Common Sense Media Review
By Mark Raby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
"Brain-training" mini-games cover math, reasoning, logic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
American Mensa Academy
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
AMERICAN MENSA ACADEMY enters the fray of \"brain-training\" video games as the only one with an official certification from the American Mensa society. Players can complete a series of mini-games back-to-back and receive a score. If their score is low, players are encouraged to keep trying until they can improve their skills. The game does not really teach players any special skills; instead, it relies on them to keep playing the mini-games over and over again until something clicks inside their mind and they figure out how to keep answering more quickly and accurately. The game also encourages players to get their friends and family to take the test as well, creating a fun and competitive way to hone everyone's critical thinking skills.
Is It Any Good?
American Mensa Academy is a brain-training video game that provides players with a score. While players cannot become Mensa members simply by playing this game, there is a sense of importance to the game knowing that the questions and scoring system are based on the official Mensa tests. To that end, the mini-games are also unique to this game. They range from multi-faceted exercises that test math skills while also testing hand-eye coordination, to strict multiple-choice quizzes that focus exclusively on time and accuracy. It would be nice to see more detailed statistics and record-keeping about players' progress over time, but all in all this title is a definite standout in this niche video game genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of education and the practical applications of what they learn in school. Where can you apply the concepts that are tested in this game?
Which mini-games are you best at, and which ones are your worst? Why do you think this is?
Do you like learning from playing video games? Why?
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo 3DS , Nintendo Wii , Windows
- Subjects : Math : algebra , grouping , sequences , Language & Reading : text analysis , vocabulary
- Skills : Self-Direction : academic development , self-assessment , work to achieve goals
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Maximum Family Games
- Release date : November 16, 2012
- Genre : Edutainment
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : June 1, 2022
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