CodeMonkey
age 9+
Solve puzzles, help the monkey, learn to program.
What parents need to know
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that CodeMonkey provides practice coding with a real programming language to solve a variety of puzzles. The game's developers have worked hard to make the puzzles accessible and provide the right guidance at the right time. But parents should expect kids to get stuck, requiring some encouragement and, depending on their age and ability, some help to get past some of the more challenging levels. There's no offensive content to be found on the site or in the puzzles, so parents can focus on helping their kids learn how to code.
User reviews
Parents say
Kids say
What's it about?
In a magical land, a bad gorilla has stolen the Code Monkey's bananas. Across almost 100 levels, users learn to write simple code phrases to guide the Monkey across the screen to retrieve his missing fruit. Code increases in complexity from stage to stage, so by the time kids get to the end of the last level, they're well-versed in CoffeeScript, a variant of JavaScript, which is used frequently for Web applications.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
In a market filled with lots of great code-learning games and sites, CodeMonkey stands out with its cheerful graphics, carefully constructed puzzles, and thoughtful sequences of puzzles. Though the programing language this game teaches (CoffeeScript) is not as widely used as some other code languages, the game still provides a solid introduction to the basic concepts of programming and code structure. Students help a monkey retrieve her lost bananas, journeying through a whimsical map full of procedural coding puzzles. Each level is viewed from a top-down perspective, and students must write and "run" code snippets on the right side of the screen to steer the monkey across each level on the left side of the screen. This two-sided style helps students instantly see the results of their work.
Each new level introduces an additional piece of code or a new function, or challenges the player to put the pieces together for themselves. After players get the gist of the interface and puzzles, the focus is on getting each solution not only to work but to work well so they receive the maximum number of stars. Students can share their best solutions and even create challenges once they've finished all the puzzles, while teachers -- with the paid classroom or school version -- can track students' progress and help students with an answer key of all solutions. Be advised, though: Puzzles can be tough and will stump users. Though there's a lot of support, a better hint system or more helpful debug messages would be welcome, especially for users who are confused. But this provides some challenge and something to strive for, which makes CodeMonkey a great tool for fledgling programmers.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about how computer code controls what happens in programs, such as games. Has CodeMonkey helped you figure out how some of your favorite games are made?
Families can talk about careers in computer programming. Would you like to become a programmer? What seems appealing about programming? What doesn't?
Families can talk about how computer programming helps you break down complex problems into smaller, easier-to-solve pieces.
Website details
| Subjects: | Language & Reading: following directions Math: measurement, patterns, sequences |
| Skills: | Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, decision-making, logic, problem solving, solving puzzles Creativity: combining knowledge Self-Direction: achieving goals Tech Skills: using and applying technology |
| Genre: | Educational |
| Pricing structure: | Free to Try, Paid (Code Monkey is free to try up through level 30 (out of 200). Annual subscriptions open up additional levels featuring more complex coding concepts and start at $39/year.) |
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are conducted by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
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Code Monkey, Thank You!
Code Monkey
https://www.playcodemonkey.com/challenges/0
This game is suitable for students in grades 5th- 7th Grade (9-12 years old). Code Monkey teaches the students a vast variety of critical life skills. The students learn a lot about their computer and its various coding functions, the importance of listening/ reading directions, and minor math is involved (measurement and counting). All these vital skills are possessed through a rewarding quest with a less than menacing monkey. The student controls a cute “Code Monkey” and must pass various challenges that increase exponentially in difficulty. Every action of the monkey is controlled by the student and their keyboard. The student must listen to directions, apply the proper code, and make sure they do the math to assure the code they enter is correct. I recommend that computer teachers and math teachers of the early middle school age use this game to teach the students the practical use of math and the various functions of the computer. Computer teachers win as students learn keyboard short cuts and minor coding, but math teachers win as students must use a ruler to calculate their monkey’s steps and do the math to decide his next move to the banana. This game directly addresses the Colorado Department of Education’s academic standards. The 6th standard of the CDE’s academic standards states: “Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems and operations.” This game does just that as students are exposed to the introductory world of computer programming (the virtual language of today). While this game is invaluable to an educator’s arsenal, students will need technical support and help as they get stuck on various challenges. The world of coding can be tough and, without guidance, the student will just become frustrated and not glean the value of the game in education. Therefore, a teacher should not assign this game as a personal homework assignment, but an in class interactive activity.
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CodeMonkey
This is an incredible product. My boy is half way through all the levels and can't get enough of it. They are teaching REAL programming concepts while the kids feel like they are playing a game. My only problem will be figuring out how to keep up his enthusiasm after he has completed all of the levels. By the way I am a career programmer.
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Excellent way of exploring programming concepts
When I saw how interested my kids were in a programming tool at a local museum's Robots exhibit I looked online for a similar, simple tool for explaining programming. Of the few I looked at CodeMonkey was both immediately available (nothing to download) and also did an excellent job of explaining programming concepts in a series of fun logic puzzles. The creators have done an excellent job in keeping each lesson accessible and building off of the concepts in the previous lessons. The gamification also helps tremendously. Who doesn't like to see three starts?
My 9 year old can't get enough of it and is absorbing the material in leaps and bounds. Like another reviewer, I also have a background in programming, but I have not had to 'step in' at all and actually enjoy watching the boy figure out improvements by himself. Well worth it. Enjoy!
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