Today's Best Apps: Winston Show And Poptropica: Forgotten Islands

The App Store takes delivery of hundreds of new apps per day. The overwhelming scene makes it possible to easily overlook an exciting game, valuable productivity suite, etc. However, we have a solution. Today’s Best Apps tackles this problem by providing you with a handpicked and tested list of apps that are truly worth your consideration each and everyday. Remember: Even though in-app purchases typically require your iTunes Store password for processing, you can further prevent them and other unauthorized actions by enabling local restrictions using the passcode locked iOS parental controls Universal:

Poptropica: Forgotten Islands by Ubisoft ($4.99, 111.7 MB): The tropical adventure world designed for elementary and middle schoolers arrives on iOS. However, this isn't quite the MMORPG experience available on desktops and laptops. The Forgotten Islands are a unique journey, sending players through new quests to solve different challenges faced by the citizens of Poptropica. The game features hand drawn 2-D graphics, 10-hour campaign filled with 80 characters and mini-games, fictitious fun and educational elements, as well as more than 100 avatar accessories and blimp upgrades.

iPad:

Winston Show by ToyTalk, Inc. (Free, 121.0 MB): In this cleverly interactive edutainment app, your child gets to be the star guest of a whacky new multi-activity game show. First up, Win with Winston, the enjoyable trivia contest where a kid can learn some interesting facts, such as what a group of camels is called. Similar, but even quirkier, You Vs. is trivia against a strange guest contestant that always seems to pick the wrong answer. Offering a breather to the brief competitions, Winston also hosts a fireside chats to get more acquainted with the player and the Writer's Room where your child helps tell the stories by making narrative choices. As a bonus, a child may also step backstage and try on some virtual costumes. Speaking of behind-the-scenes, activities are separated by a quick trip to the Control Room, a time when Winston and his friend and stage operator, the also adorable Ellington, make small talk and toss out some jokes. In fact, the mixture of main and backstage scenes, realistic on and off-screen banter, as well as the activity announcer's voice reminds me a lot of TMZ except completely family-friendly. The game features everything from 2-D to 3-D graphics, charming soundtrack and great dialog for those of any age, FaceTime camera input and push button voice recognition for interaction, and five studios with five variations of activities each. The app does require sign-up of a free Toy Talk account and consent verification, which also provides parental controls. Feel free to first read the company's terms of use and privacy policies.

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