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Through the Darkest of Times

Review · Adventure · macOS · Xbox One · PlayStation 4

Through the Darkest of Times

Reviewed: 17 May 2026

macOS · Xbox One · PlayStation 4 · PC · iOS

Handy Games · 2020

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

72 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 57 · R 2
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

57

Risk (RIS)

2

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.78
B2Social-emotional
0.53
B3Motor
0.10

Through the Darkest of Times is a deeply engaging strategy game that immerses players in a critical period of history. It fosters strong cognitive skills like problem-solving, strategic and critical thinking, and historical understanding. Players develop empathy and ethical reasoning by leading a resistance group against an oppressive regime, making difficult moral choices. The educational aspect provides valuable learning transfer about the past.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.03
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game contains moderate content risks due to its historical setting, including implied violence, some strong language, and themes of fear and tension associated with fighting a totalitarian state. However, it exhibits very low risks for compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social risks, as it is a single-player experience with no microtransactions or manipulative design mechanics.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.33
R4.4Substance References
0.33
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.67

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~2 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Through the Darkest of Times safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Through the Darkest of Times a rating of 72/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is Through the Darkest of Times appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Through the Darkest of Times, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Through the Darkest of Times?

Our session recommendation for Through the Darkest of Times 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 Through the Darkest of Times?

The game contains moderate content risks due to its historical setting, including implied violence, some strong language, and themes of fear and tension associated with fighting a totalitarian state. However, it exhibits very low risks for compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social risks, as it is a single-player experience with no microtransactions or manipulative design mechanics.