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Moonlighter

Review · Action · PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch · Linux

Moonlighter

Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026

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

11 Bit Studios · 2018

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

71 /100

Automated review

Moonlighter is an action-RPG and shop management game that strengthens problem-solving, strategic thinking, and critical thinking.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 63 · R 18
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

63

Risk (RIS)

18

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.84
B2Social-emotional
0.40
B3Motor
0.45

Moonlighter offers a rich blend of action RPG and shop management, fostering strong cognitive skills such as problem-solving, strategic thinking, and mathematical reasoning through pricing and resource management. Its rogue-lite elements encourage adaptability and learning from experience, while combat mechanics enhance critical thinking and reaction time. Interaction with villagers also promotes communication and empathy.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.40
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The rogue-lite design incorporates elements of variable rewards and loss aversion, which can contribute to engagement but are not overly manipulative. There is mild fantasy violence typical of an E10+ rating. Crucially, the game has no microtransactions, loot boxes, or subscriptions, and no social risks like competitive toxicity or stranger chat.

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~5 hReviewedApr 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Moonlighter safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Moonlighter a rating of 71/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is Moonlighter appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for Moonlighter, 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 Moonlighter?

Our session recommendation for Moonlighter 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 Moonlighter?

The rogue-lite design incorporates elements of variable rewards and loss aversion, which can contribute to engagement but are not overly manipulative. There is mild fantasy violence typical of an E10+ rating. Crucially, the game has no microtransactions, loot boxes, or subscriptions, and no social risks like competitive toxicity or stranger chat.