Poptropica
Reviewed by Dana Bakerman
For this review, I played on the free desktop website of this game, which was first released in 2007 but continues to be updated. The Poptropica franchise includes “free” apps for iOS called Poptropica and Poptropica Worlds (2014 and 2017 respectively). The Android version is called Poptropica. A paid monthly memberships unlocks pets, outfits, exclusive islands: A one month membership costs $4, three months costs $11, and six months costs $20.
Poptropica Adventures is available for the Nintendo DS and Poptropica Forgotten Islands is available for the Nintendo 3DS, both starting at $5. Poptropica was first published by Pearson Education and is now Sandbox Networks. For kids aged 6 to 15. This review was written November 2020.
Do you like social games like Club Penguin or the Sims? Then you’re likely to like Poptropica, where you can explore 58 islands by completing tasks, playing games, role playing in stories, and earning medals.
You start with pre-made characters, and then customize the skin and hair color, eye and mouth shapes, and outfits. You can then adopt a pet, meet new friends, or start your adventure.
You are free to pick any of the islands available. For each island, you are given objectives of problems you have to solve or things you have to do. There is a list of tasks for each island, and once completed you can move onto the next adventure.
For 24 Carrot Island for example, you have to figure out why carrots have been disappearing. This requires solving four quests
There are people on the islands to talk to (reading required) with clues. The islands range in level of difficulty.
It can be frustrating, as some tasks are easier than others. Children might not want to stop playing until they have finished tasks or levels, which might be troublesome for parents.
When entering or leaving buildings or after talking to people on the islands, there are advertisements that consist of 15–30 second video clips. This can happen at some of the worst times. This is in addition to ads displayed on both sides of the game’s website. A patient player won’t mind, but I found it annoying.
I can see this game being enjoyed by children as young as six years-of-age; and as old as 15.
Games are saved automatically, so you can jump right in a week later if you like.
There are extensive storylines, some not-so-clear graphics and some occasional lags.
Bottom Line
Despite a few drawbacks and ads, I found Poptropica to be fun and educational. It can make you think… for hours with plenty of problem solving and reading opportunities.
Rubric:
Entertaining: 8/10
Kid-Friendly: 7/10
Difficulty: 7/10
Graphics: 6/10
Dana Bakerman is a senior Urban Elementary Education and Math dual-major at The College of New Jersey. This is her first video game review. She wants to be a kindergarten teacher.
