In GTA 6 you play Jason and Lucia, caught up in a crime plot across a made-up sunny American state. In the game before it, the missions were about stealing cars, big robberies and shootouts with gangs. Players could also hurt people on the street, and then the police came after them.
The world is huge, and you can drive almost anywhere. That freedom is a big part of why children ask for it.
| Board | Where | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| ESRB | US and Canada | M for Mature 17+, for Grand Theft Auto VI |
| PEGI | UK and Europe | 18, for Grand Theft Auto V, the game before it |
The ESRB lists blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, and drugs and alcohol. It also lists in-game purchases.
What do we think?
We would not give GTA 6 to anyone under 17. The violence, sex and drugs are the story, not one rare scene. Playing next to them does not change what is on the screen.
For a 16-year-old, you know your teen best. For anyone younger, give one of the games below. They have a big world to explore, without the crime.
Which games can I give instead?
Find their age, then pick a game for the console they own.
Ages 6 to 8
- Pokémon Pokopia, Switch 2: build a town and make friends with Pokémon. ESRB E, PEGI 3.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Switch: their own island to explore and decorate. ESRB E, PEGI 3.
- Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Switch or PS5: explore a whole island with friends. ESRB E, PEGI 3.
Ages 9 to 11
- Minecraft, Switch: build anything out of blocks, then explore. ESRB E10+, PEGI 7.
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Switch or Switch 2: catch Pokémon all over one big city. ESRB E10+, PEGI 7.
- LEGO Horizon Adventures, PS5 or Switch: a LEGO adventure with robot dinosaurs, for one or two. ESRB E10+, PEGI 7.
Ages 12 to 14
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Switch: a huge kingdom to cross on foot or by glider. ESRB E10+, PEGI 12.
- Stardew Valley, Switch: run a farm in a small town. ESRB E10+, PEGI 12.
- Hogwarts Legacy, on our PS5 games page: be a student at Hogwarts and roam the castle. ESRB T, PEGI 12.
E10+ means 10 and up, so at nine it is your call. T means 13 and up. For every console, see video games for kids by age.
What should I check if I say yes?
- The exact game and region. Look up Grand Theft Auto VI itself, on the board for your country. An earlier game or another edition has its own rating.
- The content notes. Read what the board says about violence, language and sex.
- Online play and purchases. Earlier games came with an online mode where players meet strangers and buy in-game money. PlayStation and Xbox both let you set an age limit, turn off chat and cap spending.
Is GTA 6 a good gift for a grown-up?
Yes, it can be. It plays on PS5 and Xbox Series, so check which one they own, and give the boxed game. We leave in-game money cards off our lists.