Parents' Guide to

Animal Genius (DS)

By Jinny Gudmundsen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Talking DS game is fun romp with animals.

Game Nintendo DS 2007
Animal Genius (DS) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 1 parent review

rayshine
rayshine Parent of 3-year-old
September 28, 2010
age 4+

Great for a first gaming experience

My son loves this game and is able to play all of the games as it asks the questions out loud. I would love to find another game similar to this for him as he enjoys it so much. He just turned 4 at it is exactly the right level for him

This title has:

Educational value
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

ANIMAL GENIUS combines wacky animal facts, entertaining fast-paced animal games, and photorealistic graphics. The game is themed around earning 25 animals -- five animals to place in each of five habitats -- by playing games to accumulate points. Kids repeatedly play four fun games in any order they wish. After earning enough points, kids must correctly answer 10 questions about an animal before it is released into the featured habitat.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Kids who love wild animals will enjoy with Animal Genius, an outstanding game for kids -- and parents will be excited as well, because this is one of the few truly educational titles for kids on the Nintendo DS. All directions, words, and identifications have voiceovers, so young kids who aren't yet reading can play. It is very rare to find a Nintendo DS game that talks to you.

A similar version of this game was released in 2006 for the Leapster. If you own Animal Genius (Leapster), this DS version is not all that different. But if you are new to this game, Animal Genius makes a great addition to any child's Nintendo DS library.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the 25 animals showcased in this game. How are certain animals the same or different? Which of the four games is your favorite to play and why?

Game Details

  • Platform: Nintendo DS
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: Scholastic
  • Release date: September 25, 2007
  • Genre: Educational
  • ESRB rating: E for Comic Mischief
  • Last updated: November 4, 2015

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