Casual Mom

We recently had the opportunity to check out a couple of educational games for preschoolers for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Count Caddy and Sort Slider are two apps that are part of the Tickle Tap Apps series.

Tickle Tap Apps are developed by zinc Roe design and are geared at being educational and fun, yet simple enough for kids to do on their own. My daughter Izzy, who is 3, did the “testing” of these apps and had no problem following the simple verbal instructions. There is no reading required so she didn’t need me to help explain what to do and could play on her own.

Count Caddy (app store link) teaches counting by having kids drag various items into a circle while the game counts them. Unfortunately, this game didn’t hold Izzy’s attention long and she didn’t make it far.  I do plan on encouraging her to play because it is a great way to teach counting by twos and threes.

Sort Slider (app store link) was more successful at entertaining her.  She played this game for awhile and seemed to really enjoy it.  Instead of dragging their finger on the screen, kids tilt the phone to slide the shapes to the matching silhouette (dragging can still work too).

We both enjoyed the animations, music and style of the games and look forward to trying the other Tickle Tap Apps in the series.  These are great games to have handy for those times you might need to keep younger kids occupied, for instance while traveling or waiting at the doctor’s office.  Definitely worth giving a try.

This is a great deal. From now until November 30th, we have the Reflexive 10-game bundle on sale for just $29.99! This pack contains 10 of Reflexive’s great games, which sold separately would normally cost over $69. That’s a savings of more than 50%!

Buy the Reflexive 10-game bundle now. If you’re a Mac user we also have the Reflexive 10-game bundle for Mac too.

Here’s all the games this includes:

Buy the Reflexive Games 10-pack bundle now. You can also get the Mac version of the Reflexive Games 10-pack bundle now.

Fans of Zuma who are looking for more will not be disappointed with Zuma’s Revenge.  It provides the same great addicting gameplay but also has some new twists like slide-aiming, lily- pad hopping and boss battles.  Zuma’s Revenge also includes some new power-ups to help you conquer the tiki bosses of the island.

There are 60 levels to play with increasing difficulty.  As you match 3 or more colored balls they disappear.  When you have achieved enough points, the balls stop coming and you can clear them all to complete the level.  Creating chains of disappearing balls and using the power-ups can help you complete the level faster and achieve an Ace Time.  The lightning,  laser,  tri-shot and moving the chain backwards are useful power-ups when the balls are getting a little too close to the end.

I was a big fan of the original Zuma  (you can read the review here) and enjoyed Zuma’s Revenge.  It’s new features kept the game interesting while maintaining the same basic popular gameplay.  If you were a fan of Zuma and are looking for a completely different type of game then Zuma’s Revenge probably isn’t for you, but if you are looking for an extension of the great fun Zuma provided then Zuma’s Revenge is well worth a try.  For those who haven’t played Zuma then you are missing out on a great game and I recommend playing Zuma’s Revenge to see what you have been missing.

If you’re looking for some online games for younger children, then take a look at Izzy’s Page.   We have put together a list of sites that have free games you can enjoy with your child.  It’s a great way to spend time together and at this age playing is learning so have some fun!

If you have suggestions of sites that should be included, please feel free to share them and we’ll take a look and add them to the list.

If you’re looking for a fun game that provides a little different game play than many of the popular time management games then Plants vs. Zombies by PopCap is a great choice.  This game is packed with content and will provide hours of entertainment.

The game features Adventure and Survival modes, Mini-games, Puzzles and a Zen Garden.  There is great variety in the game so you are not doing the same thing over and over again.  With the large assortment of plants you can choose what suits your style of play as you defend your home from the zombies.  Your neighbor Crazy Dave will guide and sell you items from the trunk of his car that will assist in the protection of your home.

I’m not sure who enjoys the game more, me or my 3 year old daughter.  She loves to watch and help me play.  Every day she wants to play “the zombie game” and provides advice of which plants to use.   She even talked grandma into playing!

In addition to the really fun gameplay, the humor written into Plants vs. Zombies is one of the things that keeps me playing time and time again.

