Compare this game
Shu

Review · Action · PC · PS Vita · PlayStation 4

Shu

Reviewed: 05 May 2026

PC · PS Vita · PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch

Coatsink · 2016

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

51 /100

Automated review

Shu is an indie adventure game that builds problem solving and spatial awareness, with mild fear elements due to a recurring antagonist.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 39 · R 25
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

39

Risk (RIS)

25

Daily limit

90min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.34
B2Social-emotional
0.40
B3Motor
0.45

Shu encourages problem-solving, spatial awareness, and memory as players navigate levels and utilize character abilities. The cooperative aspect of collecting villagers and their unique powers promotes a sense of teamwork and empathy. The game's accessible platforming mechanics also foster hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The primary risk is mild fear or horror due to the 'Storm' antagonist, but it is presented in a non-graphic way. There are no significant compulsion-loop design, monetization, or social risks.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.00
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~4 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Shu safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Shu a rating of 51/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Shu appropriate for?

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

Our session recommendation for Shu is up to 90 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 Shu?

The primary risk is mild fear or horror due to the 'Storm' antagonist, but it is presented in a non-graphic way. There are no significant compulsion-loop design, monetization, or social risks.