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Super Mario Maker

Review · Platformer · Wii U · Nintendo 3DS

Super Mario Maker

Reviewed: 01 May 2026

Wii U · Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo · 2015

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

73 /100

Automated review

Super Mario Maker is a platformer that builds creativity and problem solving through level design, with mild social risk in online interactions.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 59 · R 6
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

59

Risk (RIS)

6

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.78
B2Social-emotional
0.17
B3Motor
0.75

Super Mario Maker fosters immense creativity and problem-solving skills through its intuitive level editor. Players engage in strategic thinking and critical analysis when designing and playing challenging levels. The community aspect encourages positive social interaction through sharing and playing user-generated content.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.07
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.11

While largely positive, the online ranking system for created levels could potentially lead to mild competitive toxicity or social comparison among players. The 'near-limitless' content, while a benefit, could also lead to extended play sessions.

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.

Avg playtime~10 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Super Mario Maker safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Super Mario Maker a rating of 73/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is Super Mario Maker appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for Super Mario Maker, 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 Maker?

Our session recommendation for Super Mario Maker 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 Maker?

While largely positive, the online ranking system for created levels could potentially lead to mild competitive toxicity or social comparison among players. The 'near-limitless' content, while a benefit, could also lead to extended play sessions.