Mash&Co
By Christy Matte,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cute but muddled hero's journey could entertain or confuse.
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Mash&Co
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Based on 2 parent reviews
My son doesn't stop laughing!
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What’s It About?
Mash is a mushroom who lives in the forest with his family. When the water in the forest dries up and plants begin to die, Mash sets out to become the hero and bring water back to the plants. MASH&CO is a series of appisodes that follow Mash's journey with his new friend, Periwinkle the snail. Although there is no text in the stories, an informational card gives an overview of each appisode. The second installment finds Mash and Periwinkle in a forest with no color. They set out to find a man who has a machine that can restore the colors. Other installments include a color-mixing mini-game and a game that teaches kids about constellations by matching shapes.
Is It Any Good?
Though cute and surreal, this combination of animation and interactivity has potential but lacks focus. Mash&Co has the makings of a great experience for kids. It has cute characters, a hero's journey, and even some games. But with a story that is told entirely through pantomime and thought-bubble images, it sometimes feels a bit too abstract. While there are plenty of prompts to tell kids where to tap for the puzzles, it's still not always clear if there was a point or if the action was just there to make it interactive. Also, since there's limited free content, kids are prompted to buy the next installment when they complete the current one, which can create some pressure on parents. For the target age, the story feels a bit disjointed and sometimes potentially disturbing for sensitive kids, as Mash's parents visibly shrivel and he has to save them. Parents can try the app with kids before making a purchase.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how much kids learned. Do you think Mash&Co is a good app for learning? Why, or why not? What did you learn?
How do you like this app as compared to other apps you could play? If you had or have limited screen time, would you pick this app over other apps on your device? Why, or why not?
What are some things in your home or yard that require access to water? What would happen if they weren't able to get water?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Math: shapes, Science: astronomy, ecosystems and the environment
- Skills: Communication: friendship building
- Pricing structure: Free to try (additional appisodes and games range from $1.99-$3.99 each, or may be purchased as a discounted bundle)
- Release date: September 19, 2016
- Category: Educational Games
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures
- Publisher: Mash&Co s.r.l. semplificata
- Version: 1.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 7.0 or later
- Last updated: January 23, 2019
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