With the Christmas holidays fast approaching, we’re veering off from our usual posts around hi res audio topics. Instead let’s do something fun. If you and your family are looking for some activities to get into the right spirit, we’ve got you covered. How about after the Christmas carols you get out your smartphone and play around with some fun Christmas apps?
Christmas Booth: Photo Fun (Free!)
Just snap a picture of your kids or grab an existing one, choose a festive background, sprinkle on a few seasonal stickers, and everyone will be laughing and having fun. And when you’re done, why not share the pictures with the rest of the extended family via iMessage or Facebook?
Alternative on Android by a different company.
Christmas Sweeper 4 (Free!)
Have you ever enjoyed the genre of “match 3” games like Jewel Quest, Puzzle Quest, or Candy Crush? Then here’s a quality Christmas themed alternative!
They are on the fourth iteration of this game and it shows. Lots of polish, loving graphics, and fun gameplay with good onboarding will get you enjoying the holiday sparkles quickly.
And the best thing – after Christmas is over it’s easier to put down again than some of the other match 3 games. Otherwise the fun tends to be almost addictive.
Available for both Android and IOS
How the Grinch Stole Christmas ($3.99)
The world-famous book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss also now has a mobile version for the little ones. It follows the classic story of the Grinch trying to prevent Christmas with all the pictures and rhymes we came to love when we were children ourselves.
But compared to the book, the app also has a narrator read the story, features sound effects, and lets the kids tap on and interact with the pictures. Not free but worth the small investment.
Available on IOS and Android (Update: also cheaper now!)
Call the Grinch! (Free!)
Speaking of the Grinch: For a bit of silly fun there is a joke app that lets you get a call from the Grinch with a realistic interface. It lets you even schedule the call to go off at a certain time so that it doesn’t look too suspicious when you’re tapping things on the phone and then the call comes in.
Tip: Combine the above two apps for some extra hilarity. Your kids will be blown away and talk about it all day.
Available on Android.
We didn’t find anything on the IOS app store, unfortunately.
Dr. Seuss Camera – The Grinch ($0.99)
Yes, it’s a bit sad that the grinch video call app isn’t available on the iPhone. But you know what is? This neat little app that, similar to our first tip, lets you turn yourself into the famous Dr. Seuss character.
You can choose from over 20 cards of original artwork by Dr. Seuss as a background. Then take a picture to get grinch-ified and add fun stickers to your heart’s content. It’s very lovingly and well-made app.
Available on IOS.
A Charlie Brown Christmas ($4.99)
“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!”
Help the peanuts gang find the true meaning of Christmas. It’s an interactive storybook featuring original dialogue voiced by Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown, and music from the 1965 animated classic.
Whether it’s carolling with the Peanuts choir or finding decorations for your customizable Christmas tree – this game is a ton of fun for young and old. It’s well worth the little initial investment.
Available both for Android and IOS.
Speak To Santa – Call Him, Message, or Track the Sleigh (Free!)
We kept the best for last. Such a wonderfully done all-in-one app.
You as a parent can set up and customize the conversation, including adding your children’s names, ages, hobbies etc. and what Santa should say. Maybe he should motivate little Adan to do his chores to get on the nice list. And maybe little Jill just wants to make sure that Santa already knows what she’s wishing for. You can set up multiple profiles for each child and the app will take care of the rest.
And on Christmas eve there’s a tracker with Santa’s current position in the world and he can even be called directly on the Sleigh. A magical experience. Just be aware – while it’s free to download, you need to pay for some premium features.
With that we say happy holidays! And if you’re still looking for a fitting gift your favourite audiophile, check out our gear reviews for what’s worth buying and what is not.
