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The Dweller

Review · Strategy · PC · Linux

The Dweller

Reviewed: 27 May 2026

PC · Linux

Villainous Games · 2016

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

48 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 32 · R 0
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

32

Risk (RIS)

0

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

15+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.62
B2Social-emotional
0.00
B3Motor
0.05

The Dweller is a puzzle game that strongly exercises problem-solving, spatial awareness, strategic thinking, and critical thinking skills. Players must carefully plan their monster's movements and utilize environmental elements to eliminate archaeologists, fostering strong cognitive development.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game depicts mild violence and horror themes as players embody a monster eliminating human intruders. This content is presented in a somewhat trivialized manner, focusing on cartoonish actions rather than realistic gore.

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
0.33

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

Parents ask…

Is The Dweller safe for kids?

Ludograph gives The Dweller a rating of 48/100, recommended for ages 15 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is The Dweller appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 15+ for The Dweller, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play The Dweller?

Our session recommendation for The Dweller 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 The Dweller?

The game depicts mild violence and horror themes as players embody a monster eliminating human intruders. This content is presented in a somewhat trivialized manner, focusing on cartoonish actions rather than realistic gore.