Parents' Guide to Piggy Pile!

Don't let the fairly straightforward-looking course fool you: This game requires some skill and teamwork with other characters to succeed, and will take multiple replays to make progress. That doesn't feel overwhelmingly frustrating, though; each course features different obstacles, so rounds never feel the same, and the speed at which your pig moves makes things zoom along. Players who find the pace too fast may want to change the controls setting to drag, which seems to provide a slightly slower, more controlled reaction, instead of tapping on the right or left side of the screen to move the character.

Characters don't appear to be able to move backward, which is unfortunate, because if you reach an elevation change and don't have a bubble or other advantage handy, a poof of air will be all that's left of your pig. Adding that ability might give gamers more of a chance to note and correct any gameplay mistakes they make to learn from the experience. There's a bit of pressure to purchase additional coins, especially if you get excited about checking out the beach-, monster-, and other themed worlds the developers have included; you can gain access by earning coins as you play, but it'll take a while to amass enough for most of the options. The app, in addition to being fun, also offers another subtle, yet encouraging message: By scooping up and carrying other characters you pass, you're able to do more in the game and face less risk when you come into contact with obstacles, which is a great implied message Piggy Pile! passes along about teamwork.