Flow Free: Bridges - Big Duck Games LLC

This review of Flow Free: Bridges was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 5 April 2014.

About the app

This section contains details about the app provided by an ACCM Reviewer.

ACCM review

This review of Flow Free: Bridges contains the following information:

• The level to which the game was reviewed
• App description
• Reviewers comments
• In App purchasing
• Online information
• Gambling
• Advertising and product placement
• Gender stereotypes and sexual references
• Coarse language
• Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents
• Other

The level to which the game was reviewed

1-30: the content of the levels does not change, they just become more difficult.

App description

Flow Free: Bridges is a game that tests your problem solving skills. The player must connect the matching coloured dots without crossing the coloured lines.

Reviewers comments

The player begins with a 5x5 grid which contains five pairs of coloured dots. The player must connect the two dots of the same colour together by swiping their finger to create joining lines. The catch is that the coloured lines cannot cross. The more moves it takes to complete the grid the fewer points the player will receive. If the player connects all the dots in the least amount of moves possible they get a perfect score.

The aspect that makes ‘Flow Free: Bridges’ different from the original ‘Flow Free’ is that each grid also includes a bridge which allows two lines to cross each other.

The player completes the level when all the dots are connected. The levels progress in difficulty by gradually increasing the size of the grid and the number of dots that must be connected. To make the game more challenging, the player has the option to play a timed version. The player chooses the length of time (between 30 seconds to 4 minutes) and then the game tests how many levels you can complete in the allotted time.

The app comes with eight packs, each with about 120 levels. If you choose, you can buy more levels from the store (see below in App purchasing for more detail).

There is also an option to use labels, such as A B and C instead of colours, which would be beneficial for colour blind players.

Because the player must plan the best pathway to connect the dots in the least amount of moves, this game is beneficial for developing skills such as problem solving and planning.

In App purchasing

The player can buy extra levels for $0.99, buy hints $2.99 and buy extra colour themes for $0.99. 

Online information

The game connects to OpenFeint if you are playing on an android or Game Centre if you are playing on an apple product.  These platforms are online communities where you can share your scores and connect to your Facebook page. However, you can choose to restrict OpenFeint or Game Centre on your device.

Gambling

Gambling is not part of the game, however, some of the advertisements that appear are for stimulated casino style gambling games. 

Advertising and product placement

In the free version, full page advertisements appear occasionally as you play the game. Also, throughout the game play there is an advertisement bar at the bottom of the screen. Some of these advertisements are not suitable for children. Such advertisements include an ‘are you single?’ add for a dating website and several full pages adds for casino gambling games. 

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

There are no gender stereotypes or sexual references in the game. However, an advertisement appeared for a dating website, asking the player ‘are you single?’

Coarse language

None found.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

None found.

Other

N/A.

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