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Spacebase DF-9

Review · Strategy · macOS · Linux · PC

Spacebase DF-9

Reviewed: 20 May 2026

macOS · Linux · PC

Double Fine Productions · 2014

Ludograph rating

B

Good

59 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 43 · R 6
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

43

Risk (RIS)

6

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.72
B2Social-emotional
0.13
B3Motor
0.15

Spacebase DF-9 offers a rich strategy and simulation experience, challenging players with base construction, resource management, and citizen well-being. It fosters problem-solving, strategic thinking, and critical decision-making as players navigate threats and expand their galactic home. The open-ended gameplay encourages creativity in base design and provides adaptive challenges through dynamic events.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.13
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

While largely free of manipulative design, Spacebase DF-9 does involve managing stressful situations like meteor impacts and hostile invaders, which could be intense for some players. The open-ended nature, while a benefit, could also lead to extended play sessions if not managed by the player.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.33
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~3 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Spacebase DF-9 safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Spacebase DF-9 a rating of 59/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Spacebase DF-9 appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for Spacebase DF-9, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Spacebase DF-9?

Our session recommendation for Spacebase DF-9 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 Spacebase DF-9?

While largely free of manipulative design, Spacebase DF-9 does involve managing stressful situations like meteor impacts and hostile invaders, which could be intense for some players. The open-ended nature, while a benefit, could also lead to extended play sessions if not managed by the player.