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!
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Popular Smartphone App Games for Kids (11–20)
Gooby’s Word Play
“Gooby’s Letter Play” is an app that nurtures young children’s enjoyment of letters.
With instruction that incorporates animations and games, it’s approachable and encourages kids to practice with interest.
It starts with basic hiragana, and with additional packs they can also learn voiced sounds and more.
Payments are optional, and everyday practice is possible with the basic games alone.
Through the character Gooby, children naturally become familiar with hiragana and build motivation to learn—a structure that has been well received by parents—making it an app that provides an environment where kids can learn while being fully engaged.
Moji Asobi: a hiragana practice educational app for children ages 3 and upCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.60445
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Fun! Hiragana
The app “Tanoshii! Hiragana,” which lets children learn to read and write hiragana through game-like play, was developed by Yuki Nakamura and released in 2017.
As kids interact with charming in-game characters like ice cream and dogs, they can easily master the characters.
A generous free section is available, covering the hiragana rows from “a” to “ta,” making it plenty for a first step.
A key selling point is that the full version, which helps children get familiar with all hiragana, is affordably priced at 400 yen.
It also takes privacy protection into account and is recognized as a safe app for children to enjoy.
Todon (sea lion) math
“Todo Sansuu” is a popular app that makes learning math fun even for children who are just starting out.
Aimed at kids from age 3 to the early elementary grades, it lets them explore the world of math through play—from the basics of counting to reading clocks and simple calculations.
With over 2,000 diverse tasks that can be tackled at each child’s own pace, it’s regarded as well-suited for early education.
While the free version offers plenty to learn, the paid version includes exclusive content that can deepen understanding even further.
Highly rated both in Japan and abroad, it’s recommended for parents who want their children to build a solid foundation in math.
Todon (sea lion) mathCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.46957
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Piano play
The smartphone app game “Piano Asobi” includes educational elements that let children learn the basics of piano while having fun.
Developed by Ryo Horie, the app is available on both iOS and Android.
Its enjoyable, intuitive design lets users experience realistic instrument sounds.
It’s easy to use and great for sharing the joy of music with parents.
Basic play is free, with premium options also available.
Because it helps children learn and enjoy music, the app has received high user ratings.
Piano Play – Simple Keyboard Practice & Piano Games and Pretend PlayCategory: Music Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.48527
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Waocchi! Land
“Waocchi! Land” is a perfect app for young children to enjoy early learning.
It offers a wide variety of content, from games that teach numbers and hiragana to activities like mazes and puzzles that build thinking skills.
There are no ads, so parents can let their children use it with peace of mind, and it’s free to download.
What’s more, features that encourage parent-child sharing can help strengthen family bonds.
The controls are intuitive, so kids will quickly get the hang of it.
Blending learning with fun, this app is highly recommended for parents who want to support their child’s development.
Waocchi! Land Educational App | Unlimited Educational Games for Toddlers and ChildrenCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.3861
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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dreamy
“Yumearu” is an app that adults and children can enjoy together.
It offers a wide range of game-like learning content, including spot-the-difference, cooking, programming, concentration (matching cards), nursery rhymes and hand games, ghost stories, nail art, and more.
Some content can be used free of charge at educational institutions such as daycare centers, kindergartens, schools, as well as libraries and museums, and it supports online classes, after-school programs, and childcare at home.
It’s designed so children can safely experience the feeling of “I did it!” and is highly recommended as an app that helps families learn while having fun, deepening communication between parents and children.
Children's Songs and Hand-Play Song Medley “Yumearu”Category: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 3.66667
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Allowance Sugoroku
Okodukai Sugoroku is a free game within the social-experience app Gocco Town that lets players learn how money works while having fun.
Up to three people can play.
Using a preloaded Family Wallet, players advance on a board-game style path by completing shopping and errand missions.
Rankings at the goal are determined by remaining balance and points, adding strategic depth and helping build financial awareness.
It also includes features that teach cashless payment systems, making it ideal for financial education through play.
As a game-like teaching tool, it’s gaining attention for helping kids think about the importance of money and how to use it.
Kids’ Educational Game | Gokko Land: Shopkeeper Experience App for ChildrenCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.40956
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Duolingo
Duolingo is an app that’s widely enjoyed and studied around the world.
In the Japanese version, you can enjoy not only English, Korean, Chinese, and French, but also math and music, so it caters to children’s wide range of interests—and it seems like their academic skills could improve without them even realizing it while they play.
There’s also a family plan, so it could be fun for the whole family to try together.
It first asks about your current level, so you can study at a level that suits you.
Practice listening and English vocabulary for languages like English/Korean on DuolingoCategory: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.55717
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Delicious match puzzle
You can combine food items to create different dishes, fulfill customers’ orders, and discover new recipes.
By progressing through the game while checking orders, it feels like you can become a kid who can do two things at once.
You can also look for missing parts to upgrade your kitchen and shop.
Unlike monotonous games, it’s nice that you can have fun while planning various things.
Among merge games, it’s quite complex, and despite that, you can still play at your own pace—another strong selling point.
Merge Inn - Delicious Match PuzzleCategory: Games Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.383
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Pocha Gacho
Introducing Pochagacho, a game where you become a gym manager and rebuild a brand-new gym.
The rules are simple: merge identical items to evolve them and create the items needed for each challenge.
As you clear puzzles and collect items, you can design a gym to your own taste.
With no complicated controls, it’s a game that parents and elementary school children can enjoy together.
Relax with cute characters as you upgrade training equipment, renovate the interior, and create a stylish gym.
