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Duck's Despair

Review · Action · PC · Web

Duck's Despair

Reviewed: 16 Jun 2026

PC · Web

Faith · 2023

Ludograph rating

B

Good

66 /100

06010030BenefitLow riskB 50 · R 2
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

50

Risk (RIS)

2

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.74
B2Social-emotional
0.00
B3Motor
0.65

Develops problem-solving, strategic thinking, and hand-eye coordination through its challenging platforming mechanics. Players will experience a strong sense of accomplishment from mastering difficult levels and improving their reaction time.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.03
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game contains mild stylized violence ('blood and tears') and potentially some mild language due to its satirical nature. However, it lacks manipulative design mechanics, monetization pressures, or social risks.

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
0.00

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

Regulatory design checks · DSAAssessed: meets criteria·GDPR-KAssessed: meets criteria·ODDSAssessed: 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.

Parents ask…

Is Duck's Despair safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Duck's Despair a rating of 66/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Duck's Despair appropriate for?

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

How long should kids play Duck's Despair?

Our session recommendation for Duck's Despair 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 Duck's Despair?

The game contains mild stylized violence ('blood and tears') and potentially some mild language due to its satirical nature. However, it lacks manipulative design mechanics, monetization pressures, or social risks.