American Girl (video game series) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids American Girl
Genres	Edutainment, Adventure
Developers	Various, including The Learning Company Mattel Interactive ImaginEngine Bon Art Studio Webfoot Technologies American Girl [x]cube Games
Publishers	American Girl, THQ, The Learning Company
Platforms	iOS, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, Android
First release	The American Girls Premiere 1997
Latest release	American Girl World 2018

The American Girl video game series brings your favorite dolls and their stories to life! These games are made by different companies and shared by American Girl.

The games are based on the popular American Girl dolls and their worlds. You can play with historical characters like Kit Kittredge. You can also play with modern characters from the Girl of the Year or WellieWishers lines. Many games teach you about American history and culture. Some games also include fun adventures, puzzles, or action challenges.

Games in the Series

Want to know when your favorite American Girl games came out? This timeline shows you all the main games in the series, starting from 1997.

Early Learning Games

The first American Girl games helped kids learn while having fun. These games featured the original historical characters. At the time, there were six characters from different times in American history.

• The American Girls Premiere was the very first game. It came out in 1997 for computers. In this game, you could create and direct your own plays. You could star historical characters like Felicity Merriman and Molly McIntire. A second version in 1998 added Josefina Montoya to the cast.
• The American Girls: Dress Designer was released in 1999. It was like a digital version of the paper doll sets. You could design and change historical clothes for characters. You picked different patterns, styles, and decorations. You could even print out your fashion designs!

Another game from this time was Your Notebook (with help from Amelia). It was an interactive journal based on the Amelia's Notebooks book series. You could write your own journal entries. The game let you add stamps, cool text effects, and different styles to your pages.

Games from THQ

Later, American Girl worked with a company called THQ to make more games. Some of these games were for computers. Others, like Julie Finds a Way and Kit Mystery Challenge!, were for the Nintendo DS.

• American Girl: Julie Saves The Eagles came out in 2007 for computers. In this game, you help Julie find ways to raise money. The goal is to help release eagles back into the wild. This game even won an award in 2008!
• American Girl: Julie Finds a Way was released in 2007 for the Nintendo DS. This game follows Julie's stories. It has many mini-games mixed into the plot. You can even play some mini-games with a friend!
• American Girl: Mia Goes for Great came out in 2008 for computers. This game is about Mia St. Clair, the 2008 Girl of the Year. You get to help Mia compete in figure skating competitions. You can even design her practice routines!
• Kit Mystery Challenge was released in 2008 for the Nintendo DS. This game is like a mystery story, similar to the Nancy Drew games. You play as Kit Kittredge and solve mysteries. You look for clues, talk to people, and figure out what happened. You can also do side missions, like selling eggs, to earn money for fun perks.
• American Girl: Kit - A Tree House of My Own also came out in 2008. This game is based on Kit's stories too. It has several fun minigames. For example, there's a bubble-popping game and a word puzzle game. You earn tools and prizes to help Kit build her own treehouse!

Mobile App Adventures

Since 2011, American Girl has released many mobile apps. These are usually simple games and fun activities for phones and tablets. Most of these games were first for iOS (Apple devices). Later, some were also available for Android. American Girl now offers many simple browser games on their website instead of through app stores.

• Secret Wardrobe is a puzzle game for iOS. It came out in 2011 with historical characters Cécile Rey and Marie-Grace Gardner. You solve puzzles by putting clothes in the right places.
• Shave Ice is a puzzle game for iOS. It's about Kanani Akina, the 2011 Girl of the Year. You play as Kanani and serve shaved ice to customers.
• Cheer On! is a puzzle game for iOS from 2011. It was a companion game for the Innerstar University online community.
• Gymtastic is a platform game for iOS, released in 2012. It came out when McKenna Brooks, the Girl of the Year, was introduced. You guide McKenna through gymnastics courses. You collect stars and avoid obstacles.
• Port to Port is an adventure game for iOS. You play as Caroline Abbott during the War of 1812. You guide Caroline's ship to pick up and deliver cargo. You must avoid British warships on Lake Ontario.
• Paint Ponies is an app based on Saige Copeland's stories. It was a free app where you round up ponies by drawing shapes around them. It also had a coloring book mode with scenes from Saige's world.
• Playful Pet is a digital pet app. You choose a pet dog to care for. You can dress up your pet and play with it. There are activities to unlock rewards for your pet.
• Tropical Toss is a memory game for iOS. It's set on a beach. You copy an instructor's moves while bouncing a beach ball.
• Friendship Ties is a crafts app for iOS. You and your friends can design virtual bracelets. You can use ready-made patterns or create your own. The app also teaches you how to make real bracelets!
• Isabelle Dance Studio is an app based on Isabelle Palmer's stories. It came out in 2014 for iOS and Android. You play as Isabelle as she performs her ballet routines. You tap stars to score points and keep them in the air.
• Scene Sounds is a fun app for iOS. It's like a soundboard. You can add background music and sounds while playing with your dolls. It has sounds for Christmas, summer, winter, and even a hair salon.
• Maryellen TV Console is an app for iOS, released in 2015. It works with a special Maryellen TV Console toy. You can watch short stop-motion videos with the Maryellen doll. You can also record your own videos or listen to 1950s-style music.
• Grace's Sweet Shop is a mobile game for iOS and Android. You play as Grace Thomas. You get to mix, bake, and decorate yummy pastries in a French bakery!
• Maryellen Rocket Rally is a space flight simulation game for iOS. You design and launch space rockets with Maryellen Larkin. You guide them to collect fuel and coins.
• Lea Born for Adventure is an action-adventure mobile game for iOS. You guide Lea Clark on adventures in Brazil. You help baby turtles get to safety and rescue a sloth.
• WellieWishers is a mobile game for iOS, released in 2016. It came out with the WellieWishers doll line. It has several mini-games. You can feed and pet a rabbit, put on a musical show, or even make a mud pie! A newer version, Garden Fun, came out in 2017.

What Makes These Games Special?

Most American Girl games let you play as a favorite character. This could be a historical character like Kit Kittredge. Or it could be a modern Girl of the Year like Grace Thomas or Lea Clark. The games offer different types of fun. Some are learning games, like The American Girls Premiere. Others are mystery games, like Kit Mystery Challenge. Some are even action-adventure games, like Lea Born for Adventure.

How the Games Started

The first game, The American Girls Premiere, was a big step for American Girl (then called Pleasant Company). It was their first time making computer software. Experts thought these games had great potential. They noted that games for girls were not very common at the time.