RATING AND CONTENT
Recommended for ages 6 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Learning: 4 out of 5
Ease of play: 4 out of 5
Violence and scariness: 0 out of 5
Sexy stuff: 0 out of 5
Language: 0 out of 5
Drinking, drugs, and smoking: 0 out of 5
Consumerism: 1 out of 5 (Are products/advertisements embedded? Is the title part of a broader marketing initiative/empire? Is the intent to sell things to kids?)
WHAT KIDS CAN LEARN
Science
Thinking and reasoning
Creativity
Tech skills
APP DETAILS
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Price: $3.99
Release date: July 6, 2016
Category: Education
Size: 72.40 MB
Publisher: Edoki
Minimum software requirements: iOS 8.0 or later
Parents need to know that Busy Water is a leveled puzzle game that challenges kids to problem solve and apply basic physics to get a fish safely through a maze of pipes. Over 100 levels each offer a unique challenge and unlock only after completing the previous level, and kids can also design their own levels. When the fish doesn’t have enough water, it starts turning purple and makes struggled breathing sounds until it eventually disappears, and a smug cat laughs when the fish doesn’t make it; sensitive kids might find these elements disturbing. The settings menu allows users to choose from more than 10 languages and features a parent’s guide that details game instructions and offers extension ideas. For parents who also own an Apple Watch and/or have Apple TV, there are companion activities for those devices. Read the developer’s clearly worded privacy policy for details on how your information is collected and shared.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
In the logical puzzle solving game, Busy Water, a tricky cat has unplugged Archie the fish’s tank. Through over 100 levels, kids put together pipes, experiment with water in its various states, and use wheels, ropes, rotating planks, and gravity to direct Archie through various adventures until he’s safely back in his aquarium. Since the tag line is “Think outside the tank,” kids are encouraged to come up with original solutions and try new things, so they don’t necessarily have to link pipes together to solve the puzzle. Play earns “algae” which kids can use to unlock special outfits for Archie. Though fewer attempts earn more algae, kids have unlimited chances to keep trying each level until they can pass it. The build mode allows kids to design their own levels and share them with friends through a special code.
IS IT ANY GOOD?
There’s a lot that encourages kids to discover, experiment, and stretch out their logical problem solving skills in this set of reasoning puzzles that touch on engineering and other STEM concepts. Archie the fish is a great, kid-friendly protagonist whose adventures are accompanied by sweet graphics and realistic sound effects. In fact, the gasping noises Archie makes when out of water might freak out some kids. Except for the very earliest levels — which are a little slow to build in complexity — there are often multiple ways to solve each level, so while kids never “fail” a level, there’s also room to improve or try something different. It can be frustrating when kids get stuck and would be nice to see some help or hints at some point, even if it’s just a clue and not a solve. The build mode is especially interesting because it puts kids in the driver’s seat and lets them experience gaming, logic, and reasoning from a completely different perspective and then share their creations with friends.
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Common Sense Media is an independent nonprofit organization offering unbiased ratings and trusted advice to help families make smart media and technology choices. Check out our ratings and recommendations at www.commonsense.org.
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