introducing osmo :: review

When I first heard about this new iPad game called Osmo, I immediately brushed it off as “just another iPad game”. But then I started seeing more info pop up about it and watched a video or two showing Osmo in action. My curiosity started to peak. Then, this past Christmas, my parents gifted Osmo to us as a “gift for the whole family” and, let me just say, it has been just that!

If you haven’t heard about Osmo before, Osmo is a basically a unique gaming accessory for your iPad that allows you and your kids to play games in a whole new way! Check out their video:

Cool, right? But does it really hold kids’ attention? Educational? Can the whole family really use it? Is it worth it?

I would quickly say “YES” to all those!

The Osmo system comes with the base, which serves as a holder and stand for the iPad, and the small red clip on mirror piece that really makes the magic of Osmo come to life. It also comes with three free apps (downloadable in the iTunes App store) and a set of wooden shapes and two sets of letter tiles.

Each of the three apps have a different focus ::

Newton, probably the most advanced game, allows you to use lines or objects to create paths to make the little balls make it to their goal. This is also one of the most impressive apps! Set any object in the playing field and its outline will appear on the iPad screen. The kids were immediately blown away to see their toys take shape on the iPad screen or to see their drawings magically go from paper to iPad screen as they drew them. Then they began seeing how these shapes and drawings affected the path of the bouncing balls. Definitely a brain workout!

 

Tanagram takes puzzles to a whole new level as you recreate shapes and pictures using the colored wooden pieces. The app recognizes if you have the shape and color correct as you place them on the playing field, giving you instant feedback. Of course, as you progress through the Tanagram puzzles, you’ll begin to notice them getting a little harder, not giving you instant feedback, and stretching your  puzzle solving skills. This app is fun for all ages. All three of my kids love trying to solve the puzzles and can work at their own levels. Even my husband tries his skills with the harder levels.

 

Words — As a scrabble and crossword lover, this app is my favorite. It is also one that everyone in my family enjoys. Play by yourself to solve the word puzzles or have a friendly competition to see who can solve the word puzzle first. The two sets of letter tiles are different colors (red and blue) so Osmo recognizes who lays the correct letters first when playing against each other. As the other games, the puzzles start out easy and begin getting harder as you progress through them. My absolute favorite part is watching my almost 4 year old as he figures out what the picture is showing him and then searches for the missing first letter. It’s such a great way for him to work on those beginning word sounds!

 

Also, in Words, you can create your own word puzzles by visiting MyOsmo and uploading your own pictures! This is a great way to focus on specific objects around your house, people, or places!

 
With Osmo still being quite new to the iPad app space, I can’t wait to see what other games and learning apps they develop for this system! Personally, I would love to see a story creator app where kids can draw pictures or their own comics and then watch the stories animate themselves on the iPad. Doesn’t that sound fun?

Another cool feature of Osmo is that it all packs up nice and neat into a box that fits right on your bookshelf for storage (if your kids let you put it away ever) and can easily be taken with you as you travel (think: sitting in the airport as you travel for Spring Break!).

You can find out more about Osmo and where to purchase it at PlayOsmo.com!

What fun apps would you like to see developed for Osmo?