Compare this game
That Dragon, Cancer

Review · Adventure · iOS · PC · Linux

That Dragon, Cancer

Reviewed: 02 May 2026

iOS · PC · Linux · Android · macOS

Numinous Games · 2016

Ludograph rating

D

Caution

40 /100

Automated review

That Dragon, Cancer is an adventure game that fosters empathy and critical thinking about profound life themes, but may be emotionally challenging for some players.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 25 · R 4
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

25

Risk (RIS)

4

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

10+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.34
B2Social-emotional
0.33
B3Motor
0.10

That Dragon, Cancer offers a deeply moving and reflective experience, fostering empathy and critical thinking about profound life themes such as love, loss, faith, and hope. Its narrative-driven design provides a unique opportunity for emotional processing and personal reflection.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game's intense themes of death, despair, and helplessness may be emotionally challenging for some players, particularly younger or more sensitive individuals. While not manipulative, the emotional weight requires careful consideration.

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
0.67

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~2 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is That Dragon, Cancer safe for kids?

Ludograph gives That Dragon, Cancer a rating of 40/100, recommended for ages 10 and up. There are notable risks worth knowing before letting kids play.

What age is That Dragon, Cancer appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 10+ for That Dragon, Cancer, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is more lenient than ESRB T: industry ratings reflect content intensity, while ours also weighs how the game is designed to be played.

How long should kids play That Dragon, Cancer?

Our session recommendation for That Dragon, Cancer 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 That Dragon, Cancer?

The game's intense themes of death, despair, and helplessness may be emotionally challenging for some players, particularly younger or more sensitive individuals. While not manipulative, the emotional weight requires careful consideration.