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This is the Police

Review · Adventure · Android · Linux · macOS

This is the Police

Reviewed: 01 May 2026

Android · Linux · macOS · PC · iOS · Xbox One · PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch

THQ Nordic · 2016

Ludograph rating

B

Good

65 /100

Automated review

This is the Police is a strategy and simulation game that challenges problem solving and critical thinking, but deals with mature themes.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 53 · R 15
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

53

Risk (RIS)

15

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.72
B2Social-emotional
0.47
B3Motor
0.15

This is the Police offers a deep strategic and simulation experience, challenging players with complex ethical dilemmas and resource management. It fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical reasoning through its narrative-driven gameplay.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.30
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.06

The game's mature themes of corruption, violence, and moral ambiguity, combined with references to substance abuse and strong language, make it unsuitable for younger audiences. While not designed for manipulative engagement, the strategic depth and ongoing narrative can encourage extended play sessions.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.33
R4.3Language
0.67
R4.4Substance References
0.67
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~6 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is This is the Police safe for kids?

Ludograph gives This is the Police a rating of 65/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is This is the Police appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for This is the Police, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is more lenient than ESRB M: industry ratings reflect content intensity, while ours also weighs how the game is designed to be played.

How long should kids play This is the Police?

Our session recommendation for This is the Police 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 This is the Police?

The game's mature themes of corruption, violence, and moral ambiguity, combined with references to substance abuse and strong language, make it unsuitable for younger audiences. While not designed for manipulative engagement, the strategic depth and ongoing narrative can encourage extended play sessions.