80 Days
By Christy Matte,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Unique adventure tale is cool, can be a bit hard to follow.
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80 Days
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What’s It About?
80 DAYS places kids in the role of Frenchman Passepartout, valet to the eccentric Phileas Fogg as he attempts to travel around the world in 80 days in the late 1800's. The content is very loosely based on the book Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. Kids must discover travel routes, choose the method of transportation (weighing out the cost, the length of the journey, and the health affects on their boss), buy and sell various trinkets to make travel easier and to bring in extra money, and take care of Fogg. They'll meet cadre of odd characters, have some adventures, and maybe uncover some mysteries along the way. There's no tutorial, so kids will have to figure out what's going on through trial and error. If they make it back in time, they'll win the infamous bet. If not...
Is It Any Good?
Kids who enjoy a bit of adventure, a lot of reading, and figuring things out on their own will thoroughly enjoy this text-based experience. 80 Days is creative and unique and certainly worth taking a look at. The choose-your-own adventure aspect is a clever way to engage kids in a story. However, it can result in some choppy storylines. And the rough nature of international travel of the time is loosely reflected in this tale, making it less appropriate for younger kids. Many kids will struggle with the reading level, but they can generally understand what's going on, even if they miss the finer points. So, while it's not perfect, 80 Days brings something new and interesting to the table, and has some replayability for kids who want to know where the other paths lead.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about travel in real life and in the 80 Days app. What are the benefits of traveling around the world? What are some of the challenges? If you were going to travel, where would you want to go? How would you want to get there?
Talk about choices. Why did you make some of the choices you did while playing? How do you usually make decisions?
How do you like this app in comparison with other apps you could play? As you balance your time on- and offscreen, would this be an app you'd choose to use? Why or why not?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows app
- Subjects: Language & Reading: reading, reading comprehension, Math: arithmetic, Social Studies: exploration, geography
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: decision-making, Self-Direction: time management
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: January 29, 2018
- Category: Simulation Games
- Topics: Adventures, Book Characters, Trains
- Publisher: inkle Ltd
- Version: 1.27
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 8.0 or later; Android 2.3 and up
- Last updated: July 15, 2019
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