The following is a list of video games that have been given the " Adults Only " AO rating by the Entertainment Software Rating Board ESRB , a United States -based organization which rates the content of video games to determine its appropriateness for specific age groups. Although it is not legally binding under U. Games with the AO rating are considered by the board to be suitable for players age 18 and over; AO-rated games can contain higher levels of violent, profane, sexual, or pornographic content than the next-lowest rating on the scale Mature [M], generally considered suitable for players 17 and over can accommodate. AO is the highest of the ESRB's content ratings, and restricts the commercial availability of games which carry it; all three major video game console manufacturers Nintendo , [5] Microsoft , [6] and Sony [7] refuse to allow AO-rated games to be published for their platforms, most retailers refuse to stock AO-rated games, and the popular video game live streaming service Twitch explicitly bans all games carrying the rating. Due to these self-imposed restrictions on the marketing and distribution of games with the rating, the AO rating has been described as a "kiss of death" by critics, and is essentially a ban. Rockstar Games ' Manhunt 2 was the second game given an AO rating for extremely violent content and the first to be released, but was re-edited to meet the M rating so it could be released on consoles an uncut, AO-rated version for Windows was released in

Since there are hundreds of options on the market right now, there really isn't any excuse to party without one — but some games are definitely better than others, so it pays to do your research. If you, like me, prefer a more lively hang out, these hilarious adult party games can get things rolling. You'll want to choose one that will subtly help people to loosen up, talk to each other, laugh with each other, and break down the barriers that make them feel awkward. If you ever find yourself hosting get-togethers of any sort, these are the best grownup game night picks to have on hand for all those reasons.

Controversy has always blighted the gaming industry. Doom , with its roster of ghastly demons, has been criticized for its violence since the franchise began. This highest ranking is given out only in rare, extreme cases; Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo do not allow AO games on their platforms and their sale is heavily restricted. Now, this one was all but inevitable. Curiously, though, said rating was actually rescinded later.