Beauty and the Beast: Perfect Match

This match-3 game puts a different spin on the match formula, but the push for cash and time limited play ruins some of the fun. Beauty and the Beast: Perfect Match offers a fairly simple experience -- kids play rounds of a matching game, earn currency to buy furniture for the mansion and, in turn, gain access to new areas. Not surprisingly, since it’s from Disney, the app provides a safe experience, without any opportunities to interact with strangers or the ability to see inappropriate content. The matching game is a notch above some app offerings, in terms of structure -- directions describing various combination-based challenges precede each round, kids get occasional hints, and they are given a set number of moves, instead of being told they need to beat the clock.

The app’s biggest issue is that the action doesn't unfold very quickly. Kids won’t feel rushed to complete rounds of matching, which some may appreciate; But since the matching requirements aren't always simple, younger players may find it challenging to finish and advance to new levels. If you don’t reach each game’s goal, you’re likely to run out of allotted moves, and eventually, lives. You’re then required to either shell out some cash to purchase site currency to keep playing -- or to wait for a varying amount of time to pass to be allowed to start matching again, which can cause players’ enthusiasm to wane. But if you're a Disney or match-3 fan looking for a new game to play, this could help you pass the time, if you're willing to overlook its issues.