OUT NOW: Gruffalo Games

The Gruffalo, the beloved children’s picture book, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, has been joined by a brand new mobile game. Gruffalo: Games has been developed by Stormcloud Games, in conjunction with Magic Light Pictures.

Gruffalo: Games is out now for iOS devices – iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch priced at a monstrously reasonable £2.99

The app features six challenging and exciting puzzle games designed for 3-7 year olds to help develop their reactions, logic and problem solving skills.

Children can play Snap and 3 in a Row against the Gruffalo, help Mouse catch nuts, complete jigsaws of the famous characters, have fun with the forest bugs and match as fast as they can.

Based on Axel Scheffler’s original illustrations and with charming music composed by René Aubry, the app enables players to explore the wonderful world of The Gruffalo and complements the experience of reading the book or watching the animated film. It is also designed to ensure both players and parents feel comfortable and safe in the digital space with no in-app purchases or third party ads.

Martin Pope, co-founder, Magic Light Pictures, says:

We’re very excited to be releasing Gruffalo: Games as we want the many fans of the book to enjoy the fun challenging games as much as we do. We want players to get involved in the world of The Gruffalo, helping Mouse to catch nuts or playing games against the Gruffalo himself. It’s such a pleasure and honour to be working with Julia’s wonderful rhymes and Axel’s amazing illustrations. We hope the puzzle games will be entertaining and rewarding for children and families everywhere.

Frank Arnot, Director, Stormcloud Games Ltd, agrees:

Once again we have loved working with Magic Light Pictures to produce this app. As parents, and readers of bed-time stories, it’s been a delight to help make a series of fun and challenging mini-games based on The Gruffalo. It’s important for us as game developers that Gruffalo: Games is a positive, engaging digital product for children to enjoy. We developed our own puzzle games, as well as using traditional game formats such as Snap! and Three in the Row to give players the chance to play against and outwit the Gruffalo!

Gruffalo: Games is the second app produced by Magic Light Pictures, following the launch of the magical Room on the Broom: Games app late last year, which features a collection of fun filled games based on the best-selling book Room on the Broom, also by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

To further celebrate The Gruffalo’s 15th anniversay Magic Light worked with Forestry Commission England to launch 28 activity trails at sites across the country, and 15 of the trails have 7ft wooden, hand carved sculptures of the Gruffalo. In addition, The Eden Project in Cornwall hosted a month of Gruffalo activity in May, new product lines including a range of Gruffalo reading frames at Specsavers and luxury wooden toys from Bajo have been launched, while Macmillan Children’s Books released their wonderful foiled anniversary editions.

Magic Light Pictures’ multi-award-winning film The Gruffalo was first broadcast in the UK on BBC One, Christmas Day 2009.The film was seen by over 10m viewers, and then nominated for both an Oscar® and BAFTA Film Award. The companion film The Gruffalo’s Child premiered on BBC One, Christmas Day 2011 to 10m viewers. Together they have sold over 700,000 DVDs in the UK and Magic Light’s distribution arm has sold the films to over 80 broadcasters and 180 countries worldwide including USA, Germany, France, Scandinavia and Australasia. The Gruffalo was also recently awarded a special Prix Jeunesse 50th anniversary award for The Best Fiction Programme of the Last 50 Years, cementing its status as a true children’s classic.

Gruffalo: Games (iOS) – £2.99