Common Sense Media Review
By Chris Morris
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tile matching goes social, Zynga style, in catchy app.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Matching With Friends
What's It About?
Taking turns with another online player (friends or random opponents), players attempt to match similarly colored cubes by placing three together on a Scrabble-like board (complete with double and triple score bonuses) and rotating them as necessary. If opposing players block their intended move, or they need to create a space on the board to make a match, they can use in-game "bombs" that clear parts of the playing board. Games end after 11 rounds.
Is It Any Good?
Matching With Friends is certainly a time-suck of a game, but it doesn't have the obsessive qualities of other Games With Friends titles (like Words With Friends and Scramble With Friends). Perhaps that's because the match-three gameplay is so familiar in apps, or because of the relatively straightforward nature of the game; it doesn't feel like it has a "twist" we've come to expect from Zynga.
That's not to say it's bad, by any means. Playing with friends (or making new ones via the matching system) is as fun as ever -- and there's still a thrill that comes with a big score. But if you're on the fence, it's probably best to try the free version first before committing real money to the game.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Play a game of Scrabble to offer kids another example of double and triple scores (and subtly teach them spelling skills as well).
Encourage kids to play with their real-life friends rather than use random matchups. And join the fun by playing against your teen as well.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : analyzing evidence , problem solving , solving puzzles , Creativity : imagination
- Pricing structure :
- Release date : June 26, 2012
- Genre : Puzzle Games
- Publisher : Zynga
- Version : 4.10
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 4.3 or later
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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