Compare this game
Super Mario Bros.

Review · Action · NES · Game Boy Advance · Game Boy Color

Super Mario Bros.

Reviewed: 16 May 2026

NES · Game Boy Advance · Game Boy Color · Wii U · Wii · Nintendo Switch · SNES · Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo · 1985

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

52 /100

06010030BenefitLow riskB 36 · R 6
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

36

Risk (RIS)

6

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.44
B2Social-emotional
0.03
B3Motor
0.65

Super Mario Bros. is a classic platformer that significantly enhances spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and reaction time through its core gameplay mechanics. Players also engage in problem-solving and strategic thinking to navigate levels and overcome obstacles. The game's increasing difficulty provides an adaptive challenge, encouraging learning and skill transfer.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.13
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game presents minimal risks. Its cartoon violence is mild, and there are no social or monetization pressures. Compulsion-loop design is very low, limited to basic reward loops common in arcade-style games.

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 · DSAAssessed: meets criteria·GDPR-KAssessed: meets criteria·ODDSAssessed: 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.

Parents ask…

Is Super Mario Bros. safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Super Mario Bros. a rating of 52/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Super Mario Bros. appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for Super Mario Bros., based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Super Mario Bros.?

Our session recommendation for Super Mario Bros. 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 Super Mario Bros.?

The game presents minimal risks. Its cartoon violence is mild, and there are no social or monetization pressures. Compulsion-loop design is very low, limited to basic reward loops common in arcade-style games.