Review · Strategy · PC
Banished
Reviewed: 02 May 2026
PC
Shining Rock Software · 2014
Ludograph rating
B
Good
67 /100
Banished is a challenging city-builder that develops exceptional strategic thinking, critical decision-making, and resource management skills.
Growth (BDS)
53
Risk (RIS)
11
Daily limit
120min
Age guidance
7+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.84 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.27 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.15 | |
Banished offers a deeply engaging and challenging simulation experience that fosters exceptional strategic thinking, critical decision-making, and resource management skills. Players must constantly adapt to changing environmental conditions and manage complex interdependencies within their settlement, promoting long-term planning and problem-solving. The game's emphasis on survival against odds encourages resilience and an understanding of ecological balance. The lack of explicit guidance forces players to learn through experimentation and observation, enhancing adaptive learning.
Design risks
| R1 | Compulsion-loop pressure | 0.23 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.00 | |
The primary risks in Banished stem from its open-ended and demanding nature. The continuous management of resources and the constant threat of settlement collapse can lead to extended play sessions with no clear stopping points, potentially impacting time management. While not featuring explicit compulsion loops like variable rewards or social pressures, the inherent challenge and the desire to see one's settlement thrive can be highly engrossing, potentially leading to excessive playtime. The game's setting, while not explicitly violent, depicts the harsh realities of survival, including starvation and death, which could be mildly unsettling for very young players.
Content (not in risk score)
| R4.1 | Violence Level | 0.33 | |
| R4.2 | Sexual Content | 0.00 | |
| R4.3 | Language | 0.00 | |
| R4.4 | Substance References | 0.00 | |
| 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.