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The Last Guardian

Review · Action · PlayStation 4

The Last Guardian

Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026

PlayStation 4

SIE Japan Studio · 2016

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

68 /100

Automated review

The Last Guardian is an action-puzzle game that builds problem-solving and empathy through a unique bond with a large creature, with mild violence.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 52 · R 0
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

52

Risk (RIS)

0

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.48
B2Social-emotional
0.63
B3Motor
0.45

The Last Guardian offers a deeply emotional and engaging experience centered around problem-solving, spatial awareness, and strategic thinking, fostering a unique bond between the player and the AI companion, Trico. It encourages empathy and communication through cooperative gameplay.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game contains mild violence and some potentially eerie or frightening elements, consistent with its T-rating. However, it exhibits no manipulative design mechanics, monetization pressures, or social risks.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.33
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~7 hReviewedApr 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is The Last Guardian safe for kids?

Ludograph gives The Last Guardian a rating of 68/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is The Last Guardian appropriate for?

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

How long should kids play The Last Guardian?

Our session recommendation for The Last Guardian 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 Last Guardian?

The game contains mild violence and some potentially eerie or frightening elements, consistent with its T-rating. However, it exhibits no manipulative design mechanics, monetization pressures, or social risks.