The best games for 10 year olds here mix match-3 puzzles like Candy Crush Saga and Gardenscapes with a maths game, an endless runner and creative play. All eight are rated Everyone on Google Play, and Math Games: Math for Kids is the only one with neither an ads label nor in-app purchases.
Ten is a tricky age to choose for. They've outgrown the cartoon tapping games, but plenty of teen-rated games still aren't right for them.
I read the Google Play listings for popular games with this age group, kept only those rated Everyone, and noted the developer, installs, the ads and in-app purchases labels and any offline wording. Two popular listings, Toca Boca Jr and Baby Panda's School Bus, are aimed at much younger children, so I left them out and kept eight.
What's left is a mix of puzzle games that plenty of grown-ups play too, a couple of creative games, a learning app and a runner.
Eight games for ten-year-olds in one table
| Game | Developer | Google Play installs | Ads / in-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candy Crush Saga | King | 1B+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Yes, many levels support offline play' |
| Gardenscapes | Playrix | 500M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | 'An internet connection is required to access competitions and additional features' |
| Fishdom | Playrix | 100M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | 'An internet connection is required to access competitions and additional features' |
| Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures | Budge Studios | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Math Games: Math for Kids | RV AppStudios | 50M+ | No ads label, no in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Girls Nail Salon - Kids Games | Pazu Games | 10M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Tag with Ryan | WildWorks | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| MentalUP Brain Games For Kids | MentalUP - Learning Games for Kids | 10M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
What each game offers a ten-year-old
Candy Crush Saga
King's match-3 puzzle game, with more than 1B installs. Its listing says many levels support offline play, which makes it handy in the car. It shows ads and in-app purchases.
Gardenscapes
Playrix's puzzle game mixes match-3 levels with restoring a garden, so there's a story to follow between puzzles. No Contains ads label, but it has in-app purchases, and its listing says competitions need a connection.
Fishdom
Another Playrix game, this time with aquariums to open up and decorate between puzzle levels. It suits a child who likes looking after pets, and like Gardenscapes it shows no ads label.
Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures
A Budge Studios game built around the DreamHouse, with baking, dancing, home design, fashion and pool parties. It has more than 100M installs and shows ads and in-app purchases.
Math Games: Math for Kids
RV AppStudios' app turns maths practice into quick games. It's the only game on this list with neither a Contains ads label nor an in-app purchases label.
Girls Nail Salon - Kids Games
A creative game from Pazu Games where you colour and design nails with polish, patterns and gradients. No Contains ads label, though it has in-app purchases.
Tag with Ryan
The official app of Ryan's World is an endless runner where you try to outrun Combo Panda. Its listing calls it a game for all ages, and it shows ads and in-app purchases.
MentalUP Brain Games For Kids
A brain games app with educational games and live events, which its listing says is recommended by teachers. It shows no Contains ads label but has in-app purchases. I'd treat the IQ test wording as a bit of fun rather than anything more.
Puzzle games the grown-ups play too
Candy Crush Saga, Gardenscapes and Fishdom weren't made for children, but they're rated Everyone and plenty of ten-year-olds love them. The upside is that you can play them together and compare levels over dinner.
The downside is that their shops are built with adults in mind. All three show the in-app purchases label, so the password setting in Google Play matters more here than anywhere else on the list.
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Learning, making and running
Math Games: Math for Kids and MentalUP are the learning choices. Math Games is the simpler of the two and has no ads or shop labels at all, while MentalUP adds live events and progress tracking.
Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures and Girls Nail Salon are about making things look good, which suits children who like design and dressing up. Tag with Ryan is the one for a child who just wants to run, jump and dodge.
Setting limits without a row
- Agree a time limit before the game opens, not halfway through a level.
- Switch on Google Play's password for the shop.
- Turn off notifications for each game.
- Sit with them for the first session to see what pops up.
- Keep the device in a shared room, at least at first.
Games for the back seat
Candy Crush Saga is the only listing here that talks about offline play. Gardenscapes and Fishdom both say competitions and extra features need a connection, so they'll be more limited on the motorway.
For more ideas, here are offline games for kids on a road trip, including plenty that don't need a phone at all.
Away from the screen
Ten-year-olds who like a challenge often enjoy a science twist, and my free science games for curious kids are worth a look. For a party or a family night in, try these Halloween party games for adults and kids, which need nothing but a bit of space.
Frequently asked questions
What are good games for a 10 year old on Android?
The eight here are Candy Crush Saga, Gardenscapes, Fishdom, Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures, Math Games: Math for Kids, Girls Nail Salon, Tag with Ryan and MentalUP, all rated Everyone.
Are these games free?
Yes, all eight are free to install. Seven show the in-app purchases label; Math Games: Math for Kids doesn't.
Which games for 10 year olds have no ads?
Gardenscapes, Fishdom, Math Games: Math for Kids, Girls Nail Salon and MentalUP show no Contains ads label on Google Play.
Can a 10 year old play these games offline?
Candy Crush Saga's listing says many levels support offline play. Gardenscapes and Fishdom say competitions need a connection, and the others don't say.
Is Candy Crush Saga suitable for a 10 year old?
It's rated Everyone on Google Play. It shows ads and in-app purchases, so set up the shop password first.
Why aren't Toca Boca Jr and Baby Panda's School Bus here?
Their listings are aimed at much younger children, so they're better for little brothers and sisters.
