Parents' Guide to

Littlest Pet Shop: Spring

By Erin Bell, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Latest pet sim adds new pets, accessories, and spring theme.

Game Nintendo DS 2009
Littlest Pet Shop: Spring Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 1 parent review

SqueakyPeach
SqueakyPeach Adult
August 4, 2021
age 6+

Littlest Pet Shop Spring Edition

The only reason this game doesn’t receive 5 stars from me is because it is a copy of the first line of LPS DS games produced. The only difference is some new pets and a few different games. The game play is easy (besides some of the mini games which can be rather challenging on hard setting) and relaxing. I find that playing it reduces anxiety. This game is appropriate for all ages, but the mechanics best suit 6+. The game emphasizes on animal care and kind treatment. There is no consumerism.

This title has:

Great messages
Easy to play/use
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

LITTLEST PET SHOP - SPRING is the latest in a series of Nintendo DS pet sim games based on Hasbro's Littlest Pet Shop toy franchise and animated television show. Like all games in the series, the goal is to adopt pets and bring them the Pet Plaza -- one of four worlds that you'll end up unlocking -- to lavish them with love, attention, food, and adorable accessories like caps, sunglasses, and dresses.

In addition to the new Spring theme, this latest game boasts six exclusive new pets: a lop-eared bunny, a fox, a Jack Russell terrier, a dwarf bunny, a porcupine, and a new kitty, as well as four new mini-games including Snack Sort, where players use the stylus to guide blueberries and strawberries into the correct bowls. By playing minigames, players earn \"Kibble,\" the game's currency, which can be used to adopt more pets, purchase new accessories and toys, and buy new playsets which unlock more minigames.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Littlest Pet Shop - Spring does everything right in terms of appealing to its target audience. The pets - which include a variety of kitties, puppies, bunnies, horses, and other animals – are all super-cute, and the game boasts 120 accessories, 34 playsets, two toys, and 54 goals to complete. The game's not as polished, nor are the animals as expressive and interactive as those found in Nintendogs (still, after several years, the golden standard of pet sim games on the Nintendo DS).

But the addition of entertaining minigames that can be played with friends via the Nintendo DS's WiFi connection, helps to prolong the game's appeal after all of the pets and accessories have been collected. Plus, each of the minigames offers three levels of difficulty to accommodate players of various skill levels and reflexes. Players can switch between any of the pets they've adopted, and can zoom in to give them some one-on-one attention, such as petting and feeding.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the differences between adopting a virtual pet and caring for one in real life. What real-life pet responsibilities does the game gloss over, such as cleaning the litter box, taking the animal to the vet, or dealing with the aftermath of a chewed up shoe?

Game Details

  • Platform: Nintendo DS
  • Available online?: Available online
  • Publisher: Electronic Arts
  • Release date: March 3, 2009
  • Genre: Simulation
  • ESRB rating: E for (No Descriptors)
  • Last updated: November 5, 2015

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