38 Apps and Games That Will Stop Sibling Rivalry
Our friends at Common Sense Media have rounded up the best apps and games to keep your kids from becoming rivals.
Sibling rivalry may feel like an inevitable part of family life, but there are healthy ways to moderate and keep the competitiveness in check. These terrific apps and games can help kids go from conflict to cooperation in no time. Some picks, such as Sharing With Duckie Duck, teach kids to share, while others encourage siblings to collaborate and cocreate (Curious Words, Scoot and Doodle). Puzzles and adventures such as Plum's Photo Hunt or Lifeline... incite siblings to strategize together, and kid-safe messengers such as Marimba Chat keep brothers and sisters in touch. And there are a ton of picks on this list for siblings to just have fun playing together, such as Mario Party 10, Runbow, or Heads Up!
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Age 13+
Emotional puzzler has great role models, some dark moments.
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (2013)
DIY App — Creative Community for Kids
Age 8+
Kids learn, share, and build skills on excellent social app.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2016)
Curious Words
Age 6+
Words spark creativity in super short videos.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2015)
Fotobabble
Age 13+
Fun photo sharing app with audio has some privacy concerns.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2012)
Dubsmash
Age 16+
Silly lip-synching, shareable fun for older teens.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android (2015)
Geocaching
Age 14+
Treasure hunt = family fun but not for kids alone.
Devices: iPhone, Android (2010)
Affordable Space Adventures
Age 10+
Fun, puzzling astronaut adventure that's out of this world.
Platforms: Nintendo Wii U (2015)
Virtual Geocaching — Xnote
Age 12+
Send personalized, virtual treasure hunts to any smartphone.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2016)
Disney Karaoke: Frozen
Age 5+
Fans won't want to let it go; lots of storage space needed.
Devices: iPad (2014)
Castle Crashers Remastered
Age 14+
Warped, violent medieval adventure full of action, laughs.
Platforms: Xbox One (2015)
Fingle
Age 10+
Cooperative puzzler reminiscent of Twister but with fingers.
Devices: iPad (2012)
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Age 13+
Top-down actioner has some blood and a strong female lead.
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360 (2010)
Lego Jurassic World
Age 10+
Fun, commercialized movie game takes kids on dino adventure.
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One (2015)
THE GAME OF LIFE: 2016 Edition
Age 8+
Classic game takes kids on a speedy 3D adventure.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android (2010)
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris
Age 14+
Fun multiplayer adventure fuses action, puzzles, combat.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One (2014)
Heads Up!
Age 7+
Guessing game is family fun with real-world interaction.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android (2013)
Lifeline...
Age 13+
Choose Your Own Adventure grows up, goes tech, is great.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2015)
Fruit Ninja Kinect 2
Age 7+
Family-friendly party game promotes socializing, exercise.
Platforms: Xbox One (2015)
Marimba Chat
Age 8+
Kid-safe chatting with tight parental controls.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2015)
Lego Dimensions
Age 10+
Build an epic crossover story brick by (expensive) brick.
Platforms: Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One (2016)
Mario Party 10
Age 7+
Fun party game with mild violence promotes socialization.
Platforms: Nintendo Wii U (2015)
PlayKids Talk — Kids-Safe Messenger
Age 7+
Parental peace of mind as kids have fun with messaging.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2015)
Motion Math: Match
Age 6+
Innovative, fast-paced game builds mental math skills.
Devices: iPad (2015)
Marble Mixer for iPad
Age 3+
Gather the whole family for some classic marble fun.
Devices: iPad (2014)
Plum's Photo Hunt
Age 7+
Fun nature missions get kids outside; safe sharing options.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2014)
Sago Mini Friends
Age 2+
Fascinating first app features familiar, friendly fun.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2014)
Runbow Deluxe Edition
Age 9+
Colorfully chaotic party game expanded with bonus content.
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii U (2016)
Scrabble
Age 13+
Fantastic version of board classic with lots of tools.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android (2010)
Splatoon
Age 10+
Multiplayer-based shooter sprays paint, fun on battlefield.
Platforms: Nintendo Wii U (2015)
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Age 13+
Exceptionally fun, deep action-adventure promotes teamwork.
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS (2015)
Into the Snow: A Stella and Sam Adventure
Age 3+
Siblings model curiosity, creativity in cheerful adventure.
Devices: iPad (2011)
Trivia Crack
Age 11+
Addictive trivia game with some privacy implications.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone (2014)
Windosill
Age 7+
Imaginative journey through surreal, richly drawn puzzles.
Devices: iPad (2015)
Scoot & Doodle
Age 13+
Collaborative drawing tool helps distant families play.
Platforms: Google+ (2012)
Rock Band 4
Age 12+
Rhythm game with some iffy lyrics fosters interest in music.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One (2015)
Toca Tea Party
Age 4+
Transform iPad into a tea table with cute, imaginative app.
Devices: iPad (2013)
Magicka 2
Age 13+
Bring along some friends for spell-slinging fun.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows (2015)
Zoombinis
Age 8+
Save cute creatures with fun, complex puzzles.
Devices: iPad, Mac, Android, Kindle Fire, Apps for Windows (2015)