My Town: Beach Picnic
© 2015 My Town Games
This is one of a series of theme-based flannel board style experiences that lets you drag-and-drop items on the screen. While the overall design isn't as sophisticated as the Toca Life series, there is a playful collecting element to this app, that keeps you exploring. There are four areas; each with about 20 items: a picnic, a store, the beach and the sea (both above surface and below). You discover that you can collect trash to earn hearts, which can be exchanged to unlock more fish. Some of the object interactions are noteworthy. There are two paddles, for example. If you give one paddle to any of the human characters, a ball starts bouncing. The collecting theme is also fun. Need to know: This app aggressively markets other "My Town" apps within the play environment, this despite being a paid app. At the very least, it should be possible for a parent to disable these icons. See also My Playhome and the Toca Life series.
$2.99, iPad, iPhone
Teaches: creativity, representational play, language
CTR Rating: 86%