Summary of smartphone app games popular with children
Not only middle and high schoolers, but also elementary schoolers and children in kindergarten and daycare are playing smartphone games more and more these days.
In many cases they use a parent’s smartphone, but there are also quite a few kids who have their own.
In this article, we’ll introduce smartphone app games we recommend for children who are getting hands-on with smartphones!
We’ve gathered a variety of games, including educational (edutainment) titles and games where kids can experience helping out their parents.
Parents and kids—check them out together!
Summary of Popular Smartphone App Games for Kids (1–10)
Pretend Play Land
Gocco Land is a perfect fit for children growing up in a digital society.
The app is appealing because it lets kids learn how society works in a fun way.
For example, through programs like “JAL Job Experience,” children can try out airport and airplane-related roles, deepening their understanding of different professions while they play.
The app’s popularity is evident, with a total of 6 million downloads.
It’s a recommended app that lets parents and children enjoy learning together while supporting education with an eye on the child’s future.
Kids’ Educational Game | Gokko Land: Shopkeeper Experience App for ChildrenCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.40956
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Yubit tsumugi
“Yubi Tsumugi” is an app that lets you enjoy the worlds of various picture books at your fingertips.
It features intuitive controls, so even young children can easily explore and enjoy a variety of illustrations while they play.
Its high educational value has been recognized with the Good Design Award and the Kids Design Award, which should offer peace of mind to parents.
It also provides opportunities to deepen communication between parents and children—another appealing point.
Give it a try for fun, quality time together!
Yubi Tsumugi - Touch Drawing Play AppCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.36993
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Pitagoran
Pitagoran is an app that even young children can enjoy with ease, letting them intuitively create Rube Goldberg-style machines.
Users can freely combine various parts to build original contraptions and, by experimenting to see whether they work correctly, develop scientific thinking and problem-solving skills.
The sense of achievement a child feels when they complete a device on their own is exceptional.
It’s sure to help with communication and strengthen bonds with parents or guardians.
Offering many ways for families to have fun together, Pitagoran is recommended not only for children but for people of all ages.
Pitagoran: an app where you can create fun contraptionsCategory: Games Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.49559
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Pokémon Smile
Pokémon Smile is an app that helps you build a toothbrushing habit in a playful, fun way.
Children brush their teeth while watching adorable Pokémon battle “cavity-causing bacteria.” It also provides reliable information about toothbrushing, helping the whole family stay health-conscious.
With over 100 Pokémon appearing in the Pokédex, there’s the fun of collecting them, making it engaging as a game as well.
In particular, leveraging Pokémon—a franchise beloved by younger generations—gives parents peace of mind too.
Widely supported by both kids and adults, this app is an ideal way to support healthy habits through the medium of a game.
Touch! Play Baby
As opportunities to engage with the digital world increase, “Touch! Asobi Baby” is the perfect app for young children.
Designed for ages 0 to 3, this game brings colorful shapes and delightful sounds to life with just a touch of the screen.
Developed by WAO Corporation, the app nurtures your child’s sensitivity and curiosity through visual and auditory stimulation.
It also supports communication between caregivers and children, and its basic features are available for free—another big plus.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for an app that parents and children can enjoy together.
Touch! Play BabyCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.10682
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Pancake Tower
OTOUCH INC.’s “Pancake Tower,” a game families can enjoy together, is well-regarded as a brain-challenging app.
Players compete to see how high they can stack freshly made pancakes on a plate, and success requires planning a strategy for stable stacking.
Its simple tap-only controls make it accessible even to young children.
Skilled play can boost your score, too! With multilingual support and robust privacy protections, parents can feel confident letting their children play.
Why not strengthen family bonds with this creativity-nurturing app?
Pancake Tower® — A Popular Game for ChildrenCategory: Game, Free, iOS Universal, Rating: 4.43118
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Hungry Cooking
Let me introduce Hungry Tummy Cooking, an app that children and their guardians can enjoy together.
The app is themed around everyday cooking and serves as an educational tool that conveys the importance and fun of food through play.
Its key feature is that children can learn the flow of cooking in an enjoyable way, and it also includes plenty of elements that nurture creativity.
Even the plating options are diverse, allowing kids to refine their sense of aesthetics while playing.
One point to note is that the app includes in-app purchases, so be careful to prevent your child from making purchases without permission.
It also encourages parent-child communication, making it well worth a try.
Crayon Shin-chan: Big Help Mission
“Crayon Shin-chan: Big Helping Mission” is an app where kids can enjoyably learn useful household skills and social rules.
By joining Shin-chan in everyday tasks like cleaning and shopping, children naturally develop practical life skills.
The shopping activity is especially popular: kids memorize a shopping list, then choose items and check out, helping them build arithmetic ability and a sense of money.
The flat-rate “All-You-Can-Play Plan,” available for 350 yen per month, has received many positive reviews and serves as a great communication tool between parents and children.
This app lets kids have fun while learning anything they’re unsure about, making it highly recommended content for your child.
Crayon Shin-chan: Big Help MissionCategory: Education, Free, iOS Universal, Rating: 4.56229
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Think!Think!
Think!Think! is perfect for children from preschool through the early elementary grades.
Players tackle over 120 unique puzzles to build spatial awareness and logical thinking.
With just 10 minutes of gameplay a day, it can help boost your child’s math skills and IQ, making it an appealing way to learn through play.
It’s a highly recommended educational app that lets children improve their abilities while enjoying it together with their parents.
Moreover, the repeated trial and error through play offers an excellent opportunity to cultivate thinking skills.
Think!Think! Educational App – Educational games for children's thinking skills and 3D geometryCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.31104
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Family Apps
FamilyApps, provided by TAKARATOMY AiiBIS, is an educational app where children can learn about various professions while having fun.
The app lets kids deepen their knowledge through play and fosters a sense of achievement with its reward system.
It’s available for both iPhone and Android, so everyone can enjoy it regardless of device.
While broadening children’s perspectives as dependable members of society, parents can also join in and watch their kids grow—be sure to check it out.
Family Apps - Educational pretend play for childrenCategory: Education, Free, iOS Universal, Rating: 4.39949
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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