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Magrunner: Dark Pulse

Review · Action · PlayStation 3 · Xbox 360 · PC

Magrunner: Dark Pulse

Reviewed: 15 May 2026

PlayStation 3 · Xbox 360 · PC

Frogwares · 2013

Ludograph rating

B

Good

60 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 43 · R 0
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

43

Risk (RIS)

0

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.68
B2Social-emotional
0.00
B3Motor
0.45

Magrunner: Dark Pulse offers a challenging and engaging puzzle experience that significantly develops cognitive skills such as problem-solving, spatial awareness, strategic thinking, and critical thinking. Players will enjoy manipulating objects with magnetic forces to overcome obstacles and progress through a compelling, Cthulhu-themed narrative.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game's mature rating is due to its horror themes, including confronting 'horrendous creatures of Cthulhu,' and potentially some strong language. While it avoids manipulative design and monetization tactics, the horror elements may not be suitable for younger players.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.67
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
1.00

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~1 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Magrunner: Dark Pulse safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Magrunner: Dark Pulse a rating of 60/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Magrunner: Dark Pulse appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Magrunner: Dark Pulse, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is more lenient than ESRB M: industry ratings reflect content intensity, while ours also weighs how the game is designed to be played.

How long should kids play Magrunner: Dark Pulse?

Our session recommendation for Magrunner: Dark Pulse 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 Magrunner: Dark Pulse?

The game's mature rating is due to its horror themes, including confronting 'horrendous creatures of Cthulhu,' and potentially some strong language. While it avoids manipulative design and monetization tactics, the horror elements may not be suitable for younger players.