Review · Action · Xbox One · PlayStation 4
This War of Mine: The Little Ones
By the LumiKin editors
Reviewed: 01 May 2026
Xbox One · PlayStation 4
Deep Silver · 2016
LumiScore
64/100
Good
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
90min
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 | Dopamine 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.
Heads up
- Monthly spendTypical real-money spend by engaged players: $0–0/mo.