As we inch closer to fall and winter, children will be spending more time indoors. So why not fill that time with a few games that are perfect for kids? This is why we hand-selected our favorite children's games, ranging from educational titles to simple games that are easily controlled.
If you've been on the hunt for the best Android games that are perfect for children, forgoing the awful monetization found in most titles, you've come to the right place. No matter your kid's interest, there's a game in today's roundup that will float their boat. Oh, and if you require a controller for your kid, here's a selection of the best controllers for Android.
Townscaper is a sandbox game that's about building beautiful Italian cities in the middle of the ocean. Building these gorgeous towns is as simple as tapping the screen; that's it. It's so easy that a young child can do it, which is why Townscaper is an excellent game for children. There's nothing to read, and there are no goals. The game looks great, and it plays great. It's a perfect game for all ages, and it's a hoot to boot, so don't miss out. This one's a classic in waiting.
Collection games are all the rage, but it's challenging to find titles that aren't designed to empty wallets. This is precisely why Deep Loot has found a good bit of success, especially with youngsters. The gameplay is fair, scratching the collection itch without breaking the bank. The goal is to collect loot that can be used to unlock new diving suits and larger fishing boats, which is how the player progresses, by incrementally improving their gear in their quest to unearth the best loot possible.
This brand-filled game title may be confusing, seeing Duplo, LEGO, and Marvel team up for one game. That's what a good superhero game is all about, teamwork. You'll find a few mini-games, and you can purchase more games once you run through what's provided. Heck, if you don't want to purchase new mini-games piecemeal, there's an optional subscription that provides access to every mini-game released.
If you or your kid is a fan of LEGO, Duplo, or Marvel, there's a lot to like here that little kids can easily handle. Its bite-sized gameplay offers more than a few enjoyable scenarios starring everyone's favorite Marvel characters in Duplo/LEGO form.
Unlike most Pokémon games on Android, Pokémon Playhouse is free and designed to appeal to children. Kids can interact with several Pokémon while exploring various locations. There's even a grooming aspect that's similar to what you would find in a Tamagotchi game. This casual exploration game offers a few mini-games, all designed to target kids between the ages of 3 and 5, so it is the perfect introduction to the property for children that can't yet read.
Molly of Denali - Go on an Alaskan Adventure comes from PBS Kids, and it's a tie-in product for the station's TV show of the same name. This is a kids game that targets children ages 4 to 8, and it offers mini-games themed around the show where the player can explore nature. It's a free release that does not contain in-app purchases or advertisements. If you're looking for a fair game for children between the ages of 4 and 8, Molly of Denali is a safe choice.
Pet Bingo by Duck Duck Moose is an educational math game for children between the ages of 5 and 10. This title is free to download and use, plus it contains a slew of math skills to learn, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, measurements, and geometry. This way, your child should be covered no matter their current learning level. If you would like more content, check out the rest of Duck Duck Moose's excellent catalog.
Tomorrow Corporation has offered several quirky games for mobile, and the quirkiest is Little Inferno, a game about burning toys in a fireplace. Trial and error is often the key to success, which means just about anyone can play, including small children. After all, who doesn't get a kick out of lighting stuff on fire, especially kids? So instead of letting little Jimmy burn your house down as he experiments with real matches, let the little devil live out his destructive fantasies through this quirky and enjoyable game.
Toca Boca is one of those publishers that stick to their guns. All its games are free of in-app purchases, open-ended, and gender-neutral. Its most popular release, Toca Kitchen 2, is, in our opinion, a perfect example of its ethical design. In the same vein as Cooking Mama, it is a fun cooking game that allows kids to explore any wacky combination of food they can think of and serves it to an NPC for humorous results.
Tornado Time Free is an older game but a good one. It's simple in scope, as there's only one stage, and you only have one goal, destroy as much of the town as possible. Basically, it is your job to get the highest score by demolishing a small town. While this type of setup is repetitive, we doubt many children will notice the lack of variety. Plus, it's super fun to destroy the town over and over again. What kid wouldn't enjoy that?
