What it is
Balloon Float is a one-button game. Biscuit the puppy hangs under a bunch of balloons: tap and they puff upward, let go and they drift down. Obstacles float in from the right, clouds, birds, kites and planes, and the job is to weave between them while collecting stars. Power-ups add variety: a shield, a rainbow trail, a magnet for stars, a slow-motion moment and a mystery box. Three lives mean a mistake is not the end, and a best score is kept on this device, or on every device with a free Tiny Hands account (we recommend one).
How to play
On a laptop or desktop
Press any key to puff. Space or Enter restart after a game.
On a tablet or phone
Tap to puff, hold for a longer rise. Keep tapping to stay level.
What children learn
- Timing and rhythm of a repeated action
- Anticipation: reading where an obstacle will be
- Hand-eye coordination
- Managing a small budget of lives
Tips for parents
New players tend to over-tap and hit the top of the screen. Suggest small taps and watching the middle of the screen rather than the balloon. Shields make a good moment to relax.
Questions parents ask
Is it too hard for a four-year-old?
The first thirty seconds are gentle and speed builds slowly. Four-year-olds enjoy the floating even when they crash early; the three lives help.
What do the power-ups do?
Shield absorbs a hit, Rainbow makes the balloon invincible for a while, Magnet pulls stars toward you, Snail slows the obstacles down, and the Mystery Box picks one of them at random.
Why did the game restart when I rotated the tablet?
It doesn't anymore. Rotating keeps the balloon on screen and the game continues.
