Review · Adventure · PlayStation 2
Shadow Hearts
Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026
PlayStation 2
Sacnoth · 2001
Ludograph rating
B
Good
65 /100
Shadow Hearts is an RPG that encourages strategic thinking and reading through a mature, story-rich experience, containing brutal violence and horror.
Growth (BDS)
49
Risk (RIS)
5
Daily limit
–
Age guidance
17+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.64 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.33 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.35 | |
Shadow Hearts is a story-rich JRPG that encourages strategic thinking, problem-solving, and reading comprehension through its engaging narrative and turn-based combat. Players develop empathy for characters and engage in ethical reasoning as they navigate a complex world.
Design risks
| R1 | Compulsion-loop pressure | 0.10 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.00 | |
The game contains mature content, including brutal violence, strong language, and horror elements, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. While not designed with manipulative mechanics, the compelling story and character progression can lead to extended play sessions.
Content (not in risk score)
| R4.1 | Violence Level | 1.00 | |
| R4.2 | Sexual Content | 0.33 | |
| R4.3 | Language | 0.67 | |
| R4.4 | Substance References | 0.33 | |
| R4.5 | Fear / Horror | 1.00 | |
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.