Imagine being a kid in this generation. Some kids today are able to enjoy technology like we never had back when we were kids. From iPods and iPads, to iMacs, MacBooks, and gaming consoles, kids nowadays have so much technology around them that it is extremely hard to imagine how it would have been like for us.
The good thing is, electronics aren’t only for entertainment either, but they can be used as learning tools that develop your children’s motor skills, comprehension, creativeness, and so much more. With that in mind, we’ve gathered up some of the coolest children games in the Mac App Store. Some of them are just games, while others are meant to be learning games. So, quit Coda or iWork for a bit, and let your children enjoy some of these games.
Color by Numbers – Flowers
Color By Numbers is a fun coloring game for the whole family, but the children will be the ones playing with it the most. With background music, high-quality drawings, visual effects, and many different pictures and modes, your children will enjoy this game. The only down side is that Color by Number has many different types of itself, and the pricing isn’t very forgiving. However, if your kids are into drawing and painting, try this one out.
Price: $4.99
Planet Horse
Have children who constantly ask you to buy them a horse? You have to put yourself in their shoes… You want a new Skyline GTR or a Ferrari, right? You can’t get those, so you get Grand Turismo or Forza instead. The same thing is applicable with children. Try this game out. Planet Horse is a sweet horse simulator game that allows you or your kids to play with many different breed of horses in cross-country events. If there is anything that could make the game better, it would be the addition of a free-roaming mode.
Price: $14.99
Lola’s Alphabet Train
This is our first “learn the alphabet through gaming” game where… you learn the alphabet through gaming! This educational game helps your kids learn the alphabet as they progress through the game. This app also has different variations of itself, but it is fairly priced, so buying two of them won’t make you hate the developer.
Price: $3.99
Color by Numbers – Princess
This is one of those spin-offs from our first item. I figured I would point this one out in particular because it is the only one geared towards girls. So, if you happen to have a daughter who’s into princess stuff — and what little girl isn’t — give this game a try. Sadly the price is still a bit high, but the game isn’t bad.
Price: $4.99
Cars 2: The Video Games
Geared towards kids, Cars 2 is really for the whole family, specially those who enjoy the Cars franchise. As you may have guessed, the game is inspired by Pixar’s animated film, Cars. In it, you will be able to participate in races while riding your favorite characters from the movie. You will follow the storyline stablished by the films, so kids of all ages will want to play this one.
Price: $14.99
Muffin Knight
Muffin Knight is an awesome game that while, yes, it is on this list, it can really be for anyone. This game is silly and quite addictive. This platformer game follows the story of a little boy who encounters magical muffins. If that ins’t a good reason to be interested in this game, I don’t know what is. But really, give it a try!
Price: $4.99
ArithmeTick – Math Flash Cards
ArithmeTick is our first math learning game that, as you may have imagined, teaches you math stuff! This game will give your kids the adding and multiplying skills they need. The only down side to this game is that it doesn’t feel like a game. There are gaming aspects, but it feels way too much like homework.
Price: $1.99
Cupcake Baker
What if your little daughter wants to bake, but you want her to practice before she gets in the kitchen and makes the whole place look like a twister just went through it? Well, this game here will help you with just that. Made for kids ages three and up, this baking sim will help your little one feel like she is a master chef ready to get up on one of those cooking shows. One of the reviewers quoted her eight year-old daughter who said: “It feels like you’re really cooking, and it’s fun.”
Price: $2.99
Heydooda! The Kitty Says: Hello Animal Kids
This game is geared towards much, much younger children. It helps your children identify animals with ease. You can also get different packs with in-app purchases, thus eliminating the “animals-only” barrier. For its price, the game can stand out on its own, and since the in-app purchases are not expensive nor necessary, it isn’t a bad game to recommend.
Price: Free
Penguin Snowcap Challenge
Who’s into penguins that don’t dance with their “feet”? Well, you came to the right place! Penguin Snowcap Challenge is a cool downhill penguin racing game that will keep your little ones entertained for a few hours. The game itself is extremely easy, so it is extremely good for younger kids, but not so much for older kids who want a more challenging game.
