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New Super Mario Bros. 2

Review · Platformer · Nintendo 3DS

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Reviewed: 01 May 2026

Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo · 2012

Ludograph rating

B

Good

59 /100

Automated review

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a platformer that improves hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness through classic gameplay.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 44 · R 11
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

44

Risk (RIS)

11

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.44
B2Social-emotional
0.37
B3Motor
0.55

New Super Mario Bros. 2 offers engaging 2D platforming challenges that enhance problem-solving, spatial awareness, and hand-eye coordination. The local co-op mode fosters teamwork and communication, while the coin-collecting mechanic provides a fun sense of achievement and encourages replayability.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.13
R2Monetization
0.08
R3Social risk
0.11

While largely benign, the game's focus on coin collection and high scores in Coin Rush mode could introduce mild competitive pressure and social comparison. The optional in-game purchases, though not pay-to-win, represent a minor monetization risk that parents should be aware of.

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.

Heads up

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

Regulatory design checks · DSA — Not yet assessed·GDPR-K — Not yet assessed·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.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.
  • 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 New Super Mario Bros. 2 safe for kids?

Ludograph gives New Super Mario Bros. 2 a rating of 59/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is New Super Mario Bros. 2 appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for New Super Mario Bros. 2, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is stricter than ESRB E, because our assessment weighs behavioral design risks, not just content.

How long should kids play New Super Mario Bros. 2?

Our session recommendation for New Super Mario Bros. 2 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 New Super Mario Bros. 2?

While largely benign, the game's focus on coin collection and high scores in Coin Rush mode could introduce mild competitive pressure and social comparison. The optional in-game purchases, though not pay-to-win, represent a minor monetization risk that parents should be aware of.