While there haven’t been too many games I’ve reviewed that have been educational in nature, I have had a few cross my desk. More often than not, I’ve found that their greatest obstacle, aside from it usually being clear they’ve had more limited budgets, has been that they struggled to hide their true nature. An example would be if you were playing a math game there could be ways that using a variety of problems could be integrated into the play experience somehow, rather than there clearly being a problem to solve for progress and having the gameplay relegated to the side.

I believe Mouse & Crane has found a way to make the learning component better integrated into play than most, and that’s also what helps to make it a bit more fun than its typical peers. Granted, it helps that much of what it’s helping teach you about is physics, which games have been indirectly teaching people about for quite some time, but there are additional messages past the game’s often momentum-based mechanics. You’ll also be introduced to a variety of tools, environmental concepts like upcycling and conservation, as well as a little mandatory teamwork and building of friendships as well.

The result is a pretty delightful game that’s clearly appropriate for younger players that should remain engaging for a few hours at least. Its presentation and voice work should generally be comparable with a more creative kids show, and though it errs on the side of being polite and sweet I also didn’t end up feeling overwhelmed by nausea at an excess of positivity as can sometimes happen. If you have a younger gamer in training, and are looking for something that’s pretty approachable and polite, it isn’t a bad option at all.