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Always Sometimes Monsters

Review · Adventure · PlayStation 4 · Linux · PC

Always Sometimes Monsters

Reviewed: 01 May 2026

PlayStation 4 · Linux · PC · macOS · Android · iOS

Devolver Digital · 2014

Ludograph rating

B

Good

61 /100

Automated review

Always Sometimes Monsters is a narrative RPG that builds reading, empathy, and ethical reasoning through difficult choices and consequences, suited for ages 9+ due to mature themes.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 47 · R 13
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

47

Risk (RIS)

13

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

9+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.50
B2Social-emotional
0.67
B3Motor
0.10

Always Sometimes Monsters is a narrative-driven RPG that emphasizes choice and consequence, emotional intelligence, and ethical decision-making. Players can explore diverse character identities and engage with a complex story that encourages empathy and critical thinking.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.07
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.39

The game features mature themes including loss, existential dread, and potentially difficult ethical dilemmas. While not gratuitous, there is some mild violence, sexual content, and strong language.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.33
R4.2Sexual Content
0.33
R4.3Language
0.67
R4.4Substance References
0.33
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.00

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Not yet assessed·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

Avg playtime~3 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Always Sometimes Monsters safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Always Sometimes Monsters a rating of 61/100, recommended for ages 9 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Always Sometimes Monsters appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 9+ for Always Sometimes Monsters, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Always Sometimes Monsters?

Our session recommendation for Always Sometimes Monsters is up to 120 minutes per day. It is derived from the game's own structure (natural stopping points, compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social dynamics), not from a universal screen-time dose.

Session recommendations are design-based heuristics. Evidence linking specific daily durations to child outcomes is limited, and context matters as much as time; treat this as a starting point for household rules, not a clinical threshold.

What are the main risks of Always Sometimes Monsters?

The game features mature themes including loss, existential dread, and potentially difficult ethical dilemmas. While not gratuitous, there is some mild violence, sexual content, and strong language.