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PLANET ALPHA

Review · Action · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4

PLANET ALPHA

Reviewed: 01 May 2026

Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4 · PC

Team17 Digital · 2018

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

50 /100

Automated review

PLANET ALPHA is an action adventure game that encourages problem solving and spatial awareness as players navigate a mysterious world, with a low Ludograph rating.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 33 · R 0
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

33

Risk (RIS)

0

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.44
B2Social-emotional
0.00
B3Motor
0.55

PLANET ALPHA offers a captivating adventure that encourages problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and strategic thinking as players navigate a mysterious alien world. The unique mechanic of manipulating the time of day provides an engaging challenge, fostering critical thinking and adaptive learning.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

While generally low-risk, the game features encounters with 'relentless enemies' and a 'deadly world,' which may present mild tension or frustration for some players. The single-player nature means there are no social-emotional benefits from cooperative play.

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
0.33

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~3 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is PLANET ALPHA safe for kids?

Ludograph gives PLANET ALPHA a rating of 50/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is PLANET ALPHA appropriate for?

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

Our session recommendation for PLANET ALPHA 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 PLANET ALPHA?

While generally low-risk, the game features encounters with 'relentless enemies' and a 'deadly world,' which may present mild tension or frustration for some players. The single-player nature means there are no social-emotional benefits from cooperative play.