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Synonymy

Review · Strategy · macOS · PC · iOS

Synonymy

Reviewed: 30 May 2026

macOS · PC · iOS

Christopher Cinq-Mars Jarvis · 2014

Ludograph rating

B

Good

59 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 45 · R 14
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

45

Risk (RIS)

14

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

10+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.74
B2Social-emotional
0.20
B3Motor
0.10

Synonymy is a highly educational and engaging word game that significantly boosts cognitive skills such as problem-solving, strategic thinking, critical thinking, and language acquisition. Its unique approach to exploring word networks, combined with global challenges, fosters a positive learning environment. The game promotes learning transfer by encouraging players to apply linguistic knowledge in novel ways.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.17
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.28

While largely beneficial, Synonymy's competitive global challenges could lead to mild social comparison or a sense of obligation to participate. The public sharing of completed paths on social media also presents a minor privacy consideration. The game's design includes minimal elements of compulsion-loop design, such as variable rewards from finding paths and FOMO from weekly challenges, but these are not central to its engagement model.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.00
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 — Not yet assessed·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.
  • 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~4 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Synonymy safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Synonymy a rating of 59/100. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

How long should kids play Synonymy?

Our session recommendation for Synonymy 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 Synonymy?

While largely beneficial, Synonymy's competitive global challenges could lead to mild social comparison or a sense of obligation to participate. The public sharing of completed paths on social media also presents a minor privacy consideration. The game's design includes minimal elements of compulsion-loop design, such as variable rewards from finding paths and FOMO from weekly challenges, but thes