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Manual Samuel

Review · Adventure · Linux · PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch

Manual Samuel

Reviewed: 16 May 2026

Linux · PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch · Xbox One · macOS · PC

Curve Digital · 2016

Ludograph rating

B

Good

62 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 45 · R 3
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

45

Risk (RIS)

3

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.40
B2Social-emotional
0.53
B3Motor
0.45

Manual Samuel offers a unique and humorous adventure, challenging players with manual control of everyday actions. Its local co-op mode fosters teamwork and communication as players share control of the protagonist. The engaging story and time-attack mode provide both narrative depth and replayability, enhancing cognitive and motor skills.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.04
R3Social risk
0.06

While primarily a light-hearted experience, the game includes mild mature language and themes related to death, consistent with its ESRB T rating. The presence of microtransactions, though not explicitly aggressive, could lead to optional spending.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.33
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.67
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.33

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Heads up

  • Monthly spendTypical real-money spend by engaged players: $0 – $5/mo.

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~4 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Manual Samuel safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Manual Samuel a rating of 62/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Manual Samuel appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for Manual Samuel, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is more lenient than ESRB T: industry ratings reflect content intensity, while ours also weighs how the game is designed to be played.

How long should kids play Manual Samuel?

Our session recommendation for Manual Samuel 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 Manual Samuel?

While primarily a light-hearted experience, the game includes mild mature language and themes related to death, consistent with its ESRB T rating. The presence of microtransactions, though not explicitly aggressive, could lead to optional spending.