Compare this game
Shadow of the Colossus (2011)

Review · Action · PlayStation 3

Shadow of the Colossus (2011)

Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026

PlayStation 3

Sony Interactive Entertainment · 2011

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

68 /100

Automated review

Shadow of the Colossus is a masterclass in puzzle-solving and strategic thinking, where each colossus presents a unique challenge, with moderate violence.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 51 · R 0
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

51

Risk (RIS)

0

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.64
B2Social-emotional
0.30
B3Motor
0.50

Shadow of the Colossus is a masterclass in puzzle-solving and strategic thinking, as each colossus presents a unique challenge requiring careful observation and execution. The game also fosters emotional regulation and ethical reasoning through its poignant narrative and the moral implications of Wander's actions.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The primary risks are the moderate levels of violence in defeating the colossi and the somewhat eerie and melancholy atmosphere that might be unsettling for very young children. There are no monetization or social risks.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.00
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~3 hReviewedApr 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Shadow of the Colossus (2011) safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Shadow of the Colossus (2011) a rating of 68/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is Shadow of the Colossus (2011) appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Shadow of the Colossus (2011), based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Shadow of the Colossus (2011)?

Our session recommendation for Shadow of the Colossus (2011) 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 Shadow of the Colossus (2011)?

The primary risks are the moderate levels of violence in defeating the colossi and the somewhat eerie and melancholy atmosphere that might be unsettling for very young children. There are no monetization or social risks.