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Shadow the Hedgehog

Review · Action · GameCube · Xbox · PlayStation 3

Shadow the Hedgehog

Reviewed: 01 May 2026

GameCube · Xbox · PlayStation 3 · PlayStation 2

SEGA · 2005

Ludograph rating

B

Good

62 /100

Automated review

Shadow the Hedgehog is an action-adventure game that builds spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination through 3D platforming, but includes moderate violence.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 45 · R 0
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

45

Risk (RIS)

0

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.54
B2Social-emotional
0.10
B3Motor
0.75

Shadow the Hedgehog offers engaging 3D platforming and third-person shooter action, promoting spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and reaction time. The multiple mission paths encourage strategic thinking and replayability, allowing players to explore different narrative outcomes.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

While a one-time purchase with no manipulative monetization, the game features moderate violence with weapons and dark themes, which may be a concern for some players. The E10+ rating should be considered.

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
0.33

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.

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

Parents ask…

Is Shadow the Hedgehog safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Shadow the Hedgehog a rating of 62/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Shadow the Hedgehog appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Shadow the Hedgehog, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is stricter than ESRB E10+, because our assessment weighs behavioral design risks, not just content.

How long should kids play Shadow the Hedgehog?

Our session recommendation for Shadow the Hedgehog 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 the Hedgehog?

While a one-time purchase with no manipulative monetization, the game features moderate violence with weapons and dark themes, which may be a concern for some players. The E10+ rating should be considered.