Times Tables - Multiplication

Analysis by Mobexer

I’d use a multiplication game differently for a child who is unsure of the concept than for one who understands it but takes time to remember the facts. That distinction is why Times Tables - Multiplication makes the most sense to me as a focused practice tool. It gives a learner another way to revisit multiplication, while an adult can decide when it is time to pause and explain rather than keep repeating questions.

A small routine that makes practice easier to manage

One practical way to use it is to pick a modest goal before opening the game: practise a table that has been troublesome, or spend a short break revisiting multiplication after homework. The goal is not to race through as much as possible. Keeping the session contained makes it easier to end on a calm note and return to the same facts later in another format.

For example, a child might work through a few multiplication questions before dinner, then help set out four groups of five items at the table. That ordinary activity gives the child a chance to connect the abstract fact with equal groups. I like this sort of follow-up because it checks whether the game’s practice has a meaning beyond choosing an answer on a screen.

What to notice while a child plays

Rather than watching only whether the child gets an answer right, I would pay attention to how they arrive at it. A quick response might come from understanding, memorisation, or a lucky guess; a pause might mean the child is thinking rather than struggling. Asking, “How did you work that out?” after a question or two can reveal more than turning the session into a constant stream of corrections.

If the child repeatedly relies on counting, that is useful information for the adult. You can return to groups, arrays, or another hands-on explanation before asking for faster recall. If the child already understands the groups but hesitates over the product, practice is more likely to be the right next step. The helpful choice is to match the activity to the kind of difficulty, not just to the number of mistakes.

When another resource is a better fit

Families looking for a single app to teach a whole range of maths topics should look elsewhere. A broad learning platform or a teacher-led lesson can make more sense when the child needs a sequence of explanations, varied problem types, or support moving between concepts. A paper worksheet may also be preferable when the immediate need is to practise showing written work in the format expected at school.

That does not make this game a poor choice; it makes its best use quite specific. If multiplication facts are the current sticking point and the learner is willing to practise through a game, focused repetition may be easier to start than a larger course. If screen-based activities cause distraction or frustration, a short oral quiz, objects arranged in equal groups, or paper practice may be a better route for that child.

Practical checks before handing over the device

The app is free to download, but paid in-app items range from $0.99 to $19.99 per item. I would look over those choices with a child and use the device’s purchase controls if the child will play alone. That small check helps avoid an unexpected purchase and makes it clear that optional paid content is not the same as the core practice routine.

It is an educational game from BrainSoft Apps, rated for Everyone, and the current version is 2.4.9. It needs Android 6.0 or later, so I would check compatibility before planning to use an older device. Its average rating is 4.5 from around 13,000 ratings, and it has over one million installs; those figures show broad uptake, but the best test is still whether this particular child finds the practice useful.

Times Tables - Multiplication is built around one focused job: helping children get more comfortable with multiplication facts through play. I like that narrow scope. A child who hesitates over simple multiplication can practise the same kind of thinking in a more inviting setting than a worksheet, while a parent can use the game as a short change of pace between schoolwork and free time. It is an educational game from BrainSoft Apps, and its emphasis on times tables makes it easier to understand what it is for—and what it is not.

Practice that keeps multiplication in focus

The useful idea here is repetition with a game wrapped around it. Multiplication becomes quicker through practice, but repeating facts can feel dull when every session looks like a row of sums. A game can give that practice a lighter feel and encourage a child to return to it. The value is not that it replaces teaching; it gives a learner another way to meet the same facts often enough for them to become familiar.

That focus is also a limit. The game’s purpose is multiplication practice, with division mentioned as part of its learning material, rather than a broad course in mathematics. I would not choose it as the only resource for a child who needs explanations of place value, fractions, word problems, or why multiplication works. It makes more sense as a focused companion for a particular skill than as a substitute for a teacher, textbook, or full curriculum.

For a child who already understands what multiplication means but needs fluency, that distinction matters. A learner may know that four groups of five make twenty yet still need time to recall the answer. Repeated encounters can help bridge that gap. If the child is still confused by the underlying idea, I would first use counters, drawings, or an adult’s explanation, then bring the game in for practice rather than expecting play alone to clear up the confusion.

What focused practice changes

Keeping the attention on times tables can make a short session easier to start. There is no need to choose a sprawling subject or decide which chapter to work through; the child and adult already know the target. That can be handy on a busy afternoon when there is time for a little practice but not enough energy for a full homework routine.

I also see a practical advantage in separating recall practice from learning a new concept. When a child can work out an answer but takes too long, a few low-pressure rounds can build confidence without turning every mistake into a big event. When the child cannot explain how to reach the answer, that is a signal to pause and teach the method instead. Use the game to strengthen recall, not to diagnose every maths difficulty.

