Know what a game does to your kid — before they play.

Benefits

Benefits cover ten cognitive dimensions (problem solving, spatial awareness, strategic thinking, creativity, and more), six social-emotional dimensions (teamwork, communication, empathy, ethical reasoning), and four motor dimensions — weighted into a Benefits Development Score (BDS)Benefits Development Score: a 0–100 rating combining cognitive, social-emotional, and motor benefits the game offers..

Risks

Risks are scored across dopamine manipulation design (variable rewardsRewards given on an unpredictable schedule — sometimes you get a great drop, sometimes nothing. The same mechanic that powers slot machines; it keeps players engaged longer than fixed rewards., streaksMechanics that track consecutive days of play. Skipping a day breaks the streak and forfeits progress, which pressures kids to log in even when they don’t want to., FOMO triggersFear of Missing Out. Limited-time events, seasonal items, or one-off rewards that punish players for not playing right now.), monetization pressure (pay-to-winWhen spending real money gives a meaningful gameplay advantage — better gear, faster progression, or wins that free players can’t match., currency obfuscationUsing in-game currencies (gems, V-Bucks, Robux) instead of dollars, so it’s hard to tell how much something actually costs in real money., child-targeting), and social risk (stranger interaction, toxic competition, identity pressure) — combined into a Risk Influence Score (RIS)Risk Influence Score: a 0–100 rating combining dopamine pressure, monetization pressure, and social risk in the game’s design..