Parents' Guide to Hungry Shark Evolution

While it's an inaccurate depiction of sharks, this arcade eating game is just fun enough to keep these killers of the sea from snacking on unsuspecting swimmers. In Hungry Shark Evolution, you get to be a shark in waters that are so full of fish, people, and other edible things that it's surprising there's not a sign that says it's an "All-You-Can-Eat Buffet." Using your device's touchscreen or tilt controls, you have to steer the shark around so he or she can have a nosh while avoiding such hazards as mines, open barrels of toxic waste, and poisonous jellyfish.

Not surprisingly, things can get a bit weird. Not only are there mutant sharks to unlock (as well as real ones), but you can eat things that temporarily turn everything gold, and even a portal that will let you snack on the passengers of the Titanic. But as weird and wild as this may be, it's also kind of redundant and lacking in challenge. Yes, the seals who bite you are a hazard to be avoided, but you're really just swimming and eating. You're not, for instance, trying to eat a certain number of fish or calories before you run out of time. And being able to continue playing by paying or watching an ad doesn't help. Hungry Shark Evolution may entertain you long enough to get to the beach, but you'll want something else for the ride home.