Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is rated M for Mature (17+) by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) due to its significant content featuring blood and gore, drug reference, intense violence, partial nudity, sexual themes, strong language, and use of alcohol. These descriptors indicate mature themes and graphic content unsuitable for younger audiences.
Understanding the M-Rating
An M (Mature 17+) rating signifies that a game's content is generally considered appropriate for individuals aged 17 and older. This rating is applied when a game contains frequent or intense depictions of violence, strong language, sexual content, or the use of drugs and alcohol. The Like a Dragon series, including Infinite Wealth, consistently earns this rating due to its gritty, adult-oriented themes and gameplay mechanics.
Key Content Descriptors Explained
The specific elements contributing to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's M-rating are detailed below:
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Intense Violence & Blood and Gore:
The game features extensive and often brutal combat, characteristic of the Like a Dragon series. Players frequently engage in battles against various enemies using a wide array of weapons, including guns, knives, swords, and bats. These encounters are depicted with significant violence, often resulting in blood and gore effects. Furthermore, the game's cinematic cutscenes vividly portray acts of gunfire and stabbing, contributing to the overall intense violence descriptor. This pervasive combat and its graphic depiction are core reasons for the M-rating. -
Strong Language:
Characters in the game frequently use expletives and coarse language throughout the dialogue and narrative, reflecting the mature tone and often harsh environments depicted in the game's story. -
Sexual Themes & Partial Nudity:
The game includes suggestive dialogue, situations, and sometimes partial nudity, often in the context of adult entertainment venues or specific character interactions. While not explicit, these themes contribute to the mature classification. -
Drug Reference & Use of Alcohol:
There are instances of characters referencing illegal substances or engaging in the consumption of alcoholic beverages. These depictions are integrated into the game's narrative and world-building, portraying aspects of adult life and crime.
Detailed Breakdown of ESRB Descriptors
The following table provides a comprehensive overview of how each ESRB content descriptor applies to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth:
| ESRB Content Descriptor | Explanation in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth |
|---|---|
| Blood and Gore | Depictions of visible blood, dismemberment, or other graphic bodily harm, particularly during combat and in cutscenes. |
| Drug Reference | Implied or explicit mentions of illegal substances, their use, or dealing. |
| Intense Violence | Frequent, graphic, and realistic depictions of physical altercations, combat with weapons, and brutal actions. |
| Partial Nudity | Non-explicit depictions of the human body, such as exposed buttocks or breasts, often in contextual settings. |
| Sexual Themes | Implied or explicit sexual situations, suggestive dialogue, or depictions of sexual content that is not explicit. |
| Strong Language | Frequent and pervasive use of profanity and expletives. |
| Use of Alcohol | Depictions of characters consuming alcoholic beverages, sometimes to excess. |
For more information on game ratings, you can visit the ESRB Official Website.
