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Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA

Review · Action · PC · PlayStation 4 · PS Vita

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA

Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026

PC · PlayStation 4 · PS Vita · iOS · Android · PlayStation 5 · Nintendo Switch

NIS America · 2017

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

71 /100

Automated review

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA is an action RPG that encourages reading and language skills, and hand-eye coordination through its challenging narrative and combat.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 55 · R 2
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

55

Risk (RIS)

2

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.60
B2Social-emotional
0.40
B3Motor
0.65

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA offers a rich action RPG experience that encourages problem-solving, strategic thinking, and critical analysis through its challenging combat and mysterious narrative. Players will develop hand-eye coordination and reaction time while engaging with a compelling story of survival and discovery on a cursed island. The game promotes empathy and ethical reasoning through its character interactions and the goal of forming a supportive village.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.03
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

While Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA is largely free of manipulative design mechanics and monetization pressures, its ESRB T rating indicates moderate fantasy violence and mild suggestive themes. Players should be aware of these content elements, though they are not designed to be overly graphic or exploitative. The game's single-player nature and lack of online social features mitigate risks associated with social comparison, competitive toxicity, and stranger interaction.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.33
R4.3Language
0.33
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~5 hReviewedApr 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA a rating of 71/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA?

Our session recommendation for Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA 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 Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA?

While Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA is largely free of manipulative design mechanics and monetization pressures, its ESRB T rating indicates moderate fantasy violence and mild suggestive themes. Players should be aware of these content elements, though they are not designed to be overly graphic or exploitative. The game's single-player nature and lack of online social features mitigate risks associat