Compare this game
Madagascar

Review · Arcade · PlayStation 2 · Game Boy Advance · Xbox

Madagascar

Reviewed: 10 May 2026

PlayStation 2 · Game Boy Advance · Xbox · Nintendo DS · PC · GameCube

Vicarious Visions · 2005

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

48 /100

Automated review

Madagascar is an arcade platformer that encourages problem solving and spatial awareness by using character-specific skills, though cartoonish violence is central.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 33 · R 11
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

33

Risk (RIS)

11

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

9+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.32
B2Social-emotional
0.13
B3Motor
0.45

Madagascar encourages players to utilize various character-specific skills to overcome obstacles and progress through levels. It promotes problem-solving through environmental puzzles and navigation. The game's narrative-driven levels and diverse character abilities provide opportunities for strategic thinking and adapting to different situations. Playing with others in co-op mode (Nintendo DS) can foster teamwork and communication.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

While the violence is cartoonish and trivialized, it is a core mechanic of the game, with characters using various attacks and abilities to defeat enemies. The game features some competitive mini-games which could potentially foster mild competitive toxicity, though this is not a core element.

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~23 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Madagascar safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Madagascar a rating of 48/100, recommended for ages 9 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Madagascar appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 9+ for Madagascar, 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 Madagascar?

Our session recommendation for Madagascar 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 Madagascar?

While the violence is cartoonish and trivialized, it is a core mechanic of the game, with characters using various attacks and abilities to defeat enemies. The game features some competitive mini-games which could potentially foster mild competitive toxicity, though this is not a core element.