Tami's Tower is the rare 'educational app' that actually requires a brain. Developed by the Smithsonian, it avoids the chocolate-covered broccoli trap by using legitimate physics puzzles.

It’s clean, safe, and entirely free of the manipulative dopamine loops found in most mobile games. Yes, it can be frustratingly difficult when a tower topples—one parent famously complained it raised their blood pressure—but that’s the point of engineering. It’s a solid, smart choice for a plane ride or a rainy afternoon.