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Dark Cloud

Review · Action · PlayStation 2 · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 3

Dark Cloud

Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026

PlayStation 2 · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 3

Level 5 · 2000

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

69 /100

Automated review

Dark Cloud is an action RPG that encourages problem solving and creativity through its unique world-building system, with moderate violence.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 55 · R 9
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

55

Risk (RIS)

9

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.76
B2Social-emotional
0.30
B3Motor
0.40

Dark Cloud offers a rich action RPG experience that fosters problem-solving, strategic thinking, and creativity through its unique GEORAMA world-building system. Players manage a diverse team of characters, engaging in a compelling quest that encourages critical thinking and learning.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.20
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

While Dark Cloud is a one-time purchase with no manipulative monetization, its action-oriented combat may involve moderate violence. As an older title, it lacks modern social features, mitigating social risks, but also limiting opportunities for positive social interaction.

Content (not in risk score)

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

Avg playtime~91 hReviewedApr 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Dark Cloud safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Dark Cloud a rating of 69/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is Dark Cloud appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Dark Cloud, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Dark Cloud?

Our session recommendation for Dark Cloud 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 Dark Cloud?

While Dark Cloud is a one-time purchase with no manipulative monetization, its action-oriented combat may involve moderate violence. As an older title, it lacks modern social features, mitigating social risks, but also limiting opportunities for positive social interaction.