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Tharsis

Review · RPG · PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch · iOS

Tharsis

Reviewed: 17 May 2026

PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch · iOS · PC · macOS

Choice Provisions · 2016

Ludograph rating

B

Good

61 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 45 · R 6
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

45

Risk (RIS)

6

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.68
B2Social-emotional
0.30
B3Motor
0.10

Tharsis is a challenging turn-based strategy game that heavily engages problem-solving, strategic thinking, and critical thinking as players manage a crew through a series of disasters on a mission to Mars. The game also presents significant ethical dilemmas, particularly with the inclusion of cannibalism as a survival mechanic, fostering emotional regulation and ethical reasoning.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.13
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game presents very low risks in terms of compulsion-loop design, monetization, and social interaction, as it is a single-player experience with no microtransactions or social features. Content risks are moderate due to the themes of violence (cannibalism) and fear/horror related to survival and maintaining sanity in space.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.00
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.67

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~4 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Tharsis safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Tharsis a rating of 61/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Tharsis appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Tharsis, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Tharsis?

Our session recommendation for Tharsis 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 Tharsis?

The game presents very low risks in terms of compulsion-loop design, monetization, and social interaction, as it is a single-player experience with no microtransactions or social features. Content risks are moderate due to the themes of violence (cannibalism) and fear/horror related to survival and maintaining sanity in space.