Common Sense Media Review
By Chris Morris
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Repetitive, but addictive, screen-tapping game.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Best Fiends Forever
What's It About?
The small heroes of the original return in BEST FIENDS FOREVER to once again take out as many slugs as they can, this time by slapping them silly with your help. To defeat the enemies this time around, you'll have to tap the screen -- a lot. While the on-screen characters in the game can certainly do damage with their own attacks (and special moves such as summoning fireballs), the quickest way to advance is by furious multi-finger tapping (each tap represents a hit against an enemy, causing damage). There are some aids along the way, such as explosive barrels that take out enemies you'll soon face. And there's a generous bonus system. But to upgrade your characters and cause more damage, you'll eventually need to either be patient, watch ads, or pay real-world cash.
Is It Any Good?
There's an addictive quality to the frenetic and very simple gameplay, but beating the bad guys gets tougher as you go, and paying to advance gets more tempting. Best Fiends Forever is hypnotizing in its own way, as it's an incredibly repetitive game with very few variations, but it can quickly consume 30 minutes or more. The strategy elements are pretty basic (use currency to level up), but if you're patient, you can achieve those upgrades without having to spend real-world cash. In fact, the numbers of coins get into the billions fairly quickly, but leveling up characters gets more expensive as well. As bosses get tougher, it's much easier to lose, so kids will have to wait until they're ready for their next attempt. The biggest problem is actually a result of that tapping. Eventually, your finger is likely to slip somewhat, pausing the game and perhaps throwing you into another app, which can be frustrating. Also, parents will want kids to wear headphones or turn the sound off, as the relentless sound effects might push some over the edge.Though there's some limited strategy, this is mostly a diversion for fans of the original match-3 game or those looking for some mindless fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about in-app purchases in Best Fiends Forever and the rules around them. Can kids buy more currency? If so, when and how much?
Talk about ads and marketing. Can kids watch ads to get more in-game currency? Can they download any apps from the ads?
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Pricing structure : Free (with optional in-app purchases)
- Release date : October 20, 2016
- Genre : Arcade Games
- Publisher : Seriously
- Version : 2.1.1
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 8.0 or later; Android varies with device
- Last updated : July 11, 2020
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