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Baldi's Basics V1.1

Review · Educational · PC · macOS · Linux

Baldi's Basics V1.1

Reviewed: 31 May 2026

PC · macOS · Linux

BaldiOLDVERSION_Gamer · 2021

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

52 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 36 · R 6
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

36

Risk (RIS)

6

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.52
B2Social-emotional
0.10
B3Motor
0.35

Baldi's Basics offers a unique blend of problem-solving, strategic thinking, and spatial awareness as players navigate a challenging environment to collect notebooks and escape. The adaptive difficulty, where Baldi becomes angrier with wrong answers, provides a dynamic and engaging challenge. It also helps with emotional regulation by managing fear and stress in a horror setting.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.13
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game's horror elements, including implied violence and jump scares, may be intense for some players. While not designed for manipulative engagement, the game does feature elements of loss aversion and near misses, which can contribute to a sense of urgency and commitment to complete a run.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.00
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
1.00

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.

ReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Baldi's Basics V1.1 safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Baldi's Basics V1.1 a rating of 52/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Baldi's Basics V1.1 appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Baldi's Basics V1.1, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Baldi's Basics V1.1?

Our session recommendation for Baldi's Basics V1.1 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 Baldi's Basics V1.1?

The game's horror elements, including implied violence and jump scares, may be intense for some players. While not designed for manipulative engagement, the game does feature elements of loss aversion and near misses, which can contribute to a sense of urgency and commitment to complete a run.