Be warned this game is addicting and you will find yourself playing during any free time you have and possibly during times that something else needs to be done.

For the next six days you can get Cake Mania: Back to the Bakery for $2.99.  This is the final game that will be on sale for the Sandlot Games “Deal of the Day.”  If you haven’t taken advantage of any of the other games on sale don’t miss out on this one.

Cake Mania: Back to the Bakery

Help Jill renovate her grandparents bakery!

In this all new adventure, Jill has decided to renovate her grandparents’ bakery in the hopes of winning them a deluxe grand prize – an all-expense-paid Hawaiian luxury cruise. With an all-new bakery to renovate, hilarious new characters, an all-new storyline and 36 levels of fast-paced baking, fans of Cake Mania can enjoy another great baking adventure!

Game Type: Action

Cake Mania 2 is the last game in the “Deal of the Day” promotion to be available for 99 cents today.  Starting tomorrow and for the next six days Cake Mania: Back to the Bakery will be available for $2.99.

Cake Mania 2

Choose which path Jill pursues in her next out-of-this-world adventure!

Jill is back in an all-new, out-of-this-world adventure! Explore six far-flung bakery locations, serving up deliciously original creations! What awaits Jill? Fame? Fortune? Love? In Cake Mania 2, you choose which path Jill pursues, with each decision leading to new baking challenges and dilemmas. With 204 levels of baking and frosting madness, 6 different possible endings and a branching, non-linear storyline, it’s your decision to make in Cake Mania 2!

Game Type: Action

As part of Sandlots promotion for their new game, Cake Mania Main Street, Cake Mania is available today for 99 cents.  Cake Mania Main Street is the next game in the series and will be available here October 7th.

Cake Mania

Let’s get cookin’ as you help Jill make her bakery dreams come true!

Help a young baker show big bad business who’s boss in this fast-paced treat! When the retail behemoth “Mega-Mart” moves in, Jill’s beloved family bakery is forced to close. But she’s determined to get the business back on its feet with delicious sweets. Help Jill open her own bakery, bring in customers, and earn enough money to re-open her grandparents’ bakery! With 48 levels and four different bakeries, Cake Mania is full of mouth-watering fun. Let’s get cookin’!

Game Type: Action

Cake Mania is definitely worth a try for those who liked Diner Dash (one of my favorites). It adds several different features and is more about creating an order/cake rather then just connecting a series of events. The tutorial is short but teaches you everything you need to play.

The basic game play involves taking orders for cakes, creating them and then delivering a delicious masterpiece to a satisfied customer. As you progress through the game, the cakes become more complicated with layers and toppers. You also encounter a variety of customers with different levels of patience. As new bakeries are opened and you reach higher levels, the number of customers increase. You will find yourself running around the bakery and planning what needs to be done next.

To help you meet the demands of customers there is a shop after every level where you can purchase, among other things, upgrades to your ovens and frosting applicators or toppers for your cakes, which make the cakes worth more. You can choose to purchase new accessories or you can upgrade existing ones. What you decide to purchase becomes part of your strategy for the game. Having this flexibility is great and when you play the game again you may choose to spend your money differently, for instance upgrading all of your ovens before buying the t.v. to entertain customers.

Overall, Cake Mania is definitely worth purchasing. It is entertaining and provides enough of a challenge to keep you playing without becoming frustrated. I found the game seemed to end too soon and wished there were more levels. While this could be seen as a negative that the game is not long enough, I believe it is the sign of a good game, leaving me wanting more.

Today’s “Deal of the Day” is Granny in Paradise for 99 cents.  Come back on the 29th for Cake Mania.

Granny In Paradise

Help Granny rescue her kitties and thwart the plans of Dr. Meow!

Super Granny is back, and she’s ready to rumble. While on a well-deserved vacation, Granny’s kitties are abducted. Run, dig, climb, swing, float and tumble through 5 worlds and over 170 levels, as you rescue Granny’s missing cats and outwit the minions of the nefarious Dr. Meow. With a built-in level editor you can create your own adventures for hours and hours of additional fun!

Game Type: Action