Review · Action · PC · PlayStation 3 · Xbox 360
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony
Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026
PC · PlayStation 3 · Xbox 360
Rockstar North · 2009
Ludograph rating
C
Mixed
54 /100
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony offers engaging narrative and builds problem solving and strategic thinking, but has high levels of mature content.
Growth (BDS)
40
Risk (RIS)
16
Daily limit
–
Age guidance
17+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.50 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.00 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.35 | |
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony offers engaging narrative-driven gameplay that encourages problem-solving, strategic thinking, and spatial awareness through its diverse missions and open-world exploration. Players must plan approaches, navigate a detailed city, and make tactical decisions to progress.
Design risks
| R1 | Compulsion-loop pressure | 0.00 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.00 | |
The game carries a Mature rating due to its high levels of realistic violence, strong language, and frequent references to substance use. While it lacks manipulative compulsion-loop or monetization mechanics, the mature content requires careful consideration for younger audiences. It offers minimal social-emotional development opportunities.
Content (not in risk score)
| R4.1 | Violence Level | 1.00 | |
| R4.2 | Sexual Content | 0.67 | |
| R4.3 | Language | 1.00 | |
| R4.4 | Substance References | 1.00 | |
| R4.5 | Fear / Horror | 0.00 | |
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.