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Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

Review · Adventure · iOS · Atari ST · SEGA Master System

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

Reviewed: 17 May 2026

iOS · Atari ST · SEGA Master System · Classic Macintosh · Apple II · Atari 8-bit · Commodore / Amiga · NES · PC · macOS

Origin Systems · 1985

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

78 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 64 · R 0
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

64

Risk (RIS)

0

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.84
B2Social-emotional
0.50
B3Motor
0.35

Ultima IV is a classic RPG that challenges players with complex ethical dilemmas and a rich, story-driven world. It fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and empathy through its unique 'Quest of the Avatar' system, where players must embody virtues to progress. The expansive world encourages exploration and spatial awareness, while dialogue improvements enhance reading and language skills. It offers a deep, engaging experience with minimal modern manipulative design.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

As an older RPG, Ultima IV presents minimal modern risks. Its content includes some fantasy violence and potentially mild fear elements within dungeons, but it lacks the compulsion-loop design, monetization pressures, or social risks common in contemporary games. Representation of gender and ethnicity is limited, reflecting its era.

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
0.33

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~1 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar a rating of 78/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar?

Our session recommendation for Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar 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 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar?

As an older RPG, Ultima IV presents minimal modern risks. Its content includes some fantasy violence and potentially mild fear elements within dungeons, but it lacks the compulsion-loop design, monetization pressures, or social risks common in contemporary games. Representation of gender and ethnicity is limited, reflecting its era.