Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake
Charming puzzle/adventure game targets preteens.
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Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake is a puzzle/adventure game that is squarely aimed at the preteen crowd. There's nothing truly objectionable, but the app does pander to its audience, using words such as "fart," "butt," and "facehole" and featuring attack moves such as a character that vomits rainbows. There are, however, no cash grabs in the form of in-app purchases, and the violence is of the cartoon variety.
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What’s It About?
As Niko, you'll hunt for the monsters -- called Boogins -- that stole your birthday cake. Along the way, you'll team up with several other monsters, who have been similarly affected by the bad guys. The game has a very intuitive control structure, letting players drag their fingers where they want various characters to walk, while double-tapping performs character-specific actions. (A virtual joystick also is an option.) Although puzzles aren't especially hard, it can be challenging to finish them in the allotted time for a star; you'll have to use the right character at the right time. As you achieve goals, you'll get stars that unlock bonus paths and acquire money, which can be used to buy power-ups or additional allies.
Is It Any Good?
MONSTERS ATE MY BIRTHDAY CAKE is heavy on the charm. The puzzles, though not the best you'll ever see, certainly aren't bad. But you can't help but smile at the characters you'll meet throughout the journey, whether it's Groggnar -- as he head-butts objects -- or Eek -- a monster who only speaks in emoticons.
The game borrows heavily from Nintendo-style adventures, but it is, at its heart, a puzzle game. You'll have to activate triggers to lower spikes to retrieve treasure and pieces of your birthday cake. It's a well-balanced game that presents risk, but it isn't impossibly hard -- and, best of all, it's one that doesn't nudge you to buy in-game items to make it easier or to continue past a certain point.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about helping others and not jumping to conclusions.
Families also can talk about the importance of a proper diet.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: August 14, 2014
- Category: Adventure Games
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Publisher: Cartoon Network
- Version: 1.1
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 7.0 or later; Android 2.3.3 and up
- Last updated: July 12, 2020
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For kids who love puzzles and adventure
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