Toca Life: Town

© 2014 Toca Boca
$2.99, iPad, Android, iPhone
Teaches: causality, shapes, colors, memory, spatial relations, logic
CTR Rating: 98%
Editor's Choice

CTR Review

See also Toca Life World Build Stories See also Toca Life: City. Note -- this app was originally launched as "Toca Town." The best app of 2014 (so far) Toca Life: Town lets you touch, tap and swipe your way through a small town, with five buildings and one park; each offering hidden surprises and a cast of 21 characters. As with other Toca Boca work, this app is expertly crafted to ensure that children drive the app, and not the other way around. In this case, the idea is taken to a new, exciting level, because of the way the items in the app can move from screen to screen, carried by the characters. Getting started is easy: touch one of the six areas to begin. These include a police station (where you can put people behind bars, try some donuts or wash a car), a park (host a picnic); a super market (play with the coin machines or try some fresh cake from the freezer); a coffee house (cook a meal, or put on a concert) and two homes -- one smaller and one larger; and both with functional bathrooms. (Spoiler alert -- the toilets are operational, and each character makes "unique" sounds). Nice touches are scattered throughout this app. There's a present wrapping table, and a complete collection of costumes that stick on each character as they move around the app. While there's no explicit educational agenda, there's a lot to talk about with a friend, or explore. Things that you think should work, do. Every light turns on or off, and every door opens. Turn the TV on or play some music on the stereo. Need to know: Adjust the background sounds and music using the iOS Settings option in your control plan (not within the app). Point out two important controls to young children -- the "back" or home icon to return to the main menu, and the reset icon on the home screen. The latter returns all the items to their original position. You can also turn on or off the pulsing music option in the preferences. This is an excellent app for younger children and could be used to foster cooperative play. See also Dr. Panda Town.