Summary of smartphone app games popular with children

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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)

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 Mission
Category: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.56349
iPhone / iPad Android

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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 geometry
Category: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.31091
iPhone / iPad Android

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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 children
Category: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.40385
iPhone / iPad Android

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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 up
Category: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.6006
iPhone / iPad Android

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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.

Fun! Hiragana
Category: Education Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.72205
iPhone / iPad Android

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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.