Parents' Guide to Disney Magic Kingdoms

Unlike the carefully crafted theme park experiences that are designed to thrill guests and make them forget those long hours in line, this mobile Magic Kingdom is too focused on in-game purchases. The first 10 minutes are fun for kids, with players joining forces with Mickey, Goofy, and Merlin to get rid of Maleficent's evil magic. Players are taught how to assign tasks to characters and collect magic and items (used to upgrade characters); however, after 10 minutes, wait times increase, and upgrading characters only results in a brief animation. Also, being able to visit other parks is confusing: It's unclear why you're visiting, and it feels a bit like stealing to take earned potion. Perhaps worst of all is that players are told they can build attractions where and when they want to, but long build timers and a poor placement system make it difficult to set things up in an attractive -- or even sensible -- way. The upside? This is a mobile game whose lack of kid-friendliness could be addressed with enough player feedback. It's chock-full of favorite Disney characters, an engaging narrative, familiar Magic Kingdom attractions, and real Disney music. It could be great with less focus on meaningless missions and money and more on creativity and fun. As it stands, it may appeal to older players who are already used to this mechanic and who have practice in patience or their own money to burn.