Starbound
LumiScore
out of 100
Appropriate for most ages with parental supervision
Heads up
Score breakdown
Developmental benefits
Design risk factors
Additional dimensions
Benefits: higher is better. Risks: lower is better. Values highlighted when <30 or >70.
Growth
53/100
Growth Value
Risk
LOW
Engagement Patterns
Minimal pressure to spend or play excessively.
Parent Pro-Tip
Starbound is an excellent choice for children who enjoy creative exploration and problem-solving. Its open-ended sandbox nature, combined with a guiding story, offers a rich and engaging experience without relying on manipulative design or monetization tactics. Encourage your child to document their discoveries or build unique structures.
Top Skills Developed
Development Areas
RepresentationHow diverse the game's characters are in gender and ethnicity. Higher = more authentic representation. Display only — does not affect time recommendation.
Bechdel Test?The Bechdel Test checks whether a game has at least two named female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man. A simple measure of representation.— N/A — no named characters
Insufficient information to determine Bechdel test result from description.
What your child develops
Starbound offers significant cognitive benefits through its sandbox exploration, crafting, and quest-driven gameplay, fostering problem-solving, spatial awareness, strategic thinking, and creativity. Its procedurally generated worlds provide a constantly adaptive challenge and encourage learning transfer. Motor skills like hand-eye coordination and fine motor control are also moderately engaged.
Regulatory Compliance
Tap a badge for details. Grey = not yet assessed.
About this game
Starbound is a 2D adventure game with a heavy focus on the sandbox aspect and procedurally generated levels. Unlike many similar games of this genre, Starbound has a story you need to follow.