Moshi Monsters (www.moshimonsters.com)
© 2007 Mind Candy
Note: See the Nintendo DS version. Update 2010: Now a thriving social community, (much like Club Penguin) Moshi Monsters (www.moshimonsters.com) is a family of six zany monsters that live in their own virtual home. The site is free to get into, but uses a velvet rope model; showing children content that requires a subscription to access. The cost is $6/month and up. The timed puzzles, which need to be solved in order to feed your monster or to buy furniture, have a welcome educational twist to them, despite being nearly all multiple choice. There are rather random sorting and counting challenges, for example, that can get very challenging -- Moshi Monsters definitely provides a strong informal educational experience. Also new are a series of pets you can get for your Moshi Monster, to keep him or her happy. This adds a collecting aspect to the game that has obvious toy and trading card implications. The site makes it easy to meet and become friends with other monsters. The art and design are state-of-the-art, at least as of January 2010. If you're looking for a safe, fun and educational experience, Moshi Monsters is a good place to send your child.
$6, Internet Site
Teaches: creativity, language, socialization
CTR Rating: 92%