Price: $0.99
Ninja Chicken
Have children who wish they were Ninjas? I was one of them, and the Power Rangers didn’t help much convincing me otherwise, but back in reality, check out Ninja Chicken! Ninja Chicken is a game aimed at children but great for the whole family. In this game you will help other chickens from the “jaws of doom” by defeating robot chickens and evil pigs. You just can’t go wrong with that.
Price: $4.99
Pig Rush
Pig Rush is a fun and simple platformer game that gives you control of this pig who escapes from a farm. Since it is a one-button platformer, it is extremely easy for children to get into. No need to learn a lot of complicated controls. Give this game a try.
Price: Free
Marble Arena 2
Welcome to the world of Marble Arena 2. Don’t let the name scare you, though. This game is family friendly, so everyone in the family can enjoy this game. Marble Arena is a physics-based game where you control the game’s structure in order to win. There is even a multiplayer component to it, so if you are looking for some friendly competition with the family, here is your chance!
Price: Free
When Pigs Fly
When Pigs Fly is a cute little game tailored for the little ones in the family. Normally I would say what the game is about, but instead, I will share the game’s description because it isn’t just another description, it is more like a little poem: “Penelope Pig always wanted to fly. Everyone told her not to even try. She never gave up and built a pair of wings. Oh yes! Oh yes! What beautiful things!”
Price: Free
Birds’n’Blocks
When you read this game’s title, you probably think about Angry Birds. Well, stop. There is a reason why Angry Birds didn’t make this list. Birds’n’Blocks is a cool little game that, instead of sending birds to their inevitable death, gives you the tools to save little birds by removing blocks. With 20 levels in the free version, your kids will have a good time helping out the little birds. There are 80 levels in total if you get the full version.
Price: Free
Giraffe’s Matching Zoo
This is another animal-matching game that was apparently reviewed by Martha Stewart. She said: “Special effects and catchy music make this matching game more fun each time you play.” Now, I’m not a Martha Stewart person, and you probably aren’t either, but she’s right (if she did say this, that is). This game is a great matching game that can help your kids learn as they play. Give it a try. It is free after all.
Price: Free
Cataline Kitty
Cataline Kitty is a rather well-received game that introduces you to the world of fabric, wool, and yarns. This game is also a physics-based puzzle game that puts you in control of Cataline. Your main mission is to get a meal, and to do this, you will have to get her across many obstacles. Give this one a try. It works best with kids who like cats!
Price: Free
Beginning
Beginning is a rather interesting game that helps your kids discovery languages and learn about different characters in a fun way. You can learn new words from each episode, and they are all accompanied by a great original score in the background. The game itself is intuitive for the kids, so there would be no complications when letting them use this game.
Price: Free
Tiny Plane
If the little ones are into planes and jets, this game is worth a look. Take control of a little hound and dodge obstacles as you collect power-ups. Your ultimate goal is to be toe-to-toe with your archenemy: the feline. You can have dogfights and go as high up as you can. Be careful with those power-downs, though!
Price: $1.99
Luntik. Puzzles
Welcome to the world of puzzle games for the little ones. In this educational games for children, your kids will undertake a wonderful jurney where they will meet Luntik and his friends. With friendly voices and controls, this cute puzzle game is perfect for kids on pre-school. This game also have a few spin offs, but the game itself is moderately priced, so it isn’t an extreme shore if you buy two or so.
Price: $2.99
Hogworld: Gnart’s Adventure
Want a fantastic story with beautiful graphics, great sounds, and suitable for children of ages four to eight? Check out Hogworld. This game is perhaps one of the best when it comes to stories. This interesting story will have your kids hooked! Oh, and if you are an adult and happen to like this tale, that’s alright!
Price: $4.99
abcs 123s Racing Adventure
Want to race and learn your ABCs and 123s at the same time? Check out this racing adventure that’ll have your kids learning this principles in no time. Your children can learn the sequence of letters and numbers, the difference between upper case and lower case, and ordinal numbers. My only problem with the game is its price…
Price: $8.99
Luntik Colors the World
Let’s head back into the world of coloring and let’s introduce you to one of Luntik’s spin offs. Luntik Colors the World is pretty much what you would expect from a coloring app, however the price is a bit more reasonable, and the characters you already know and love are present here. The game has easy controls so your children can quickly familiarize with it. Give it a try.
