Dragonbox Algebra 5 Plus – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Dragonbox Algebra 5 Plus

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2019

96%

WISE Score

Trick your five-year-old into mastering algebraic logic before they even know what a variable is.

Dragonbox Algebra 5 Plus

app

2019

96%

WISE Score

Trick your five-year-old into mastering algebraic logic before they even know what a variable is.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

DragonBox Algebra 5 Plus is essentially a magic trick. It takes one of the most feared subjects in school—algebra—and turns it into a game so intuitive that a kindergartner can understand it. By removing the scary notation (the X's and Y's) and replacing them with colorful icons, it lets kids focus on the logic of the system first.

If your kid's school uses this version, it's a home run. If you're looking for something to do at home, just make sure you're getting the right version for your login situation. It's the rare educational app that actually lives up to the hype and delivers a 'lightbulb moment' within the first twenty minutes of play.

Age Fit

Perfect for ages 5 to 9. By age 10 or 11, the 'monsters' might feel a bit babyish, and they should probably graduate to the 12+ version of the app.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's a calm, focused, and genuinely rewarding puzzle experience that replaces the stress of math with the satisfaction of solving a visual riddle.

Imaginative

The way it translates abstract algebraic rules into colorful monsters and boxes is a masterclass in creative instructional design.

Safe

No ads, no social features, and no data-harvesting nonsense. The 'Plus' version is specifically designed for controlled educational environments.

Enriching

This is the gold standard for educational apps. It builds deep conceptual understanding of variables and balance before kids even see a number.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Stealth learning at its absolute best; kids think they're playing a monster-sorting puzzle, but they're actually balancing equations.
Zero math anxiety because the game starts with icons and only slowly introduces numbers and letters once the logic is locked in.
Builds intuition for the 'rules' of math (like what you do to one side, you must do to the other) through tactile manipulation.
Clean design that respects the player's intelligence without annoying sound effects or flashy, distracting animations.

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What to Watch For

This 'Plus' version requires a specific account or teacher code; if you're a parent buying this for a solo home device, you probably want the standard DragonBox Algebra 5+ instead.
The game is relatively short; a focused kid can blast through the core levels in a few hours, though the conceptual foundation lasts much longer.

Conversation Starters

"What happens to the monster on the other side when you move this box?"
"Why do you think the game uses bubbles to 'cancel out' the items?"
"Can you show me how you'd solve one of these puzzles on a piece of paper using letters instead of monsters?"
"Does this make math at school feel easier or just different?"

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