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 the popular dolls and their stories to life on computers and mobile devices. Different game studios have created these games, and they are published by American Girl itself, along with other companies like THQ and The Learning Company.

These games are based on the characters and worlds from the American Girl toy line. You can find games featuring historical characters like Kit Kittredge, or modern ones from the Girl of the Year and WellieWishers collections. Many games focus on learning, especially about American history and culture. Some games also include adventure, puzzles, or even action challenges.

American Girl Video Game Titles

Early Learning Games

The first two games helped American Girl (then called Pleasant Company) enter the world of video games. These games featured the historical American Girl characters. At the time, there were six characters, each from a different period in American history.

• The American Girls Premiere was the very first game in the series. The Learning Company developed and published it in 1997 for computers. In this game, you could create and direct your own stage plays. You could star historical characters like Felicity Merriman and Molly McIntire. A second version came out in 1998, adding Josefina Montoya to the cast.

• The American Girls: Dress Designer was the second game, released in 1999 by Mattel Interactive for Windows computers. This game was like a digital version of the paper doll sets American Girl sold. You could design and change historical clothes for characters from different eras, like Felicity Merriman from colonial times or Molly McIntire from World War II. Players could pick different patterns, styles, and designs for each character. You could also create and print out a fashion portfolio.

Mattel Interactive also released Your Notebook (with help from Amelia) in 1999. This was an interactive journal based on the Amelia's Notebooks book series. It let users write their own journals with Amelia's help. The software included stamps, text effects, and styles to make entries unique.

Games Published by THQ

In the late 2000s, American Girl worked with THQ to release several games. Three of these games were made just for Microsoft Windows computers. They showed characters and backgrounds in a 2.5D style, which looks almost 3D. The other two games, Julie Finds a Way and Kit Mystery Challenge!, were released for the Nintendo DS.

• American Girl: Julie Saves The Eagles was the third game in the series. ImaginEngine developed it, and THQ published it on October 15, 2007, for Windows. In this game, your main goal is to help Julie find ways to raise money to release eagles. This game, along with Mia Goes for Great and A Treehouse of My Own, used special computer code like FreeType and Lua. The game also won a Parents' Choice Award in 2008.

• American Girl: Julie Finds a Way was the fourth game, based on Julie's stories. Webfoot Technologies developed it, and THQ released it on December 3, 2007, for the Nintendo DS. The game loosely follows the story from Julie's books. It includes many mini-games throughout the plot. You can also play some mini-games with a friend in two-player multiplayer mode. The game world is split into different areas, similar to how some modern games are designed.

• American Girl: Mia Goes for Great was the fifth game, released on February 4, 2008. It was based on Mia St. Clair, the 2008 Girl of the Year. This game lets players take part in figure skating competitions. You can also design and customize practice routines for Mia.

• Kit Mystery Challenge was the sixth game in the series. Webfoot Technologies developed it, and THQ released it in 2008 for the Nintendo DS. This game follows events from Kit Kittredge's stories. Unlike Julie Finds a Way, this game is a mystery-solving game, similar to the Nancy Drew series. It does not have a multiplayer option. The main goal is to solve mysteries. Players look for clues, question suspects, and analyze evidence. You can also do side missions, like selling eggs or running errands to earn money. This money can be used to buy items or help pay for the house.

• American Girl: Kit - A Tree House of My Own was the seventh game, also based on Kit's stories. ImaginEngine and Bon Art Studio developed it, and THQ published it on June 23, 2008. This game is made up of several minigames. These include a game like Puzzle Bobble and an anagrams game. Players earn tools and other prizes that Kit needs to build her own treehouse.

Mobile Apps

Since 2011, American Girl has released many mobile apps for smartphones and tablets. Most of these are simple games and digital toys for young girls. Many of these games were first released for iOS devices. However, Isabelle Dance Studio and Grace Sweet Shop were later made available for Android. Newer games were released for both iOS and Android at the same time. American Girl has since removed most of these mobile games from app stores. Now, they offer simpler browser games on their website.

• Secret Wardrobe is a puzzle game for iOS. It was released on August 29, 2011, when historical characters Cécile Rey and Marie-Grace Gardner were introduced. In this simple puzzle game, players put clothes in their correct places.

• Shave Ice is a puzzle game for iOS. It is based on Kanani Akina, the 2011 Girl of the Year. Players pretend to be Kanani and serve shaved ice to customers.