How I would fit it into an ordinary day

Imagine a child finishing homework and getting stuck on a page of multiplication facts. Instead of stretching that frustration into another long exercise, I would offer a brief turn in the game, then return to a small selection of the same questions on paper. The first pass can make the practice feel less formal; the second helps show whether the child can recall the answers away from the game. That simple handoff is more useful than treating a high score or a completed round as proof that the skill has stuck.

A parent can make this routine more effective by noticing which facts cause hesitation rather than correcting every response immediately. If the child pauses on a particular table, write down a few examples and revisit them later in conversation, at the kitchen table, or during homework. The point is not to turn everyday life into a test. It is to give the child more than one route back to the same idea, so practice is not confined to tapping through a game.

Another helpful approach is to agree on a stopping point before starting. A child who enjoys the activity may want to keep going, while a child who finds timed recall difficult may lose patience quickly. A short, predictable session keeps the game from becoming a bargaining tool or a source of pressure. I would keep the mood curious: ask which facts felt easy and which deserve another look, rather than making speed the only measure of success.

Where it fits among learning options

Compared with ordinary worksheets, this game has the advantage of presenting practice as play. A worksheet can be better when a child needs to show written working, practise neat layout, or prepare for schoolwork that is completed on paper. The game is more appealing when the main obstacle is simply getting started or staying engaged with repeated facts. I would use both when possible, because answering in a game and explaining an answer on paper are related but not identical skills.

Compared with a general maths app, a dedicated times-tables game is easier to recommend when multiplication is the immediate goal. A broader learning app may offer more variety and explanations across topics, but it can also divide attention between skills a child does not currently need. Here, the narrow focus is a strength for targeted practice and a weakness for families hoping to cover mathematics from one place. The best choice depends on whether the child needs repetition or a wider teaching sequence.

It is also different from sitting beside an adult who can adapt every question and explain a mistake on the spot. A parent or tutor can notice whether a child is counting from the beginning, confusing a multiplication fact with another, or guessing under pressure. A game can support independent practice, but it cannot replace that kind of responsive guidance. I would treat adult involvement as especially useful at the start, then step back when the child is comfortable using it.

Tradeoffs parents should keep in view

The main tradeoff is that practice can become mechanical. A child may get used to selecting answers without thinking carefully, or may focus on finishing rather than understanding. To counter that, I would occasionally ask the child to explain one answer in their own words or invent a small real-world example: four bags with five apples in each, for instance. If the explanation is shaky, the next step should be teaching and discussion, not simply another round.

There is also a difference between confidence inside a game and confidence elsewhere. A child might enjoy the activity but still struggle when a teacher asks a question aloud or when a worksheet presents the same fact in a different layout. That does not make the game pointless; it means transfer needs practice too. After a session, ask a few questions without the device and keep the tone relaxed. This gives a more realistic sense of whether the recall is becoming useful beyond the screen.

Families should also keep the purchase model in mind. The game is free to download, with optional in-app purchases ranging from $0.99 to $19.99 per item. I would check the purchase choices with a child before handing over a device and make sure accidental spending is not possible through the device’s settings. That is a sensible precaution for any free game with paid items, especially when a child uses it independently.

Times Tables - Multiplication is rated for Everyone, and its current version is 2.4.9; it requires Android 6.0 or later. Those details make it straightforward to assess for an older compatible Android device, though families should still check that the device they plan to use meets the requirement. The game is free to start, but the optional purchases mean “free” does not necessarily describe every choice available inside it.

Who is most likely to benefit

I would recommend it most to a primary-school learner who understands basic multiplication but needs regular, more appealing recall practice. It can also suit a parent looking for a brief activity to insert between homework and play, provided an adult is willing to help connect game practice to real understanding. For that role, the focused subject is an advantage: everyone knows what the child is working on, and it is easier to notice whether the same facts remain difficult.

It is less suitable for a learner who needs patient, step-by-step explanations before practising, or for someone seeking a complete maths course. A child who dislikes game-based learning may also prefer a paper routine or a teacher-led activity. And if the immediate goal is written calculation, word problems, or a wider mix of mathematical skills, a broader resource will be a better match. I would not try to make one small practice game cover all of those needs.

The game has an average rating of 4.5 from around 13,000 ratings and has passed one million installs, suggesting that many families have tried it. I take those figures as useful context, not a guarantee that every child will respond to it in the same way. BrainSoft Apps released it on March 30, 2021, and the app remains a clearly defined option for families who want multiplication practice rather than an all-purpose learning platform.

My overall view is positive, with a clear condition: use it as a practice aid, not as the lesson itself. Its strongest contribution is making repeated times-table work easier to approach, particularly when a child already has the basic idea and needs confidence through repetition. Pair a short session with a little conversation or paper practice, watch for frustration, and stop when attention fades. If that focused routine is what your child needs, Times Tables - Multiplication is worth trying; if the child needs broader instruction, choose a resource that teaches more than recall.