The best games for 1 year olds are simple tap and sensory apps: shake a rattle, touch an animal, watch fish swim. The nine here are free to install from Google Play and rated Everyone. Seven show no Contains ads label, and four say they work offline.
At one, a child isn't really playing a game. They're tapping, watching and giggling when something squeaks. The best apps for this age understand that and keep things very simple.
I read the Google Play listings for nine baby and toddler apps and noted the developer, installs, the ads and in-app purchases labels, the content rating and any offline wording. All nine are rated Everyone. I can't tell you any app is good for development; I can tell you what the listings show.
Most of all, these apps work best with a grown-up on the sofa next to the baby. A tap, a laugh and a chat about the colours is the whole point.
Baby apps compared
| Game | Developer | Google Play installs | Ads / in-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Puzzle Games for Toddlers | Bebi Family: preschool learning games for kids | 10M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | 'Available offline and playable without an internet connection' |
| Keiki Learning games for Kids | Benipol Limited | 5M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Learning Games - Baby Games | BebiBoo | 1M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Sensory Baby Toddler Learning | Sensory Play Apps | 1M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| First Words for Baby & Toddler | Wienelware | 500K+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | 'All content is available offline' |
| Baby Rattle: Giggles & Lullaby | Bebi Family: preschool learning games for kids | 100K+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | 'No internet connection required!' |
| Baby Games For One Year Olds | Happy Touch Kids Learning Games for Toddlers | 50K+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Touch and Play: Baby Game Fun | YTstudio | 10K+ | No ads label, no in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Tombli: Sensory Sandbox | Level-K Games | 5K+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | 'No internet needed to play' |
Nine apps for one-year-olds
Baby Puzzle Games for Toddlers
Simple jigsaw puzzles for toddlers. Its listing aims at children from about 2, so a 1 year old will need a grown-up's help at first.
Keiki Learning games for Kids
A big set of early learning games with numbers, shapes, colours and letters. It shows no Contains ads label.
Learning Games - Baby Games
Interactive learning games for little ones from BebiBoo. It shows a Contains ads label, so watch for those.
Sensory Baby Toddler Learning
An underwater sensory app with bright, moving visuals that react when a baby taps the screen.
First Words for Baby & Toddler
Touch games and flashcards with animal sounds for babies and toddlers. No Contains ads label, and its listing says everything works offline.
Baby Rattle: Giggles & Lullaby
Shake the phone and a cartoon rattle giggles and plays sounds, or tap it for more. The simplest idea on the page.
Baby Games For One Year Olds
Animated animals that react when a toddler touches them. No Contains ads label.
Touch and Play: Baby Game Fun
Colourful mini-games that respond to a baby's touch. It shows no ads label and no in-app purchases label, the only game here with neither.
Tombli: Sensory Sandbox
A sensory sandbox where every touch makes shapes, colours and sounds. Its listing says it works offline.
Tap, shake and watch
Baby Rattle, Sensory Baby Toddler Learning, Touch and Play, Tombli and Baby Games For One Year Olds are the simplest. Every touch makes something happen on screen, and there's nothing to get wrong.
Baby Puzzle Games, Keiki, Learning Games - Baby Games and First Words have more structure. Puzzles, flashcards and animal sounds are better for the second year, when a toddler starts to follow along.
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Ads and the youngest players
Seven of the nine show no Contains ads label: Baby Puzzle Games, Keiki, First Words, Baby Rattle, Baby Games For One Year Olds, Touch and Play and Tombli. Learning Games - Baby Games and Sensory Baby Toddler Learning do show one.
Eight list in-app purchases, usually to open more content. Set Google Play to require approval for in-app purchases, because little fingers find shop buttons fast.
Making screen time shared
- Hold the phone or tablet yourself for the first few goes.
- Name what's on screen: the colour, the animal, the sound.
- Keep sessions short and stop while it's still fun.
- Turn on airplane mode for the offline apps, so nothing pops up.
Offline apps for travel
Baby Puzzle Games, First Words, Baby Rattle and Tombli all mention offline play on their listings. They're the ones to download before a flight or a long car journey.
What you won't find on this page
I haven't ranked these apps or promised any of them will teach your baby anything. The listings make claims about learning, and that's their job, but I'd rather you judged by what your child enjoys and what the labels show. You know your little one far better than any app store does.
If an app makes your child cross or overexcited, it's fine to delete it. There's no wrong answer at this age, and a cuddle and a picture book will always beat a screen.
More for little ones
For more apps that work without Wi-Fi, see my list of free offline games for kids on an Android tablet.
If you've got an iPad too, here are offline games for iPads and tablets for every age.
And for car journeys with older siblings, my guide to road trip games for kids has ideas with and without a screen.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best games for 1 year olds?
Simple tap and sensory apps such as Baby Rattle, Touch and Play and Tombli suit this age. All nine here are rated Everyone.
Are there games for 1 year olds without ads?
Several show no Contains ads label, including Keiki, First Words, Baby Rattle, Touch and Play and Tombli.
Which baby games work offline?
Baby Puzzle Games, First Words, Baby Rattle and Tombli all mention offline play on their listings.
Is there a baby app with no in-app purchases?
Touch and Play: Baby Game Fun is the only one here with no in-app purchases label.
Should a 1 year old play alone?
These apps work best with a grown-up alongside. I can't promise any app is safe, so check the labels and stay close.
