Common Sense Media Review
By Erin Bell
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Rich village simulation teaches core-standards math.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
NumberShire
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Parents say that this engaging educational game has proven to be a fantastic tool for teaching math concepts to young children, with many children becoming excited about learning through its interactive puzzles and stories. Users report significant improvements in children’s confidence and enthusiasm for math, making it particularly effective for reluctant learners while providing useful performance feedback for parents and teachers.
- engaging story
- boosts confidence
- effective for young learners
- detailed feedback
- fosters enthusiasm
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 3 kid reviews
What's It About?
NUMBERSHIRE is set in Tally-Ho, a rustic village inhabited by friendly animals. Players create their own anthropomorphized character, then help the villagers with various tasks that all involve numbers in some way. This includes counting groups of nails at the blacksmith's shop, helping a musician sort the coins in his case, and writing numbers by tracing them with the mouse. Kids receive a score for each activity, and upon completing the day's lessons they earn rewards such as new clothing and pets.
Is It Any Good?
NumberShire is a warm and inviting setting for kids to practice basic math. Each set of activities is grouped around a theme relating to an ongoing storyline -- such as building, baking, or preparing for the big parade -- which helps kids feel a real sense of accomplishment and progress. That said, there's no way to customize the experience based on the player's age or aptitude, leading to some uneven levels of challenges within the lesson groups. But, in spite of its quirks, NumberShire is a compelling way to teach and reinforce an otherwise dry subject for a young audience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why math is important. What kinds of tasks does it help you do?
Explore opportunities for using math skills such as counting, adding, and subtracting in the real world from the lessons found in NumberShire.
Game Details
- Platforms : Linux , Mac , Windows
- Subjects : Math : addition , counting , subtraction
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , Responsibility & Ethics : honoring the community
- Pricing structure : Free to try, Paid ($14.99 per student, $99 for 30 students.)
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Thought Cycle
- Release date : July 1, 2014
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : Numbers and Letters
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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