LumiKin
Metacritic 806+

Super Mario Maker

Nintendo|2015Platformer

LumiScore?Our 0–100 score for how developmentally beneficial and low-risk this game is for children. Higher is better.

64/ 100
GOOD
90 min/day recommended

Growth

54/100

Growth Value

  • Problem Solving
  • Spatial Awareness
  • Strategic Thinking

Risk

LOW

Engagement Patterns

Minimal pressure to spend or play excessively.

Heads up

💸 Monthly cost: Free

Parent Pro-Tip

Encourage your child to focus on the creative aspects of Super Mario Maker, designing levels that challenge their friends or family. Discuss the design choices they make and how different elements affect gameplay. While playing user-created levels, talk about what makes a good level and how to overcome challenges.

Top Skills Developed

Problem Solving5/5
Spatial Awareness5/5
Strategic Thinking5/5
Creativity5/5
Adaptive Challenge5/5

Development Areas

Cognitive?Problem solving, spatial awareness, strategic thinking, creativity, memory, and learning transfer. Weighted 50% of the Benefit Score.
80
Social & Emotional?Teamwork, communication, empathy, emotional regulation, and ethical reasoning. Weighted 30% of the Benefit Score.
13
Motor Skills?Hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, reaction time, and physical activity. Weighted 20% of the Benefit Score.
50
Overall Benefit Score (BDS)54/100

Representation?How diverse the game's characters are in gender and ethnicity. Higher = more authentic representation. Display only — does not affect time recommendation.

Gender balance
1/3
Ethnic diversity
1/3

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.Fails the test

While Princess Peach is a prominent female character, she rarely engages in conversation with other female characters about anything other than a male character (Mario) or being rescued.

Parent Pro-Tip

This approach maximizes the cognitive benefits of problem-solving, strategic thinking, and creativity, while also fostering communication and critical evaluation skills. It helps children engage with the game in a constructive way, turning play into a learning experience.

What your child develops

Super Mario Maker is a highly creative and cognitively stimulating game that empowers players to design and share their own Mario levels. It fosters problem-solving, spatial awareness, strategic thinking, and adaptive learning through its robust creation tools and access to a vast library of user-generated content. Players can continuously challenge themselves with new levels and express their creativity in unique ways.

Base: UnknownMonthly: FreePlaytime: ~10hReviewed Apr 2026

Regulatory Compliance

Tap a badge for details. Grey = not yet assessed.

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About this game

The Mario experience of your dreams has arrived and is bursting with creativity... including yours!