Review · Action · Xbox 360 · Xbox One · PC
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026
Xbox 360 · Xbox One · PC · Nintendo Switch · Wii U · PlayStation 3 · PlayStation 4
Ubisoft · 2013
Ludograph rating
B
Good
62 /100
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is an action game that develops spatial awareness and strategic thinking through exploration, with significant violence.
Growth (BDS)
47
Risk (RIS)
9
Daily limit
–
Age guidance
17+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.60 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.20 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.55 | |
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag offers a rich open-world experience that encourages exploration and strategic thinking. Players can develop spatial awareness through naval combat and navigation, and practice problem-solving in various mission types. The game's historical setting provides opportunities for learning about the Golden Age of Piracy, and the narrative can spark interest in history and different cultures.
Design risks
| R1 | Compulsion-loop pressure | 0.20 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.00 | |
The game contains significant violence, including ship battles and close-quarters combat, which may not be suitable for younger players. While there are no microtransactions, the game's immersive nature and open-world design can lead to extended play sessions. Some language and suggestive themes are present, reflecting the pirate setting.
Content (not in risk score)
| R4.1 | Violence Level | 1.00 | |
| R4.2 | Sexual Content | 0.33 | |
| R4.3 | Language | 0.67 | |
| R4.4 | Substance References | 0.33 | |
| R4.5 | Fear / Horror | 0.33 | |
Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.
Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·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.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
- 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.