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The Next Penelope

Review · Action · Nintendo Switch · PC · macOS

The Next Penelope

Reviewed: 15 May 2026

Nintendo Switch · PC · macOS

Seaven Studio · 2015

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

47 /100

The Next Penelope is an action racing game that builds strategic thinking and hand-eye coordination with its fast-paced and challenging gameplay.

06010030BenefitLow riskB 33 · R 16
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

33

Risk (RIS)

16

Daily limit

90min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.46
B2Social-emotional
0.17
B3Motor
0.65

The Next Penelope is a fast-paced action racing game that demands strategic thinking and quick reflexes. Players will develop strong hand-eye coordination and reaction time as they navigate challenging courses and utilize a risk-reward system for weapons and abilities. The game's open-ended exploration of planets allows for adaptive challenge, as players can choose their own path and tackle new situations. Local multiplayer encourages teamwork and communication.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.13
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.06

The game's competitive nature in multiplayer could lead to some toxicity, but it's not a core mechanic. The presence of violence is minimal and cartoonish.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.33
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 · DSAAssessed: meets criteria·GDPR-KAssessed: meets criteria·ODDSAssessed: 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.

Parents ask…

Is The Next Penelope safe for kids?

Ludograph gives The Next Penelope a rating of 47/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is The Next Penelope appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for The Next Penelope, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play The Next Penelope?

Our session recommendation for The Next Penelope is up to 90 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 Next Penelope?

The game's competitive nature in multiplayer could lead to some toxicity, but it's not a core mechanic. The presence of violence is minimal and cartoonish.