Dora the Explorer video games facts for kids

Many video games have been made based on the popular TV show Dora the Explorer, which started in 2000 on Nick Jr.. These games let players join Dora and her friends on exciting adventures. Most of them got mixed reviews from critics. Unlike many other games, these Dora games were not released in Asia. This is because the TV show was not as popular there as it was in North America and Europe. Some games, like Dora's 3D Driving Adventure and Dora's 3D Pyramid Adventure, were only available on the Nick Jr. website.

Dora the Explorer Video Games

Barnyard Buddies

Dora the Explorer: Barnyard Buddies is an adventure game where you explore and take action. It was made by Gotham Games for the PlayStation console. The game came out in North America on November 18, 2003. It was released in Europe and other PAL regions on May 2, 2005.

In this game, Dora and Boots visit a farm. They find that someone left the gate open, and all eight farm animals have wandered off! Players must help Dora find all the missing animals. This was the only Dora the Explorer game released for the PlayStation. It was also one of the last games made for that system. The game's cutscenes, which are like short movies, were made using Claymation. Many critics gave the game good or mixed reviews.

Super Star Adventures

Dora the Explorer: Super Star Adventures is an adventure game for the Game Boy Advance. It was released in 2004. Imaginengine developed the game, and Global Star Software published it.

This game uses pictures and symbols to communicate, instead of just words. The main goal is to find and capture one of six special explorer stars. Each star has a unique power, like making noise or creating music. To capture a star, players must complete a hide-and-seek challenge. These challenges include navigating mazes, playing matching games, doing side-scrolling races, and a game similar to "Frogger". There are also activities where you complete patterns and play music.

Journey to the Purple Planet

Dora the Explorer: Journey to the Purple Planet is an action-adventure game. It was developed by Monkey Bar Games and published by Global Star Software. The game came out for the Nintendo GameCube in North America on October 13, 2005. It was released in PAL regions on December 16, 2005. The PlayStation 2 version came out in PAL regions on December 2, 2005, and in North America on October 13, 2005. An Xbox version was planned but was never released. This is the only Dora the Explorer game for the Nintendo GameCube.

In the game, Dora and Boots find some lost aliens from the purple planet. To help the aliens get home, Dora and Boots need to collect keys. These keys will open a space gate that leads to the purple planet.

IGN reviewer Chris Roper gave Journey to the Purple Planet a 7.0 out of 10. He liked that the puzzles were simple and fit well with the Dora universe. He said the game could be fun for young children learning basic skills like counting and identifying colors.

Dora Saves the Mermaids

Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Mermaids is an adventure game. Black Lantern Studios developed the Nintendo DS version in 2007. Totally Games developed the PlayStation 2 version in 2008. Both were published by 2K Play. The game was later released in PAL regions in the same year.

The story takes place in the Mermaid Kingdom. An evil octopus is dumping trash into the ocean, making the kingdom messy. Players control Dora, who must help Mariana the Mermaid find her lost magical mermaid crown. To do this, Dora has to become a mermaid herself! Players guide Dora along winding paths, collecting gems and moving from one point to another. Sometimes, things like bouncy objects or catapults will launch Dora into the air.

The game received mixed reviews from critics. Sam Bishop from IGN praised the game for using the original voice actors from the TV show. He also said the visuals were not amazing but did not look bad. However, he criticized the game for not having enough variety. He felt it was not a good educational tool and was not very collaborative for adults playing with kids.

Dora Saves the Snow Princess

Dora Saves the Snow Princess is a video game available for the PS2, DS, and Wii. It mostly received negative reviews from critics.

Dora Puppy

Dora Puppy is a puppy simulation game. It was developed by Black Lantern Studios and published by 2K Play. It came out in North America and Australia in 2009, and in Europe in 2010, for the Nintendo DS.

In this game, players help Dora take care of her puppy, Perrito. You need to train him for doggie competitions. Taking care of Perrito involves washing and brushing him, giving him food and water, letting him outside, cleaning up his paw prints, and playing different games with him. Players earn tokens for each task they complete. These tokens can be used to buy new toys or clothes for Perrito. You can also use them to enter him into the Big Puppy Competition. This competition involves guiding Perrito through an obstacle course and making him strike poses. All actions are done by tracing shapes with the stylus or speaking commands into the DS's microphone.

Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom

Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom is a side-scrolling game. It was developed by High Voltage Software and published by 2K Play. It was released for the Wii in North America on November 3, 2009, and in Europe on November 27, 2009. The game later came out for Computer Platforms and the PlayStation 2 in North America on November 12, 2009.

In this game, a King has hidden crystals in the Crystal Kingdom. Dora and Boots must find all the crystals to save the kingdom. As you play, you need to find four colored crystals in three different stories, plus one from the king. Before starting a story, players collect as many pages as they can for that story. Some pages are hidden in crystal barrels that Boots can dive into to get the page out.

Jinny Gudmundsen from Common Sense Media gave Crystal Kingdom 5 stars. She called it a "perfect starter game for Wii." Kyle Sudukis from Impulsive Gamer gave the game a 7.6 out of 10. He noted that it was an arcade-style Wii game that used the Wii's motion controls. He praised 2K Play for creating a colorful game that would entertain younger gamers.

There was also an iPhone app called "Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom - Rainbow Ride." It was released for $3 on the iTunes Store on May 4, 2011. In the app, players tilt their phone to steer Dora along a rainbow slide. You ride over crystals to collect them and count along with Dora. The app also has a coloring book feature. iPhone users can use the collected color crystals to color the Crystal Kingdom on a touch screen.

Cooking Club

Dora's Cooking Club was published by 2K Play. It was released for the Nintendo DS on October 26, 2010, in North America. In this game, players use math skills while cooking. You chop vegetables, stir soups, top pizzas, and stuff foods. You might sort cookies into numbered groups or count out different amounts of ingredients.