Snoopy Puzzle Journey

Kids are encouraged to work toward goals in this puzzle game. In Snoopy Puzzle Journey, players can often use items such as boosters that will eliminate an entire row to help them advance, so the process is rarely frustrating. When more than one special item is used at a time, the pieces have an even greater effect. A missile will clear out a column or row, for example, and a missile and a bomb removes three rows and columns. The app also showcases kids' progress in a number of ways, which helps them see what they still need to do and provides positive reinforcement for what they've done. As they complete levels, they'll advance on a map toward a new city. They also collect points for playing and work to complete items on a to-do list, such as eliminating a certain number of red squares during rounds.

The game is generally fun, although individual rounds often whizz by quickly -- sometimes almost too fast. Up until about level 15, a number can be completed in just a few moves. Levels do, though, get somewhat more challenging as players progress. But there's a delay when moving between sections within the app. Kids see a playing tip while the screen loads, yet it can make the overall pace seem a bit sluggish at times. Each puzzle costs a heart to attempt. Once you run out of them, if you don't have enough coins on hand, you'll have to wait until a heart refills, which can take about 15 minutes. As a result, kids can't play Snoopy Puzzle Journey indefinitely -- something they may not be crazy about, but parents might appreciate.