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Super Mario Bros. Deluxe

Review · Platformer · Nintendo 3DS · Game Boy Color

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe

Reviewed: 18 May 2026

Nintendo 3DS · Game Boy Color

Nintendo · 1999

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

48 /100

06010030BenefitLow riskB 32 · R 5
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

32

Risk (RIS)

5

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

9+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.38
B2Social-emotional
0.00
B3Motor
0.65

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe offers classic platforming challenges that encourage problem-solving, spatial awareness, and strategic thinking. Players will develop strong hand-eye coordination and reaction time as they navigate obstacles and defeat enemies.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.10
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game contains minimal risks, primarily low-level cartoon violence. There are no monetization pressures, social risks, or significant compulsion-loop design tactics.

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. Deluxe safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Super Mario Bros. Deluxe a rating of 48/100, recommended for ages 9 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Super Mario Bros. Deluxe appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 9+ for Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Super Mario Bros. Deluxe?

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

The game contains minimal risks, primarily low-level cartoon violence. There are no monetization pressures, social risks, or significant compulsion-loop design tactics.