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Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

Review · RPG · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · macOS

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026

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

Obsidian Entertainment · 2018

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

77 /100

Automated review

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is an RPG that cultivates strategic thinking, critical thinking, and reading skills, but contains mature themes and violence.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 63 · R 2
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

63

Risk (RIS)

2

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.84
B2Social-emotional
0.50
B3Motor
0.30

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire offers a deep, single-player RPG experience, fostering strategic and critical thinking through complex choices, character customization, and exploration. Players can develop problem-solving skills and engage with a rich narrative and diverse companions.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.03
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

While offering a mature narrative, the game contains moderate violence, some language, and mild sexual and substance references, consistent with its M-rating. However, it avoids manipulative design mechanics, monetization pressures, or significant social risks.

Content (not in risk score)

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

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~9 hReviewedApr 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire a rating of 77/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, 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 Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire?

Our session recommendation for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire 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 Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire?

While offering a mature narrative, the game contains moderate violence, some language, and mild sexual and substance references, consistent with its M-rating. However, it avoids manipulative design mechanics, monetization pressures, or significant social risks.