Gocco Zoo offers an enjoyable game where you raise zoo animals as well as paint them. Heck, you can even invent new species of animals if that's what floats your boat. This title mixes the fun of a painting app with the joy you get from taking care of digital creatures. If you enjoy feeding animals as well as slathering them with beautiful colors, this is the game for you, you weirdo.
Starfall is an educational app that offers simple content for pre-K users through third grade. The app provides many games that delve into popular subjects like reading, math, and singing. An internet connection is required to play, so this is a title best played at home. If your child is just learning their ABCs and 123s, Starfall is a quality choice that won't break the bank.
Niantic is well known for its augmented reality collection game Pokémon GO and is at the forefront of AR tech. Even though most of the studio's games follow a similar design, Pikmin Bloom is a little different from the rest. This is a game about walking, and the goal, always, is to walk, so think of it as a fun step counter. What makes it fun is that the entire thing is themed around Nintendo's Pikmin franchise, and you'll get to grow Pikmin from seedlings with every step you take.
Yes, the game contains in-app purchases, but the shortcuts Niantic sells aren't necessary if your goal is to walk. If you'd like to get your kid out and about with an app that encourages healthy activity, perhaps Pikmin Bloom is what you're looking for.
LEGO City Explorers is a rocket launching game, much like Kerbal Space Program. It's inspired by NASA, and it contains a bunch of videos of real-life astronauts at work, which we would have loved when we were kids. It would also appear that the game ties into a few of LEGO's retail models, which should add an extra layer of interactivity to the game if you plan to purchase those specific products for your kids.
Much like LEGO, Playmobil tends to release free mobile games as advertising for its block-building toy line. These games are often delightful, and PLAYMOBIL Mars Mission definitely fits this description. It serves as an educational game of sorts, though much of the gameplay revolves around collection-based missions. Despite the slightly repetitive gameplay, it's a fun little game, though we're not too sure how "educational" it is. At the very least, your kids should have a blast as they explore Mars in this PLAYMOBIL release.
Avokiddo is a well-known developer of children's games, and even though the developer isn't as active as it once was, Thinkrolls Space is still a standout title few have heard of. More or less, this is a puzzle game where you use colorful heroes as gap fillers to roll your way to the end of each stage. It's a simple maze-like setup any child should enjoy, and thanks to simple controls, children can play this game without help. If you're looking for something quirky and entertaining for your youngster, Thinkrolls Space is a gem in the rough that shouldn't be missed.
Kids is an odd little game that only lasts up to thirty minutes of playtime, so be aware that this title is more about the experience than about long-lasting gameplay. Luckily, what's beneath the surface is worth the asking price. The black-and-white art is probably the first thing most people notice, which is simple yet striking.
The gameplay, if you can call it that, revolves around moving with and against crowds to see which choices empty the stage first. The mechanics are intuitive, and the black-and-white cartoony design should appeal to children, making this a fun little title to play around with just to see what happens.
If you're looking for something educational and something centered around phonics and reading for children between the ages of 3 and 6, Teach Your Monster to Read is a game to check out. It's monetized appropriately as a premium release, the art is slick, and the gameplay is enjoyable. Plus, your kid might learn a few things, which is always a bonus. If encouraging your child's reading comprehension is a top priority, Teach Your Monster to Read is a great way to allow them to enjoy the process.
Sure, the Lego Star Wars series was recently remastered, but this is the older collection that offers the original graphics and storylines, and it still holds up. That's right, this is a full-fledged console port available on Android, and since it's a kid-friendly series, it's a perfect title for today's roundup. Sure, there's nothing educational about this release, but it offers plenty of fun that's appropriate for a child of any age as long as they have the dexterity for touch controls.
While games are great for annoyingly-hot afternoons, too much screen time may have negative effects on your child's health. Finding healthy activities is better for you and your child's physical health and overall well-being. If you want to limit screen time for you or your kid, taking a few minutes to set up Android's Digital Wellbeing feature is an excellent way to cut down on excessive smartphone use.