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Super Metroid

Review · Action · Wii U · Nintendo 3DS · Wii

Super Metroid

Reviewed: 18 May 2026

Wii U · Nintendo 3DS · Wii · SNES

Nintendo · 1994

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

68 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 53 · R 5
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

53

Risk (RIS)

5

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.78
B2Social-emotional
0.03
B3Motor
0.65

Super Metroid offers a rich, challenging exploration experience that significantly develops cognitive skills such as problem-solving, spatial awareness, strategic thinking, critical thinking, memory, and learning transfer. Its precise controls also enhance hand-eye coordination and reaction time.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.10
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

While Super Metroid is largely free of manipulative design, it does incorporate some variable rewards from enemies. The game's content includes mild fantasy violence and some suspenseful moments, but these are generally appropriate for its E rating.

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
0.33

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~6 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Super Metroid safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Super Metroid a rating of 68/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is Super Metroid appropriate for?

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

Our session recommendation for Super Metroid 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 Metroid?

While Super Metroid is largely free of manipulative design, it does incorporate some variable rewards from enemies. The game's content includes mild fantasy violence and some suspenseful moments, but these are generally appropriate for its E rating.