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Super Mario 64 DS

Review · Action · Nintendo DS

Super Mario 64 DS

Reviewed: 12 May 2026

Nintendo DS

Nintendo · 2004

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

54 /100

Automated review

Super Mario 64 DS is an action platformer that encourages spatial awareness, problem solving, and hand-eye coordination while navigating diverse levels.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 40 · R 18
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

40

Risk (RIS)

18

Daily limit

90min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.54
B2Social-emotional
0.13
B3Motor
0.55

Super Mario 64 DS offers a classic platforming experience that encourages problem-solving, spatial awareness, and strategic thinking as players navigate diverse levels to collect stars and defeat Bowser. The game also provides opportunities for developing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills through precise character control.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

Super Mario 64 DS presents minimal risks. The cartoon violence is mild and non-graphic. There are no monetization pressures, social risks, or compulsion-loop design mechanics.

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
0.00

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.

ReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Super Mario 64 DS safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Super Mario 64 DS a rating of 54/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Super Mario 64 DS appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for Super Mario 64 DS, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is stricter than ESRB E, because our assessment weighs behavioral design risks, not just content.

How long should kids play Super Mario 64 DS?

Our session recommendation for Super Mario 64 DS 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 Super Mario 64 DS?

Super Mario 64 DS presents minimal risks. The cartoon violence is mild and non-graphic. There are no monetization pressures, social risks, or compulsion-loop design mechanics.