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Super Mario Upgrade

Review · Platformer · Web

Super Mario Upgrade

Reviewed: 15 Jun 2026

Web

Mistereee · 2023

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

55 /100

06010030BenefitLow riskB 38 · R 0
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

38

Risk (RIS)

0

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.54
B2Social-emotional
0.00
B3Motor
0.55

Super Mario Upgrade offers significant cognitive benefits through its platforming challenges, requiring players to develop problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and strategic thinking to navigate levels and utilize upgrades effectively. The adaptive challenge system, where players upgrade after each death, promotes learning transfer and resilience. Motor skills such as hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, and reaction time are also actively engaged.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

Risks are minimal, primarily limited to mild cartoon violence typical of the Super Mario franchise. There are no manipulative design mechanics, monetization pressures, or social risks identified.

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 Upgrade safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Super Mario Upgrade a rating of 55/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Super Mario Upgrade appropriate for?

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

How long should kids play Super Mario Upgrade?

Our session recommendation for Super Mario Upgrade 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 Upgrade?

Risks are minimal, primarily limited to mild cartoon violence typical of the Super Mario franchise. There are no manipulative design mechanics, monetization pressures, or social risks identified.