• Cheer On! is a puzzle game for iOS. It was released on August 29, 2011, as a companion to the Innerstar University online community, which no longer exists.

• Gymtastic is a platform game for iOS. It was released in 2012 when McKenna Brooks, the Girl of the Year, made her debut. Players guide McKenna through gymnastic platforms, collecting stars and avoiding obstacles.

• Port to Port is an adventure game for iOS. It focuses on Caroline Abbott as she picks up and delivers cargo on the ports of Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. Players guide Caroline's ship to different ports to pick up supplies and deliver them back to Sackets Harbor, while trying to avoid British warships.

• Paint Ponies is an app based on Saige Copeland's stories. It was released for free on the App Store when Saige was introduced. Players gather ponies by drawing shapes around them. You get extra points for chaining combos and drawing over power-ups. The app also includes a coloring book mode with scenes from Saige's world.

• Playful Pet is a digital pet app. American Girl released it to go with their Coconut plush toys for the Truly Me doll line. Players choose a pet dog to care for, dress up, and play with. There are also activities where you can unlock rewards for your pets.

• Tropical Toss is a memory game for iOS, based on the Truly Me doll line. The game takes place on a beach. Players must copy the instructor's moves as they bounce a beach ball in time with the movement.

• Friendship Ties is a crafts-based mobile app for iOS. This app lets young girls and their friends design virtual bracelets. You can use existing patterns or create your own. You can also add accessories like buttons and charms. The app also gives instructions on how to make real-world bracelets.

• Isabelle Dance Studio is an app based on Isabelle Palmer's stories. It was released in January 2014 for iOS when she debuted. An Android version was also released in July of the same year. Players guide Isabelle as she performs her ballet routines. You score points by tapping on stars for Isabelle to reach and keep in the air. Collecting gems fills a special meter that lets you clear the screen and score more points. Bigger stars give you multipliers and other bonuses. If a star hits the floor or you tap a black pearl, the game ends.

• Scene Sounds is a digital toy for iOS, based on the Truly Me line. This app is like a soundboard. It lets children add background music and sounds while they play with their dolls. Common settings include Christmas, summer, winter, and a hair salon. An Android version was made for the American Girl edition of the Nabi SE tablet and for Amazon FreeTime users.

• Maryellen TV Console is a digital toy for iOS. It was released in 2015 when Maryellen Larkin debuted. This app was designed for specific iPad models, like the iPad 2, 3rd, and 4th generation iPads, and the iPad Air. It works with the Maryellen TV Console toy, which is a special case for these iPads. Users can watch pre-made stop-motion scenes with the Maryellen doll. They can also record their own scenes using templates and background music. The app also includes 1950s-style music.

• Grace's Sweet Shop is a mobile game for iOS and Android. Players take on the role of Grace Thomas. They mix, bake, and decorate pastries in a French bakeshop.

• Maryellen Rocket Rally is a space flight simulation game for iOS. In this game, Maryellen Larkin helps players design and launch space rockets. You guide them to collect fuel and coins. An Android version was made for the American Girl edition of the Nabi SE tablet and for Amazon FreeTime users.

• Lea Born for Adventure is an action-adventure mobile game for iOS. Players guide Lea Clark on adventures in Brazil. She helps baby turtles get to safety and rescues a sloth.

• WellieWishers is a mobile game for iOS. It was released in June 2016 when the WellieWishers doll line for younger girls came out. The app has several minigames. These include a basic digital pet game where players can feed and pet a rabbit. There's also a music game where the WellieWishers characters can perform. Another minigame lets players make a mud pie. A free-to-play sequel for iOS and Android, called Garden Fun, was developed by [x]cube Games and released by American Girl on October 4, 2017.

Game Features

Most games in the series let players control an American Girl character. This is usually a Historical or BeForever character like Kit Kittredge. It can also be a modern character, such as a Girl of the Year like Grace Thomas, Isabelle Palmer, or Lea Clark. The way the games are presented can change a lot. Some are educational, like The American Girls Premiere. Others are mystery games, like Kit Mystery Challenge. Some are even action-adventure platform games, like Lea Born for Adventure.

History of American Girl Games

The first game in the series, The American Girls Premiere, was for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. This game marked the start of Pleasant Company (now American Girl) entering the digital software world. Linda Ehrmann, an expert in online business, said that this video game had great potential. She noted that at the time, girls were often overlooked in the world of interactive media.