Review · Action · Xbox One · PlayStation 4
This War of Mine: The Little Ones
Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026
Xbox One · PlayStation 4
Deep Silver · 2016
Ludograph rating
B
Good
64 /100
This War of Mine: The Little Ones is an action-survival game that fosters empathy and strategic planning in a challenging scenario, with intense emotional demands.
Growth (BDS)
57
Risk (RIS)
26
Daily limit
–
Age guidance
17+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.68 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.67 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.15 | |
This War of Mine: The Little Ones offers a powerful and thought-provoking experience, fostering empathy, critical thinking, and strategic planning in a challenging survival scenario. The addition of children introduces a strong element of emotional regulation and ethical reasoning as players make difficult choices to protect vulnerable characters. It encourages players to consider the devastating impact of war on civilians and develop problem-solving skills under duress.
Design risks
| R1 | Compulsion-loop pressure | 0.27 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.56 | |
The game's significant risks lie in its intense emotional and psychological demands. The constant struggle for survival, difficult moral choices, and grim atmosphere can lead to high stress and potential emotional distress, particularly with the inclusion of children. The game penalizes breaks, which can lead to extended play sessions, and the lack of natural stopping points might make it difficult for players to disengage. The heavy themes of violence, deprivation, and difficult ethical dilemmas are significant content risks.
Content (not in risk score)
| R4.1 | Violence Level | 1.00 | |
| R4.2 | Sexual Content | 0.00 | |
| R4.3 | Language | 0.67 | |
| R4.4 | Substance References | 0.67 | |
| R4.5 | Fear / Horror | 1.00 | |
Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.
Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: concerns noted·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. Likely violations: unmoderated stranger contact that likely exposes personal data.
- 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.