Price: $2.99
Read and Spell With Phonics 3
This game is specifically made for children who are in the process of learning how to read. With letter-sound relationships and exposing them to phonic rules and generalizations, children can have an awesome tool at their disposal. Leave your kid with this one, and watch them boost their confidence in terms of their reading skills. This game is a bit steep on the price as well, however.
Price: $8.99
Calc It!
Calc It puts your brain to the test with a fun and addictive experience. This challenging and competitive game is great for the whole family and with its high resolution graphics, you can’t go wrong with it. There are secrets to discover, so get on it and hunt them down.
Price: $1.99
Family Tic Tac Toe
Family Tic Tac Toe is a cute little take on the good old Tic Tac Toe game. You can choose from three boards, and then start gaming. You can play against family members, too, so everyone in the family can jump in and join in the fun. This game is also in HD, but for a Tic Tac Toe game, one dollar seems a bit pricy.
Price: $0.99
ULearn ABC
Are your kids learning the alphabet? Check out ULearn ABC. This game gives kids who are just learning to recite the alphabet a fun way to sharpen their skills. ULearn ABC is an interactive game that gives you rewards as you complete each area. Perfect if you want to give your children a head start.
Price: $2.99
Math Evolve: A Fun Math Game
This title reminds me of Halo… Anyways, Math Evolve, which has no relation to Halo Combat Evolved whatsoever, is a game about, well, math. Dubbed as the “holy grail of education math apps” by Best Apps for Kids, this fun, cute and engaging game will have your children learning about math with ease. There is a story mode to it as well, so those who like tales should give this one a try.
Price: $0.99
Farm School
This is yet another game that will help your kids learn about animals. You can learn about animals by sound, or by their pictures, but you can also play games with the animals and solve their day-to-day problems.
Price: $0.99
Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel – 3D Interactive Pop-up Book
Ah, yes, Hansel and Gretel. You know these characters very well, and so should your kids! In this interactive 3D game, you’ll delight your children with the ever-engaging story of Hansel and Gretel. Their adventures are even better with this pop-up book, so give it a try.
Price: $4.99
Multiplying Acorns – Tasty Math Facts
Multiplying Acorns is yet another cool and tasty math game that’ll have your children learning about math facts. The descriptions suggest that this app is best for a middle school student, so you are warned. This game helps your kids by visualizing the multiplication methods and understanding its concept. There are gold coins to collect as well, but probably not as many as the newest Mario game. Either way, check it out.
Price: Free
Abby – Basic Skills – Preschool
As the title may suggest, this game is for your preschoolers running around the house. This game will help your children understand many basic concepts. Things like shadows, sizes, colors, shapes, patterns, counting, letters, and more will be at your kid’s fingertips. With such low price, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Price: $0.99
Zoo Animals
This is yet another interactive game that will help your children familiarize themselves with animals. Packed with many features and a lot of animals, you can be certain that your children will get a lot out of this app. The only down side to this game is that it is priced a bit high compared to the other animal recognition games. Do some shopping around and see which one is best for you.
Price: $3.99
Baby Flash Cards
Alright, I know what you are going to say, but hear me out. While, yeah, this isn’t exactly a game, it does have some game components. Besides, this game is perfect for your children and great for giving them an edge when it comes to learning. This app is geared towards babies, so keep that in mind.
Price: $1.99
Stack The States
Stack the States is quite different from all the games in this roundup so far. This game focuses on teaching your children about the United States’ states. (Sorry if you aren’t in the US.) There is currently a problem with the game working on new Retina MacBook Pros, but the developer is working on a fix.
Price: $1.99
Preschool Animal Match
I guess there is a lot of shopping around to do when it comes to animal-matching games. There is a lot of great games that will help your children learn about animals, and this one isn’t much different. However, this game was carefully crafted so there would be no UI interruption. That way, your children won’t dismiss the educational quality of the game. It is also free, so give it a try.
Price: Free
Conclusion
Keep in mind that some of these games are educational and others aren’t; however, they are all for kids to enjoy in their free time. At the end of the day, if you were a kid again and you had a MacBook Pro in front of you, wouldn’t you want to mess with it, too? Of course you would! And hey, if you are caught playing of these games, we won’t tell on you.