What it is
Rocket Ride is the fastest game on Tiny Hands Play. Biscuit the puppy climbs a crane and hops into the rocket, then it launches from a countdown and climbs through space while asteroids, satellites, space junk and eventually UFOs drift into its path. Steer left and right, boost upward, brake to slow down, and collect stars and fuel cans that give a burst of invincibility. Altitude and stars both count, best results are saved, and the higher you go the faster it all comes. Milestone chimes mark every few hundred kilometers.
How to play
On a laptop or desktop
Arrow keys or WASD: left and right steer, up or Space boosts, down brakes. Any key launches.
On a tablet or phone
Touch the left or right side of the screen to steer, hold to boost. Two thumbs work well.
What children learn
- Momentum: the rocket keeps moving after you stop pressing
- Reaction time and planning ahead
- Left-right directional control
- Reading a rising number (altitude) as a goal
Tips for parents
Boosting the whole time is the beginner's mistake; short boosts and steering early are the skill. Talk about momentum: why does the rocket keep drifting after you let go?
Questions parents ask
What is the best age for Rocket Ride?
Five and up. It needs two-directional steering and some planning, which most four-year-olds find frustrating.
Does it use the phone's tilt sensor?
No. Steering is by touch zones on the left and right of the screen, which is more predictable for kids than tilting.
How do lives work?
Three lives. Hitting an asteroid costs one and gives a few seconds of invincibility to recover. Fuel cans also make you invincible for a moment.
