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Knife.io

Review · Action · iOS

Knife.io

Reviewed: 28 Jun 2026

iOS

SleeeeepFly Studios · 2019

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

47 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 35 · R 27
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

35

Risk (RIS)

27

Daily limit

90min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.42
B2Social-emotional
0.03
B3Motor
0.65

Knife.io offers engaging action gameplay that can enhance hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and spatial awareness through its unique knife-wrapping combat system. Players will need to think strategically about offensive and defensive maneuvers, adapting to opponents in a dynamic environment.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.47
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.22

While Knife.io avoids direct monetization pressures and stranger chat, its competitive 'io game' format may encourage extended play sessions due to continuous rounds and leaderboards, potentially leading to social comparison. The game features mild cartoon violence involving knives, consistent with its E10+ rating.

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
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.

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

Parents ask…

Is Knife.io safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Knife.io a rating of 47/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Knife.io appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Knife.io, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is stricter than ESRB E10+, because our assessment weighs behavioral design risks, not just content.

How long should kids play Knife.io?

Our session recommendation for Knife.io is up to 90 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 Knife.io?

While Knife.io avoids direct monetization pressures and stranger chat, its competitive 'io game' format may encourage extended play sessions due to continuous rounds and leaderboards, potentially leading to social comparison. The game features mild cartoon violence involving knives, consistent with its E10+ rating.