Review · RPG · Xbox One · PlayStation 4 · PC
Star Trek Online
Reviewed: 02 May 2026
Xbox One · PlayStation 4 · PC
Cryptic Studios · 2012
Ludograph rating
D
Caution
39 /100
Star Trek Online is a massively multiplayer RPG that builds problem solving and strategic thinking, but carries a high financial risk due to aggressive monetization.
Growth (BDS)
51
Risk (RIS)
68
Daily limit
30min
Age guidance
13+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.80 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.73 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.45 | |
Star Trek Online offers an expansive universe for exploration, strategic spaceship combat, and deep character/ship customization. Its MMORPG nature fosters teamwork and communication, while resource management and story arcs engage cognitive skills like problem-solving and critical thinking.
Design risks
| R1 | Compulsion-loop pressure | 0.83 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.58 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.61 | |
The free-to-play model, coupled with microtransactions and pay-to-win elements, presents a high risk of significant financial expenditure. The game's design incorporates numerous compulsion-loop design tactics, such as variable rewards, FOMO events, and artificial stopping barriers, which can lead to excessive play and difficulty disengaging. Social comparison and obligation within the MMO environment are also notable risks.
Content (not in risk score)
| R4.1 | Violence Level | 0.67 | |
| R4.2 | Sexual Content | 0.00 | |
| R4.3 | Language | 0.33 | |
| R4.4 | Substance References | 0.00 | |
| R4.5 | Fear / Horror | 0.00 | |
Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.
Heads up
- Monthly spendTypical real-money spend by engaged players: $0 – $150/mo.
Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: concerns noted·GDPR-K — Not yet assessed·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. Likely violations: virtual currency that obscures real-money prices.
- GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.
- 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.