With lots of superfluous narrative pieces, and non-math-related places to play and explore, it's also easy for kids to get lost in the weeds. And if kids are using it at school, the kids with premium accounts will get perks that other kids won't, which sets up an inequity in experiences. Parents will need to be clear with their kids about their intentions to purchase or not purchase an upgrade. Some may find the ever present push to purchase a subscription overwhelming, or even a source of conflict. Sometimes the screens are glitchy, don't load properly, or crash completely, which will certainly lead to frustration when kids have to navigate their way back to where they were.

In terms of appearance, the graphics are nothing special but should appeal to kids within the target age range. Premium memberships offer parents even more precise tools, such as choosing the type of math questions their kids get and the ability to set Focus mode, which limits kids to a play world that has fewer battles and more frequent math questions. Parents will enjoy tracking usage and progress with the user-friendly dashboard. The game is therefore best suited for practice rather than instruction, as there is also limited feedback for incorrect answers.

Each question has some hints for how to solve the problem, which some kids may find useful, but others will find inadequate. One of the highlights of Prodigy: Kids Math Game is the adaptive platform that gives kids a personalized learning experience. This game-based learning app is a fun way for kids to practice essential math skills, but they may get distracted with the battles, pets, spells, and upgrade suggestions. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change. At the time of this review, the app crashed several times mid-gameplay. Leveling up is also easier as a paid user - and kids are reminded of this often as they play - so it's likely that kids will ask for access to those features. The app is free, but two different levels of paid subscriptions each offer more parent tools and gaming features, such as focus mode or mini-game power-ups and access to special characters called Mythical Epics. There's an option for kids to play online with friends, but the chat option uses preselected phrases only.

Use the dashboard to customize skills covered in the game, create assignments, and view a child's activity, progress, and standards coverage. Parents can set up a free account for access to a dashboard. Kids answer math questions to earn spells, which they use to battle monsters as they move through different worlds on the way to Wizard Academy. Parents need to know that Prodigy: Kids Math Game is a fantasy-based web and app game that covers skills learned in grades one through eight.

Prodigy game family membership