Parents' Guide to Disney Twisted-Wonderland

Despite being unexpectedly brought to a school that's somewhat akin to Hogwarts, kids will quickly learn there's been a mistake in this dark take on Disney stories. After being told they don't actually belong there because they have no magic skills, they'll take up residence in a dilapidated dorm in Disney Twisted-Wonderland. As the storyline unfolds, they'll meet and interact with a number of characters, including a magical cat who's trying to force its way into the school and provides some comic relief.

Although portions of the game feature characters inspired by classic Disney villains from movies such as The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Alice in Wonderland, the characters have the same off-kilter and dark feel as the settings kids will find themselves in. The app features some interactive elements, including responses kids select in story chapter scenes. They'll also play a music-based game, in which kids tap an area of the screen in tandem with the beat of a song. Supposedly, your score helps determine the direction the story goes in, but older kids might find the rhythm game's format repetitive. In other chapters, kids will engage in fights, where they choose a team of students and spells to try to do more damage to their enemy to win. While some strategy is involved, figuring out how the fights work can be a little confusing at first -- kids are given some instruction, but it's not overly detailed, and the battle process is somewhat involved. They can also feel passive, with kids primarily watching the action play out -- but that can still be somewhat enjoyable. Kids can also take lessons on topics like the history of magic to increase their player rank. The story seems to definitely be the strongest aspect of Disney Twisted-Wonderland -- and in addition to taking kids on an interesting journey, it also features a few admirably positive themes, which touch on identity, ambition, and working with other people.