“Can elementary school kids play smartphone games?” “Which apps are safe to let them play?” Many families may share these worries and questions.
Here, we introduce a variety of smartphone game apps—from popular titles among kids like Monster Strike, Pokémon, and Disney character games to educational options.
They’re high-quality apps that are easy to enjoy with simple controls and can help develop thinking skills.
Explore a new world of play together with your child!
- Summary of smartphone app games popular with children
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- [Get Friendly with Games] Math Games, Apps, and Activities
- Exciting! Multiplayer games everyone can play. Time-killing app games
- Travel-friendly games and activities for kids
- [Playable from lower grades] Japanese language games and activities
- Learn by Playing! Recommended Games with a Kanji Theme
- [For Elementary School Students] A Collection of Game Ideas to Use in Social Studies Classes
- Have Fun with Your Kids! A Roundup of Board Games Recommended for Parents and Children
- [For Elementary School Students] Cipher Quiz: Fun Puzzle Riddles
- Recreation Popularity Rankings for Elementary School Students
- [Elementary School] Treasure Discovered! A Collection of DIY Puzzle Treasure Hunt Ideas
Fun for parents and kids! Balancing learning and play with smartphone game apps for elementary schoolers (1–10)
Welcome to Pokémon Café: Mix-and-Match Puzzle
Welcome! Pokémon Café: Mix-and-Match Puzzles adds puzzle elements to the world of Pokémon.
It’s a revamped version of Pokémon Café Mix with upgrades in various areas.
In addition to the satisfying feeling of solving puzzles, you can also enjoy collecting elements like recruiting new Pokémon and gathering outfits.
It’s recommended not only for children who love Pokémon, but also for those who enjoy gentle, laid-back games.
Welcome! Pokémon Café: Mix-and-Match PuzzleCategory: Games Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.71244
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Minecraft
Minecraft has become the best-selling game in the world.
Set in a world made entirely of blocks, it lets you build and renovate your own house and defeat monsters.
Like playing in a sandbox, how you play is left up to the player.
There are many different items, and combining them to create new ones is part of the fun.
As a sandbox-style game, it offers a free and open space where kids can play in ways that showcase their individuality.
There’s also programming software that makes use of Minecraft, which should help children take an interest and enjoy learning programming, now taught from elementary school.
Minecraft: Crafting, Building, SurvivalCategory: Games ¥1,300 iOS Universal Rating: 3.93834
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Disney Tsum Tsum
Disney Tsum Tsum is loved by many people.
Since the service began in 2014, it has been updated repeatedly.
Many children may already know this, but the game involves connecting and clearing “Tsums,” beanbag-like pieces modeled after Disney characters.
Of course, that’s not all—there’s also the fun of obtaining new Tsums and using each Tsum’s unique abilities.
Another appeal is that you can compete for high scores with friends connected via LINE.
LINE: Disney Tsum TsumCategory: Games Free iOS Universal Rating: 3.77344
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Cat Restaurant
Cat Restaurant features an adorable feline owner.
You’ll serve dishes and provide services to a variety of animal visitors to earn currency.
Fittingly for a cat-themed game, the currency is dried sardines—niboshi—which is a cute touch.
You can spend the sardines you’ve saved to purchase new cooking equipment, luxurious furniture, and items like new recipes.
One of the joys is running a newly opened restaurant and expanding it over time.
With the soothing presence of the cat owner and other animals, you can play in a relaxed, heartwarming mood.
As you grow the restaurant—like starting a fishing rental space or aiming to boost customer ratings—you’ll also develop your strategic thinking skills.
Survivor.io
There are tons of movies and anime where cities are overrun by zombies and the world comes to an end, right? Have you ever thought while watching them, “I want to take down zombies myself!”? This mobile game is exactly that—a game where you fight zombies and save the city.
Various types of zombies and bosses will attack from all directions, and you’ll take them down using weapons and items.
Use the coins you collect in battles to train and level up, too.
If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s a lot of fun—definitely give it a shot!
Pokémon UNITE
Pocket Monsters enjoys enduring popularity across generations.
Its game Pokémon UNITE is a team strategy title where two teams of five compete to score points.
While it’s 5-on-5, you can, of course, play solo as well.
You can team up with or face off against players from overseas online.
Since you may be matched with different teammates each time, you’ll need to devise a new strategy for each match.
It’s also fun to study your teammates’ movements and combat styles to shape your own approach.
It looks like you can fully enjoy the unique thrills of team-based battles.
Pitagoran
The Rube Goldberg-style contraptions popular on TV let you roll small balls or marbles through obstacles toward a goal.
There are many fans of these devices—from young children to adults—not just elementary schoolers.
Building one in real life can be complicated, but with this app you can create them easily.
The controls are very simple: just trace on the creation screen with your finger.
Plus, with over 60 types of mechanisms, you can swap in what you like and enjoy your own custom setup.
You can create original, uniquely expressive machines.
Sometimes the contraptions you build won’t work as intended.
But that leads you to think about how to adjust things to reach the goal.
It’s a game that strengthens your problem-solving skills.
Pitagoran: an app where you can create fun contraptionsCategory: Games Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.4944
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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