Tug of Math: 2 Player Games

Back to school, at the kitchen table. Two kids, one tablet, three minutes a game. Duel a sibling, take on the computer, or race the clock. Times tables included.

Two kids, one tablet, one rope. Every right answer pulls the rope their way, and the first one past the line wins.

Lay the tablet flat on the table and sit a child on each side. Both number pads are live at the same time, so nobody waits for a turn and nobody hands the device over. A game runs about three minutes, which is usually just long enough for someone to demand a rematch.

THREE WAYS TO PLAY

Duel. Two players, one tablet, one on each side. Start here. It is the reason the app exists.

vs Computer. One player against the machine, on easy, medium or hard. It makes mistakes the way a person does, it eases off when it is miles ahead, and it never gloats.

Race the Clock. Every problem carries a countdown. Answer it and the countdown resets. Let one run out and the game is over. Then go again and beat your own best time.

SET UP A GAME IN TEN SECONDS

Pick the operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a mix. Pick a difficulty: single digits, numbers up to twenty, or two-digit work and the full times tables. Pick how many points win the game. Add a countdown per problem if you want the pressure, or leave it off. Name the teams and choose their colors.

WHO IT IS FOR

Roughly ages 5 to 12, kindergarten through sixth grade. Easy is single-digit addition, which a five-year-old can do on their fingers. Hard is two-digit arithmetic and the twelve times tables, which most adults have to stop and think about.

WHAT IS NOT IN IT

No ads. No cartoon character asking your child to come back tomorrow.

The game runs entirely offline, so it works on a plane, in the car, and in the waiting room at the dentist.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING

Thirteen languages: English, Spanish, Dutch, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Arabic.

Sound effects, which can be switched off, and probably should be at bedtime.

Duel wants the room a tablet gives it, so on a phone you get the two solo modes.

Tug of Math started as a game teachers put up on the classroom whiteboard. This is the version for your kitchen table.

Open it, pick addition, and hand the tablet over.

Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/