Mario's Alphabet
© 2015 1tucan
Use your finger to move Mario (no relation to the Nintendo Mario) through a maze to collect letters. Sometimes a letter will block your path, which means you'll need to tap it or drag it to make a bridge. Each tap results in the letter sound, making this a good phonemic awareness activity. The design is cross between Thinkrolls and Endless Alphabet. Despite a clumsy feel at the start (we wish Mario was more responsive to your touch) and music that loops and can't be controlled, the play mechanic pulls you in, and the challenge gradually increases. Just make sure you show children how the "undo" button works. Content includes 160 levels that can be unlocked and progress is saved automatically. At the end of each level, you meet an egg that hatches into a new character. Higher levels combine letters from earlier levels.
$2.99, iPad, Android, Kindle
Teaches: phonics. letter sounds, spatial relations
CTR Rating: 90%