So here’s a few reviews together – because if your toddler is anything like mine, one train app is just not going to be enough!
I’m reviewing 3 apps – the Lego Duplo Connected Trains app, Train builder by Yateland and Toca Train. Each app has its benefits – we’re using the free versions of all of them, but I’m ready to buy the Train Builder.
The Lego Duplo Connected trains is an app I downloaded when I started teaching Child Development and Technology – so I’ve had it for a long time, and don’t think I’d ever have chosen it specifically for my daughter (though she loves Duplo blocks). Without the trains, it is surprisingly engaging, however, and my daughter likes it more than Toca trains, which has similar interaction with the trains themselves. As with Toca Trains, she’s not that excited to move the train around the tracks, but she does like the little activities that go alongside it – although she needs help with most of them. They are fun little activities – cleaning the train, getting passengers or cargo on or off the train, moving the train tracks – that get you stickers. The stickers are of no interest whatsoever, but we go around the tracks repeatedly (rarely stopping for passengers or cargo, to get to the next activity.
Toca Trains is the most disappointing of them all – we are big fans of Toca Boca (see other reviews) and so had high expectations that this would be better. I think maybe it’s an age thing, and our two year old just isn’t ready to fully commit to just moving a train around a track. There are two views available – a 3rd person view, and in the driver’s seat – with different functionality depending on which view you select. But the basic interaction is the same – the train goes around a track, you can change the speed and stop it at stations to let passengers on or off the train. From inside the train, you can also make the horn sounds (if your device is not on mute). The graphics are cute, the interaction is nice, but our 2 year old rarely wants to play for more than a couple of minutes.
Finally Train Builder by Yateland. A sneaky winner in the train front, and I’m honestly ready to pay the $2.99 to get the full version of this. There are 2 trains, and 2 locations available in the free version, and 4 more trains and 4 more locations available in the paid version. The interaction is simple – you select your train engine, you pick the cargo for the train, and then you head to a location and drive the train around it. Of most interest is popping the balloons, or closing up the sun umbrellas in the beach location – and just in general the interaction is nice. You need to hold your finger on the screen to get the train to move (which I spend a lot of time doing, while our toddler interacts with the scenery). This app keeps her going for hours – it’s rare she will leave it without me telling her to.
App details: Lego Duplo Connected Trains
Available on: iOS (Apple); android (google); amazon apps
Price: Free. It works without the trains (which are in the $60+ range) We don’t own them.
Ads: no
App ages rating:4+ (The train is rated 2-5 years)
My age rating: 1+
Category: trains
Publisher: Lego
App details: Train Builder
Available on: iOS (Apple); android (google); amazon apps
Price: Free for 2 trains, 2 locations; $2.99 for the full app.
Ads: no but you can look at other apps which is sort of annoying.
App ages rating:4+ (The train is rated 2-5 years)
My age rating: 1+
Category: trains
Publisher: Yateland https://yateland.com/
App details: Toca Trains
Available on: iOS (Apple); android (google); amazon apps
Price: free
Ads: no
App ages rating:4+
My age rating: I want to give this credit and think maybe it’ll be more engaging at 3+ years
Category:
Publisher: Toca Boca https://tocaboca.com/
