Dora’s Great Big World App | literacy, math and science games for preschool kids & 1st graders

by Top Best Apps for Kids · 28. June 2014

✔ iPad + iPhone ✔ Android ✔ Kindle Fire | kids app

Literacy, maths and science is definitely an important part of the games in this Dora app, which also carries the promising name “Dora’s Great Big World”. Dora’s Great Big World offers a total of 5 games, which do not only contain logic games, but also lots of relevant and interesting educational content, for preschool and even first grade. We have tested this big game world thoroughly and are going to introduce you to the game now.

Contains 1 In-App purchase ($ 1.99) for an extra game

Dora’s 1,5 GB Great Big World

The required space already gives away the size and comprehensiveness of the new Dora app, which kind of leaves parents with a pretty tricky logistical space challenge. You basically need 1,5 GB space on your tablet or smartphone for Dora’s Great Big World, on our device, it was actually 1,9 GB after the download was complete! You’ll definitely see why this much space is required in each of the game scenes of this app. Dora shines with it’s comprehensive narration and many animations in cartoon quality. Even the reward stickers were animated.

1st Game: Benny’s Barn – learning to read

In the game Benny’s Barn, the pigs need to be brought back to their stable. By letting the pigs take a bath in the mud, kids will see a word appear on their backs. The last syllable of the word tells kids, which stable each individual pig belongs to.

All words are being named, in case your kids can’t read yet. Apart from that, the game is perfect for practicing early reading skills.

2nd Game: Isa’s Flowery Garden: basic math, including numbers and counting

Kids need to plant a certain amount of flowers in Isa’s Flowery Garden, which they need to count afterwards. Of course Dora counts along in English and Spanish too.

3rd Game: The Bugga Bugga Rainforest Water Show: letter recognition

All of the Bugga Bugga beetles carry a letter and are preparing an evening show in the rainforest. Kids need to arrange the beetles via uppercase and lowercase letters, which will help with the preparation of the party. Once this is done, they get to enjoy an entertaining show with funny musicians.

4th Game: Purple Planet Space Friends: critical thinking & problem-solving game

For this game, the app switches to portrait mode, because Dora has to solve a problem on the purple planet inside a deep crater. She throws down a little ball from up above, which needs to rolls down into the crater hole, with the correct adjustment of the levers. Kids will have several go’s in this game, which gives them plenty of time to think about their solution. Besides, a help function is also available.

Optional 5th Game via in-app purchase: Tico’s Nutty Forest – Logical reasoning and process skills (observing and experimenting)

An additional logic game is unfortunately only available via in-app purchase for $ 1.99, something we definitely did not expect to find by the actual purchase price of $ 6.99 (iPad) and is also a definite minus point. Especially this game will interest little tinkerers, as it’s about constructing a functional machine that will transport nuts to Tico’s car. This game is particularly charming and interesting due to it’s crazy components, such as catapults and wagons and should therefore by all means, be part of the basic configuration of this app.

YouTube trailer of Dora’s Great Big World

In our YouTube trailer, we show you all of the five games and you can certainly get some nice insights of the new Dora app and her big world.

Dora’s Great Big World | kids app rating

The new Dora app offers plenty of alternation and game fun for preschool kids and first graders. Kids get to train their letter recognition and their reading ability and practice their counting skills in English and Spanish. The other two games are also great logic games, which include problem-solving and are surely great fun to play. The unique stickers are also clearly more fun and can be placed into the game world straight away.

Whilst the much required space of this app is surely justified with it’s comprehensive content, we most certainly do not understand as to why there is any need in the additional in-app purchase, which is completely misplaced in such a high-priced premium app.

Pro’s
(+) Content & Design
(+) Space for more siblings
(+) phonetic and normal pronunciation of the letters
(+) educationally valuable games

Neutral
1,5 GB space required

Con’s
(-) additional in-app purchase for an extra game ($ 1.99)