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Machinarium

Review · Adventure · Android · PS Vita · macOS

Machinarium

Reviewed: 12 May 2026

Android · PS Vita · macOS · PC · iOS · PlayStation 3 · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · Linux · Nintendo Switch

Amanita Design · 2009

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

48 /100

Automated review

Machinarium is a charming point-and-click adventure game that primarily benefits problem solving, strategic thinking, and spatial awareness through engaging puzzles.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 32 · R 8
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

32

Risk (RIS)

8

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.58
B2Social-emotional
0.20
B3Motor
0.35

Machinarium is a charming point-and-click adventure game that primarily benefits cognitive development through engaging puzzles. Players will exercise problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and critical analysis to progress through the game's intricate challenges. The game's unique visual storytelling also encourages attention to detail and creative interpretation.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

Machinarium presents minimal risks. The stylized violence is cartoonish and infrequent, unlikely to cause distress. There are no monetization pressures, social risks, or compulsion-loop design tactics present in the game.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.33
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.

Avg playtime~3 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Machinarium safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Machinarium a rating of 48/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Machinarium appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for Machinarium, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is more lenient than ESRB E10+: industry ratings reflect content intensity, while ours also weighs how the game is designed to be played.

How long should kids play Machinarium?

Our session recommendation for Machinarium 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 Machinarium?

Machinarium presents minimal risks. The stylized violence is cartoonish and infrequent, unlikely to cause distress. There are no monetization pressures, social risks, or compulsion-loop design tactics present in the game.