Parents' Guide to

Plan It Green: The Big Switch

By Jenny Cuenca, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Sim game challenges kids to build an eco-friendly city.

Game Mac , Windows 2013
Plan It Green: The Big Switch Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Plan It Green: The Big Switch Game: Screenshot #1
  • Plan It Green: The Big Switch Game: Screenshot #2
  • Plan It Green: The Big Switch Game: Screenshot #3

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What’s It About?

In PLAN IT GREEN: THE BIG SWITCH, the player uses a combination of in-game currency (coins, hearts, energy, and supplies) to build an eco-friendly city. As the player advances levels, new environmentally friendly options open up as city additions, such as parks and eco-friendly housing. Each time the player collects coins, a new environmental fact is shared. Every few minutes there are additional currencies to collect from the existing properties. Players save up their currencies to build bigger items, such as houses and factories. The game is untimed -- players can leave the browser open, returning at their leisure.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is one of those games wherein the learning potential is high but the engagement is only so-so. The pace is slow because you have to wait for the currency to recharge, and it takes a long time to accumulate sufficient coins to create new buildings. Furthermore, it's hard to understand your progress. As a standalone game, this may be inaccessible for kids with lower reading comprehension, as the game is reading-heavy.

However, for those who persevere, it can be a great learning experience. The in-game content may prove valuable for adults and kids alike. The game highlights the latest green innovations and how this technology can impact a community. As such, for those who explore the game, the potential for increased knowledge and awareness is high.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Environmentalism is often a controversial topic in the news. How do we help our kids make sense of the news?

  • How can you be a balanced gamer on the Internet?

Game Details

  • Platforms: Mac , Windows
  • Subjects: Science : ecosystems and the environment, electricity, Hobbies : building
  • Pricing structure: Free
  • Available online?: Available online
  • Publisher: National Geographic
  • Release date: March 18, 2013
  • Genre: Simulation
  • ESRB rating: NR
  • Last updated: February 22, 2020

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