Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
My Tamagotchi Forever (iOS, Google Play)
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Posted on May 4th, 2018 by
For some reason I’ve always been fascinated by the virtual pet phenomenon. It wasn’t part of my childhood as I was an 80’s kid and this was a 90’s fad. But the Tamagotchi craze did begin around the time I started writing video game reviews professionally, so I’ve always followed it that way. Plus many of my little brothers enjoyed it when they were little (they were all 90s kids). So naturally when a new Tamagotchi game just came out recently on mobile devices (reviewed on iPad here), you know I just had to review it!
Minit (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on May 2nd, 2018 by
You’re a weird duck-billed (looks like a Tamagotchi) character in a black and white world. One day you pick up a cursed sword which will make you keep dying every 60 seconds and return to your home for another 60 seconds until you die again. So now you’re on a quest to destroy the cursed sword factory with only a minute to complete it. And just HOW are you going to do that? You’ll just have to read this review to find out! Minit is available to download on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
The Adventure Pals (PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on April 30th, 2018 by
You have to wonder if the developers of The Adventure Pals wanted to make a game based on the Adventure Time cartoon, or were at least inspired by it. You play as a boy who lives in a weird cartoon world and uses a sword to dispatch crazy enemies. For your birthday you get a magical yellow giraffe with a stretchy neck, but soon after that, your grandpa gets kidnapped by Mr. B., who wants to turn all the senior citizens into hot dogs…for some reason. So you and your giraffe set out on a 2-D platforming adventure to save him. My brother Jeff says the game looks like something you could play on Newgrounds as well, which sounds about right. Anyway, The Adventure Pals is available to download on PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Lode Runner Legacy (Switch, PC)
Posted on April 27th, 2018 by
When I was a kid back in the 80’s, my first gaming system was actually a computer, an Apple ][+ to be exact. I played a lot of games on it, especially ones like Spare Change and Aquatron. Another one of my favorites was Lode Runner. When this game was brought to the Famicom (Japanese Nintendo), it was one of the first third-party games to sell a million copies! So Lode Runner certainly has a legacy with both me and the rest of the gaming world. And now you can download and play a new version of it on the Switch and PC (reviewed on Switch here).
ClusterPuck 99 (Switch, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on April 25th, 2018 by
ClusterPuck 99 is a sports game that’s like a hybrid of hockey and soccer. Because of all the different maps and arenas, it also reminds me of Atari’s classic 2600 game Combat. It certainly has an old school arcade feel to it, anyway. So why the ’99?” Well when I talked to the developers who made ClusterPuck 99 at PAX South, they said they put the 99 on the end because NHL 99 was the greatest hockey game ever. Anyway, up to eight players can compete in this downloadable game for Switch, Xbox One, and PC (reviewed on Switch here).
Rogue Aces (Switch, PS4, PS Vita)
Posted on April 24th, 2018 by
When the bad guys come calling, nothing better than an aerial frontal assault! Take control of a fighter/bomber and fight off incoming ships, planes, and tanks in arcade or campaign modes. Rogue Aces is a side-scrolling airplane combat game with some roguelike attributes. Use your guns, missiles, and bombs to attack air, land, and sea targets. Satisfy the mission parameters to clear an area and progress to the next level. Rogue Aces is a fun little shoot-em up that is enhanced by its campaign options.
Gravity Dash (iOS, Android, Windows Store)
Posted on April 23rd, 2018 by
Gravity Dash is yet another continuous runner on mobile devices (reviewed on iPad here), but this one has a twist. You can run on the ground, and on the ceilings to avoid obstacles. Jump by simply tapping on the screen, and hold down to jump higher. While during a jump, if you tap on the screen again, you’ll flip over and start running on the ceiling (or ground if you’re already upside down).
Cartoon Network Match Land (iOS, Android)
Posted on April 20th, 2018 by
Your favorite Cartoon Network characters have gathered for a food festival, but food-based monsters have retaliated so you must team up to stop them in this match three puzzle battle game. It plays similarly to other games like Puzzle & Dragons, and is a free-to-play download on iOS and Android devices (reviewed on iPad here). You’ll see characters and restaurants from your favorite new Cartoon Network shows, including Steven Universe, Adventure Time, We Bare Bears, and more!
Penny-Punching Princess (Switch, PS Vita)
Posted on April 19th, 2018 by
Sometimes you gotta fight the bad guy, but if they’re so bad couldn’t you just pay them off? Penny-Punching Princess has you fighting and bribing your way through the bad guys to reclaim your rightful title, lost by your father’s poor financial skills. It’s an action rouge-like title with the twist that you can bribe enemies (and obstacles) such they they fight for you instead.
Mowy Lawn (iOS)
Posted on April 18th, 2018 by
Spring is in full force, and for many that means having to mow the lawn again! Get ready for it by playing this free-to-play mobile game about mowing the lawn. Yes, really! There’s a game for everything now! The graphics and title are probably a parody of another popular mobile game called Crossy Road, but I don’t think they’re both made by the same folks. Speaking of Crossy Road, if you want to play a good mobile Pac-Man game by the same people who made Crossy Road, then try out Pac-Man 256.
