Review · Action · PlayStation 3 · PC · Xbox 360
Soldier of Fortune: Payback
Reviewed: 03 May 2026
PlayStation 3 · PC · Xbox 360
Cauldron · 2007
Ludograph rating
D
Caution
44 /100
Soldier of Fortune: Payback is an action shooter that builds hand-eye coordination and reaction time, but its low Ludograph rating indicates extreme violence and sexual content.
Growth (BDS)
28
Risk (RIS)
1
Daily limit
–
Age guidance
17+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.30 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.00 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.65 | |
Soldier of Fortune: Payback offers intense first-person shooter action, challenging players with fast-paced combat and tactical decision-making in a variety of global hotspots. It can enhance hand-eye coordination and reaction time.
Design risks
| R1 | Compulsion-loop pressure | 0.00 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.06 | |
The game features high levels of violence, including depictions of violence against defenseless targets, and some sexual content. The narrative promotes a 'might makes right' ideology through its portrayal of mercenary work and conflicts, potentially desensitizing players to real-world issues. There is also a risk of competitive toxicity in multiplayer.
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 | 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.