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Return Of The Obra Dinn

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

Return Of The Obra Dinn

Reviewed: 14 May 2026

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

Lucas Pope · 2018

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

47 /100

Automated review

Return Of The Obra Dinn is a mystery game that develops problem solving, strategic thinking, and critical thinking with mature themes and implied violence.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 32 · R 10
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

32

Risk (RIS)

10

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.76
B2Social-emotional
0.20
B3Motor
0.10

Return Of The Obra Dinn is a highly engaging and intellectually stimulating mystery game that challenges players with complex problem-solving, critical thinking, and memory skills. Its unique narrative structure and immersive 1-bit art style create a compelling experience that rewards careful observation and deduction.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

While the game contains mature themes and implied violence consistent with its ESRB M rating, it avoids manipulative design mechanics, aggressive monetization, or social risks. The primary 'risk' is the mature content, which is appropriately rated.

Content (not in risk score)

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

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

Parents ask…

Is Return Of The Obra Dinn safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Return Of The Obra Dinn a rating of 47/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Return Of The Obra Dinn appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Return Of The Obra Dinn, 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 Return Of The Obra Dinn?

Our session recommendation for Return Of The Obra Dinn 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 Return Of The Obra Dinn?

While the game contains mature themes and implied violence consistent with its ESRB M rating, it avoids manipulative design mechanics, aggressive monetization, or social risks. The primary 'risk' is the mature content, which is appropriately rated.