If you’ve got kids, you’ll relate to the feeling of exasperation when you need to distract your kid and get some work done. However, rather than idling their time away with some insignificant games, you could expose them to games that could improve their cognitive or physical abilities. Yes, they exist!
Keeping this in mind, I have listed some of the best iPhone and iPad games for kids. I am sure they will love them.
- Kids games for 2,3,4 year olds
- Angry Birds 2
- LEGO DUPLO WORLD
- Fruit Ninja
- Pokemon GO
- What Would You Choose?
- Sago Mini First Words
- Crossy Road
- Puzzingo
- Despicable Me
1. Kids games for 2,3,4 year olds: Best educational game
The first five years of a child will house some of their most important experiences. At this age, cognitive abilities often develop the fastest. So when you’re exposing them to games, you’d want these games to aid their development.
Kids games for 2, 3, 4 year olds helps improve children’s ability to understand and implement instructions. From problem-solving skills to creative nuances, you’ll find games catering to almost every aspect of a child’s development.
The app uses cartoon characters to keep a hold of the kid’s attention span. These characters interact with the children based on their responses to the games. It’s almost as if the characters were holding the child’s hands and walking them through different games.
Age: 0-5 years | Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
2. Angry Birds 2: Best turn-based strategy game
The Angry Birds franchise has been a huge hit ever since it was released in 2009. Since then, it has been updated keeping in mind the rapid change in the available technology. There’s even an Augmented Reality version of this game now!
Regardless, you’ll find that it’s a puzzle game at its core. In fact, this game improves logical thinking as well as hand-eye coordination. Hence, I’d highly recommend this game for kids aged 4 and above.
The graphics and audio of this game will keep the kids’ attention for a long period of time. Moreover, the levels keep increasing the difficulty, thereby adding a layer of challenge to the gameplay.
However, this game can be addictive. Parents should watch the amount of exposure that their children get to it.
Age: 4+ | Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
3. LEGO DUPLO WORLD: Good alternative for preschoolers
LEGO continues to be a popular franchise amongst children and adults alike. Even a couple of decades ago, LEGO building blocks were used as a creative tool to foster imaginative abilities in kids. Since children are now exposed to mobile phones at an early age, LEGO DUPLO WORLD is a good choice for preschool kids to learn.
The game is open-ended in its experience and uses different strategies such as Number Train and Family Camping to teach kids various skills. You’ll find logical reasoning exercises and activities that allow your child’s creative tendencies to shine through.
LEGO DUPLO WORLD is a worthy download. Fair warning though – the in-app purchases can be a bit expensive.
Age: 0-5 | Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $3.99)
4. Fruit Ninja: Best for improving motor skills
Fruit Ninja has been one of the most popular games for mobile phones ever since modern smartphones became pervasive. To this date, I still enjoy slashing and cutting random fruits on my screen.
It’s also a game that can greatly improve hand-eye coordination as your reflexes have to be fast to achieve a high score. If you have a kid that’s 4 years or older, Fruit Ninja will keep them entertained.
There’s also a small strategy element to the game as the player has to slice certain fruits, which give them boosts. Your kids will remain attentive as there are innumerable in-game blades to collect and different modes to provide them with specific challenges.
What I didn’t like about its latest version is its in-game currencies. They’re important to continue progress in the game but can mostly be bought only with real-world money.
Age: 4+ | Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
5. Pokemon GO: Best for physical activity
It’s easy for kids these days to become lazy under the influence of the plethora of technologies at their fingertips. If you want your child to be active from an early age, Pokemon GO is a fair option.
This game has been a sensation and is still one of the best iPhone games. As an AR game, Pokemon GO requires you and your child to take walks outside to catch Pokemon in the wild.
Since the game uses augmented reality, your child will be giving their full attention as they see a 3D Pokemon on the phone screen. The gameplay is simple but will require them to walk around and become active.
It also inculcates logical thinking in your child, as they will need to use strategies to catch the Pokemon. Overall, Pokemon GO is a good package for children aged 9 years and above.
The app needs a few patches to fix some glaring issues you’ll come across. However, it won’t hamper your child’s experience.
Age: 9+ | Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
6. What Would You Choose? Rather: Best party game
Have you ever faced trouble getting your kids to join for a night of family games? Or have you found it difficult for different kids to gel together and make friends? What Would You Choose? Rather would be a perfect conversation starter for them.
This is a party game with good and safe content for kids. Moreover, it makes for a perfect game filled with fun for the whole family.
The premise of the game is simple. Different prompts will set up two unlikely scenarios, and the player has to choose one of the options given to them. These scenarios are often hilarious and can break the ice and start interesting conversations.
I’d recommend this game for kids aged above 10 years old. However, you’ll have to remember that the prompts are often repeated, and the game can get repetitive after you’ve played it multiple times.
Age: 12+ | Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $1.99)
7. Sago Mini First Words
Speech development is one of the most important facets of a growing child. With the Sago Mini First Words app, it gets much easier to handle your child’s growth in terms of dialogues and articulation.
The app provides multiple fun games to aid your child’s speech therapy. These games are based on proven methods and have been designed with speech pathologists to ensure your child gets the care they deserve!
Each game has been personalized to help children under the age of 5. Moreover, the app uses interactive videos to teach your toddler the perfect ways to use their first words. There are hundreds of videos based on your child’s development, and monthly updates ensure that none of the games or methods are outdated.
Age: 0-5 years | Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
8. Crossy Road: Best arcade game for kids
This game tries to answer the age-old question, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” While you may not find the answer here, what you do find is a great arcade game for kids.
The game requires timing and strategy as the chicken has to get to the other side by avoiding multiple obstacles. Crossy Road is an endless game and continues to get more challenging as the game goes on.
This is a great game for kids aged 9 and above. Not only will it improve their logical skills but also aid their motor reflexes.
Nonetheless, it suffers from one of the most common problems of these “endless runner” games. It can get boring after playing it for a substantial amount of time.
Age: 9+ | Price: Free (in-app purchases start at $0.99)
9. Puzzingo: Best puzzle game for kids
Puzzingo has many puzzles to help your child’s creative output and keep them entertained. The game has over 100 puzzles brought to life with lively animations and interactivity. These puzzles are made to help your child learn and aid their memory, spatial recognition, and fine motor skills.
Your child will have a gala time as they try to put shapes, letters, and numbers in order. This amount of interactivity also helps their cognitive skills to develop. Moreover, the game is updated frequently, so your children will have new things to try.
However, you will have to pay a premium to access all the puzzles.
Age: 0-5 | Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $2.99)
10. Despicable Me: Minion Run – An alternative arcade game for kids
Kids love the Despicable Me movies. The most enjoyable characters of the series continue to be incomprehensible Minions. This game lets you take control of a Minion in a Subway Surfer-esque situation.
Despicable Me: Minion Run is an endless runner game that brings a range of environments for your Minion to rush through. Dodging obstacles and acquiring boosts along the way, the reflexes have to be fast to achieve a high score.
There’s even a small story element that keeps your child engaged. They have to help the Minions build a treehouse and collect a large amount of wood and hammers. It is a perfect casual game for kids aged 9 and above.
However, I found the game to be repetitive in the later stages. So, children may lose interest after a while.
Age: 9+ | Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
That’s it!
It can be difficult to find the best games for kids in the App Store due to the large content available. Nonetheless, I’ve tried to curate the best iPhone games for kids based on different requirements.
Have I missed out on a game that your kid loves? Post your thoughts in the comments below.
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