Common Sense Media Review
By Jenny Bristol
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gravity-powered astronomy game fun, teaches physics.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Luna's Wandering Stars
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
In LUNA'S WANDERING STARS, you're Luna, a moon that ends up near each of the nine planets (including Pluto). Your job is to clear each level by orbiting the planet and hitting enough asteroids to gain their mass while moving around by using physics, momentum, gravity, rocket boosts, and more. You're also supposed to collide with as many gold asteroids as possible, but it's often technically possible to clear the level without that being the primary goal. Each planet has special challenges, tools to use, and additional obstacles to overcome. These include utilizing gravity and velocity, firing rockets and lasers, moving space objects and planets, changing density, and even making wormholes and black holes. Kids will use their knowledge of astrophysics to complete levels, but not to worry: The game teaches them everything they need to know about Newton's Laws, mass, and angular momentum as they play.
Is It Any Good?
This visually beautiful game will pull players in right away. The beginning Mercury levels all have the same kind of challenge (using gravity to swing around the planet and hit asteroids to gain their mass) and are relatively easy, so gamers can learn the basics of the game without worrying about complicated mechanics right off the bat. It's fun to be able to control and maneuver a moon in space, but easily frustrated kids may not enjoy the higher levels of the other planets because of the number of times they may have to attempt each level; with each new level, the difficulty ramps up, goals are harder to reach, and trial and error is pretty much required. Even with that said, the game mechanics are simple and easy to use, and the large number of levels helps this game last for a long time, providing loads of replayability. Gamers who love to solve science-based puzzles and trying to improve on previous performance will enjoy Luna's Wandering Stars.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the history of the space program. How did rockets and the space shuttle make it to orbit? What does it mean to be in orbit around a planet instead of crashing into the planet or going off into space?
Learn more about satellites of all kinds. Why are natural and man-made satellites important to track as they move through space?
Game Details
- Platforms : Mac , Windows
- Subjects : Science : astronomy , gravity , momentum
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : prediction , strategy , thinking critically
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Serenity Forge
- Release date : May 15, 2015
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : STEM
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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