DragonBox Algebra 5+

We love this game because it's fun and you don't realize you're doing algebra. We've had a couple glitches where the sizing of the game doesn't line up with the touch screen on our computer, but if we back out of the app, it resolves. We'll be checking into the other levels for our younger children and future algebra levels once we finish this one!

Requesting a refund - the mouse clicks don't line up with the cards, so you can't actually operate the game.

Clicking on the box doesn't do anything. Clicking randomly 97 times around the box sometimes works but makes the game absolutely unplayable. [Attempted on two computers and a touch-screen. Same issue all around]

Help, I can't figure out how to use this?

Full disclosure: I am pursuing a PhD in education, studying video games. I have three children, ages 11, 15, and 16, all sophisticated gamers. This is a good, interactive math worksheet with immediate feedback and a game-like reward system, but my children tell me it is not a game. Users will become familiar with algebraic manipulation rules, but not with the mathematical reasons behind them. The inability to choose a suitable starting point combined with the forced linear progression through the chapters and levels could prove boring for some, and too challenging for others. There is little replay value for 5th and 6th grade students. A teacher could really build off this if a classroom full of students played it. For something more sophisticated (and expensive) try Dreambox (dreambox.com). My children did not think it was much of a game, either, but it does address the issues of finding a student’s correct starting level, and providing reasons for what the player is doing.

Both my boys (ages 9 and 8) love this. Unfortunately they finished it within a hour (each). Will definitely save the 12+ one for when they are a little older and about to go into algebra.