Unblock Me

Common Sense Media says

Simple sliding, but deceptively difficult puzzle game.

Age(i)

2
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Quality(i)

 

Learning(i)

(i)
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What parents need to know

Ease of play

Gameplay is as simple as sliding blocks back and forth. But to solve a puzzle, you must think strategically to figure out a way to free the one red block in the mix. These puzzles can be pretty darn hard from the get-go. Do not mistake Unblock Me for an easy, casual game.

Violence
Not applicable
Sex
Not applicable
Language
Not applicable
Consumerism

After players run out of free hints, they can buy more via an in-app purchase.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Not applicable
Privacy & safety

Some privacy concerns. Users can opt in to OpenFeint, an interactive network that allows users to upload real avatar photos, post on message boards, connect with Facebook friends or Twitter followers, and access live chat with strangers. Users can opt in to Game Center to track achievements instead; it does not have chat and connections to other social media within the app.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that solving the challenging puzzles in Unblock Me can take much longer than you might think at first. This is a game for very patient, diligent puzzle lovers. Kids who get easily frustrated or discouraged should probably steer clear. Players can share high scores via the Game Center or Open Feint social networks, but participation is optional.

What kids can learn

Skills

Thinking & Reasoning

  • logic
  • prediction
  • solving puzzles
  • strategy

Self-Direction

  • effort

Emotional Development

  • persevering

Engagement, Approach, Support

Engagement

Hardcore puzzle fans will find hundreds of puzzles to love here, but kids who are easily frustrated may not find this game as engaging as kids who enjoy tough puzzles.

Learning Approach

Kids learn how to solve complex spatial puzzles using prediction, strategy, and (on some puzzles) large doses of patience and perseverance.

Support

There are ways to adapt Unblock Me to reduce difficulty, including using hints and playing in relaxed mode. Data provided includes puzzle number, dificulty level, number of moves player used to solve, and record low moves.

What kids can learn

Skills

Thinking & Reasoning

  • logic
  • prediction
  • solving puzzles
  • strategy

Self-Direction

  • effort

Emotional Development

  • persevering

Kids can learn how to solve complex spatial puzzles using prediction, strategy, and (on some puzzles) large doses of patience and perseverance. By moving the individual blocks in ways that makes a path to get the red block off the board, kids practice logical and analytical thinking and exercise their knowledge of spatial relations. Unblock Me can be an enjoyable brain-exercising puzzle game for kids who aren't easily frustrated.

This Learning Rating review was written by Dana Villamagna

Parents say

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Kids say

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AGE
8
QUALITY
 
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What's it about?

Choose between UNBLOCK ME's Relax Mode (which doesn't count moves) or Challenge Mode. Begin to shift around wood-colored blocks in a box by swiping them up or down, side to side, wherever there's open room, until you manage to make a clear path to move the one red block within the mix out of a hole on the side of the box. Unblock Me provides challenging fun within its hundreds of puzzles.

Is it any good?

QUALITY
 

The concept behind Unblock Me is brilliantly simple: Shift around a bunch of blocks in a box until you manage to free the one red block within. But this game gets really difficult quickly. Hardcore puzzle fans will find much to love here, as they mull over and tinker with a block set until they've figured out the solution. But casual gamers may develop bald spots from all the head-scratching they're likely to do. Still, if you've got the motivation and the patience, Unblock Me is a great brainy challenge. And with four levels of difficulty, and a whopping 3,000 puzzles, it will keep you busy for a long, long time.

Families can talk about...

  • Try using blocks, sticks, or other objects at home to re-create the goal of this game.

  • If kids get stuck on one puzzle and reach the point of frustration, suggest they reset the puzzle to start completely over or move on to a different puzzle, perhaps returning to that one with fresh eyes later.

App details

Devices:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
Price:$0.99
Release date:August 13, 2012
Category:Board Games
Size:24.70 MB
Publisher:Kiragames
Version:1.3.4
Minimum software requirements:iOS 3.0 or later

This review of Unblock Me was written by

Christopher Healy

About our rating system

  • ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
  • OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids of any age.

Find out more

Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

Find out more

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Kid, 10 years old August 20, 2010
AGE
8
QUALITY
 

cool

real hard though
What other families should know
Educational value
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