Compare this game

Review · Educational · Web

Work In Progress: A Tale of Depression

Reviewed: 12 May 2026

Web

lgkurtz · 2020

Ludograph rating

B

Good

58 /100

Automated review

Work In Progress: A Tale of Depression is an educational game that fosters empathy and understanding of mental health challenges, with sensitive content related to depression.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 41 · R 0
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

41

Risk (RIS)

0

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

10+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.52
B2Social-emotional
0.43
B3Motor
0.10

The game fosters empathy and understanding of mental health challenges, specifically depression. It encourages problem-solving and strategic thinking in managing daily life and emotional well-being.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game contains sensitive content related to mental illness that may cause unease for some players. There is minimal risk of compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, or social risks due to its single-player, narrative-focused design.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.00
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.33
R4.4Substance References
0.00
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.

ReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Work In Progress: A Tale of Depression safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Work In Progress: A Tale of Depression a rating of 58/100, recommended for ages 10 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Work In Progress: A Tale of Depression appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 10+ for Work In Progress: A Tale of Depression, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Work In Progress: A Tale of Depression?

Our session recommendation for Work In Progress: A Tale of Depression 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 Work In Progress: A Tale of Depression?

The game contains sensitive content related to mental illness that may cause unease for some players. There is minimal risk of compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, or social risks due to its single-player, narrative-focused design.