Common Sense Media Review
By Mieke VanderBorght
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
STEM game has great messages, representation, choppy feel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Royelles: Gaming For Girls
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
After creating a ROYELLES: GAMING FOR GIRLS account, kids meet Mara, an astronaut princess peace ambassador -- and the main character in the virtual world's story. Kids customize the Mara avatar by choosing outfits, skin tone, and words that represent their preferred superhero persona, and then enter Mara's room to explore. STEAM-related mini activities -- such as identifying and labeling the phases of the moon -- are peppered throughout. Before accessing the bigger activities, kids listen to 12 chapters of a story about Mara and "chat" with her through mostly prewritten messages. Kids can tap to hear any text in the chat read aloud, and tap on words to read their definition in the glossary. The story is narrated by a woman of color from NASA. After finishing the story, kids can play Mara goes to Mars, in which they drive a rover collecting items and avoiding obstacles. Other chat options talk kids through different empowerment themes such as identifying their strengths and staying positive. In another activity, kids choose a country and watch a video interview with an accomplished woman from that country.
Is It Any Good?
Positive messaging and representation abound in this girl power virtual world. Royelles: Gaming for Girls takes a great step toward creating an app where kids from some underrepresented groups can find themselves. There's lots of encouragement to aim high and achieve dreams -- plus real-life examples of women of color doing great things. And though Royelles: Gaming for Girls says it's designed for girls and gender nonbinary kids, its activities and messages are important and relevant for all kids. That said, in terms of game mechanics and user experience, there's room for improvement. Kids may find it frustrating to get through 12 drawn-out story chapters before they can access the main game. And though kids have a choice when the story ends, it doesn't seem to alter the play experience.
In the game, controls could be more responsive and goals more clear. Though the chats are nice additions that introduce new vocabulary and get kids reflecting on their own dreams and challenges, they're also somewhat awkward and choppy. Overall, there's a lot going on, and it isn't as smoothly tied together or as easy to navigate as it could be. Despite that, Royelles: Gaming for Girls has a strong foundation and great goals and offers a fresh -- and more representative -- approach to STEM.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the themes of empowerment in Royelles: Gaming for Girls. Does all the positive messaging feel encouraging? Ask kids to say more about what they responded to the chat bot and help them self-reflect.
If kids are interested in the STEAM-based content, help them learn more.
Talk about representation. Why is this app specifically designed for girls? Why might it be important to see examples of success and strength in all kinds of people?
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects : Language & Reading : vocabulary , Science : astronomy
- Skills : Self-Direction : identifying strengths and weaknesses , motivation , personal growth , self-reflection , Emotional Development : developing resilience , moving beyond obstacles , self-awareness , Tech Skills : using and applying technology
- Pricing structure : Free
- Release date : June 9, 2021
- Genre : Adventure Games
- Topics : STEM , Adventures
- Publisher : Royelles Inc
- Version : 1.1
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 13.0 or later
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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