Review by Mieke VanderBorght, Common Sense Education | Updated February 2015

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Odd Squad: Blob Chase

Name: Odd Squad: Blob Chase
Item: Odd Squad: Blob Chase
Rating: 4
Author: Mieke VanderBorght

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Plan, problem-solve to build paths, capture blobs in fun leveled game

Subjects & skills

Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.

1–3

Common Sense says (See details)

Teachers say (1 Review)

Take a look inside

5 images

Watch background videos or get started on gameplay; grownups can read some learning tips in the parent section.

Sixty levels gradually introduce new building machines, different blob types, and increasing challenges.

Use the addinator machines to build bridges.

Make sure to build and destroy in a particular order; tap the "Hint" button for help.

If you don't plan and build well, the blobs escape and you get to try again.

Pros: Kid-friendly, kid-safe, fun gameplay and interface.

Cons: The connection to practicing arithmetic skills is a bit weak.

Bottom Line: Fun -- addictive, even -- games are great for problem-solving and planning, and have some subtle embedded math themes.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Use this game to get kids excited about planning, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Then, make the math connection clearer by explicitly pointing out key math concepts. Have kids explain how they solved each level using math words -- for example, "I saw that I needed to add three more units, so I used the +2 addinator and the +1 addinator, which together make three." Let kids work together on solving levels to encourage teamwork and peer sharing. There's no way to create multiple user accounts, but that feature would help: Doing the levels in order is important for learning how each new element works and because new challenges build on previous ones. Make sure new kids start from the beginning, or you might even consider uninstalling and reinstalling the app before handing the device over to a new player.

What Is It?

The blobs have escaped, and the Odd Squad is on the case! Help the squad by leading blobs to the blob sucker-upper through bridges, tubes, passageways, and more. Through 60 levels, the puzzles get more challenging, and more building machines are introduced (the addinator, subtractinator, or doublinator, and halfinator). Each machine has a specific function and a specific quantity. For example, choose the +2 addinator to add two units to a bridge, or use the halfinator to remove half of the units from a wall. To spice it up even more, there are three different blob types, each of which moves a bit differently. If blobs escape, kids start from the beginning to pass that level. Plus, kids can always tap the Hint button if they need help.

Odd Squad: Blob Chase complements the Odd Squad series, but kids don't need to have any previous familiarity to play the game. There are a few live-action Odd Squad video clips for kids who want to learn more about their mission in particular and the Squad in general.

Is It Good for Learning?

Odd Squad: Blob Chase is a fun, video game-style approach to help kids hone arithmetic skills. With all the appeal –- and addictive qualities –- of other popular leveled puzzle games (Candy Crush, anyone?) and none of the commercial qualities, this is a fun, kid-safe game. However, most learning is in the problem-solving rather than the math content. Kids will put their problem-solving, planning, and critical-thinking skills to the test as they figure out how to gather up all those escaped blobs. There's only a light connection between arithmetic and the building tools, as kids can easily pass most levels without making any real connection to the math content. Stricter rules for how kids can use the machines might help them understand, for instance, that using the "add 2" machine adds two units to the three already present and therefore equals five total. In higher levels, the math content is a bit harder to avoid.

Rating Details

Overall Rating

Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

A good, silly premise will appeal to kids, and each of 60 levels brings a fresh challenge. It's so easy to just keep tapping that "next level" button; kids can easily get -- and stay -- engaged.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Kids must plan, anticipate, and problem-solve to figure out the best way to build a path and the correct order to use their machines to lead the blobs to their container. Building machines relies on arithmetic principles.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

The different building machines and blob types can get confusing, but there's good help and support. There are great learning extensions on the PBS Kids site.

Common Sense Reviewer

Mieke VanderBorght Researcher

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Featured review by
Jessica L. , Classroom teacher

Classroom teacher

Addictive Problem Solving Game But Light on the Math

If my objective is to teach addition and subtraction (and multiplication and division), I would not use this game. My ratings above were based on this as a problem-solving game. As the students (and I) played it, they had to think about their strategy for solving the problem (i.e. getting the blobs into the machine without the blobs escaping). Since there was a time contraint, students had to strategize about which steps they needed to take in which order. Students enjoyed the game and kept clicking on "next." The "excellent" job was a bit repetative and annoying since the students received it after each level.

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