Big Thinkers 1st Grade

About

"Big Thinkers 1st Grade" is an educational video game that features the twin hosts Ben and Becky Brightly. The game offers 16 activities designed to help first graders learn essential curriculum-based lessons, such as math, phonics, and critical thinking. Players can enjoy activities like Light Bulb Math, First, Middle, or Last, and Ben's Bargains, where they can practice addition and subtraction while earning rewards and building their knowledge. The game's engaging activities and charming hosts make learning fun and accessible for young players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 71 reviews

humor1 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Big Thinkers 1st Grade is a nostalgic and engaging educational game that effectively teaches various subjects through fun activities and puzzles.
The game features colorful graphics and lively animations that captivate young players, making learning enjoyable.
Parents appreciate the positive reinforcement and encouragement provided throughout the game, which helps instill a growth mindset in children.

The game suffers from outdated graphics and limited technical capabilities, making it less appealing to modern audiences.
Some players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in variety compared to other educational games, leading to a less engaging experience.
There are technical issues reported, such as cursor control problems and compatibility issues on certain operating systems, which detract from the overall experience.

graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The graphics of the game evoke nostalgia with their colorful and lively animations, appealing to both adults and teenagers. While some users appreciate the charming, quirky style, others criticize the outdated visuals, suggesting they need significant improvement. Overall, the graphics are a mixed bag, with some praising their nostalgic charm and others noting their age.
- “The colorful graphics and lively animations immediately transported me back to my childhood.”
- “Get it if you're an adult or teenager on your own, because the cute, quirky graphics and games will make you want to get all the stars you can, and I guarantee you won't forget it easily.”
- “Graphics: off the charts good, this is straight up pixel magic, people.”
- “The graphics are outdated and need some serious makeup, more so than Dolly Parton in the morning, and as for customer service in troubleshooting, it's scarcer than finding water on the sun.”
- “However, what may be a little hard to get past is the graphics.”
- “The graphics may have aged not so well, but the rest is still 'modern'.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The music in the game features a catchy jingle reminiscent of an upbeat oompa loompa song, which some players found enjoyable. However, the barn segment designed for music creation was reported as broken, detracting from the overall experience. While the soundtrack is generally considered fitting, some activities, including music-related ones, may require a better understanding of English vocabulary for full appreciation.
- “The problem all stemmed from the two main characters, your first introduced to Ben and Beck brightly through a jingle similar to an Oompa Loompa song on speed.”
- “If some activities can be easy to understand, like the art or music activity, self-explanatory, others require knowledge of English vocabulary.”
- “The only thing that was broken was the barn segment where you can make music.”
- “The problem all stemmed from the two main characters; you're first introduced to Ben and Beck brightly (actor Mike Shapiro and actress Karen Kay Kody) through a jingle similar to an Oompa Loompa song on speed.”
- “If I have to say something for the soundtrack, it's correct.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The gameplay features a blend of point-and-click mechanics reminiscent of classic titles like Maniac Mansion and Monkey Island, complemented by educational mini-games designed for young children. Reviewers praise the variety and solid mechanics, highlighting the intense puzzle-solving moments that enhance the overall experience.
- “Gameplay involves Maniac Mansion/Monkey Island style point-and-click environments combined with a few educational mini-games and activities intended to keep young children occupied.”
- “Gameplay is outstanding; the mechanics are super solid and allow for really intense moments of puzzle solving.”
- “Gameplay involves Maniac Mansion/Monkey Island style point-and-click environments combined with a few educational minigames and activities intended to keep young children occupied.”
- “The games are really varied and use mechanics that you still find today in educational applications.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is perceived as amusing by some players, though it may not align with the developers' intended comedic tone.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The optimization aspect includes a grading system designed to effectively monitor and evaluate student performance.
- “There's a grading system to track the performance of students.”
- “The optimization features allow for a seamless experience, enhancing gameplay significantly.”
- “I appreciate how the game adjusts difficulty based on my performance, making it more engaging.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is perceived as challenging, with some players feeling that the difficulty of certain missions is excessively high, potentially detracting from the overall enjoyment and sense of achievement in completing the game.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the frustratingly erratic cursor movement in the minigames, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “All minigames are unfortunately tedious thanks to a cursor that wanders around spasmodically like a fretted jumbuck.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “I spent hours doing the same tasks over and over, and it quickly became a chore rather than fun.”