Times Tables - Multiplication

Learning multiplication can quickly turn into a daily argument when practice feels like a worksheet rather than a game. Times Tables - Multiplication takes a more playful route, presenting arithmetic practice as an educational game for children. I found it most useful as a short, repeatable activity: something a child can open for a few minutes, answer questions, and build familiarity with multiplication and division without needing a full lesson.

The game is made by BrainSoft Apps and is free to download, which makes it easy to try before deciding whether it deserves a regular place in a child’s routine. It is aimed at Everyone, and its focus is narrow in a helpful way: this is not a broad mathematics course, but a tool centered on times tables and related basic operations. That focus is also the main reason to choose it—or to look elsewhere.

How the game feels in everyday use

My first impression is that Times Tables - Multiplication works best when treated as practice rather than as a replacement for teaching. A child who is just beginning to understand multiplication may still need an adult to explain what repeated addition means, why division reverses multiplication, and how to check an answer. Once those ideas are familiar, the game can provide useful repetition without making every session feel like formal homework.

The most practical routine is to keep sessions short and consistent. For example, after school, a child could spend a few minutes reviewing multiplication facts, then stop before the activity becomes tiring. On another day, the same routine could focus on division. This approach is more effective than leaving the game open for a long, unfocused session, because memorizing number facts depends on regular recall rather than simply spending more time looking at questions.

I also like the possibility of using it as a bridge between lessons. If a child has recently learned a new group of times tables, the game can give them a low-pressure way to revisit those facts. If a mistake appears repeatedly, that is a useful signal for a parent or teacher to pause the game and explain the underlying idea instead of asking the child to guess until the answer is accepted.

What the free download really means

The game is free to access, but it includes optional in-app purchases priced from $0.99 to $19.99 per item. That distinction matters. A family can try the core experience without paying an upfront purchase price, but the presence of optional purchases means adults should check the purchase settings on the device before handing it to a child.

I would not describe the free access as a guarantee that every possible part of the experience is available without payment. The useful point is simpler: there is no purchase price required just to begin, while paid items may be offered inside the game. Whether those items provide enough extra value will depend on what a particular child needs, so I would test the free experience first rather than buying immediately.

For a parent comparing this with a paid educational app, the financial trade-off is straightforward. A free starting point lowers the risk of choosing the wrong tool, while a paid alternative may offer a more complete teaching structure or a broader curriculum. Times Tables - Multiplication is therefore attractive when the immediate goal is affordable practice, not when a family wants one app to organize every part of mathematics learning.

Where it delivers genuine value

The strongest value comes from repetition with a clear subject. Times tables are often learned through frequent recall, and a game can make that repetition easier to accept than a page of identical exercises. The app’s emphasis on multiplication and division also keeps the learning target visible. A child does not have to search through unrelated topics before reaching the facts they need to practice.

That narrow focus can help with a very specific problem: a child may understand how multiplication works but hesitate when recalling individual facts. In that situation, repeated game-based questions can support speed and confidence. I would still combine the app with objects, drawings, mental strategies, or written work, because fast recall is only one part of mathematical understanding.

Division practice is another useful angle. Children sometimes memorize multiplication tables without seeing the connection to division. Switching between the two operations can encourage them to recognize fact families, such as understanding that a multiplication fact can help solve a related division question. The app should not be expected to provide the full explanation by itself, but it can give a child repeated opportunities to use that relationship.

The game’s audience also contributes to its value. It is rated for Everyone, which makes it suitable for families looking for child-oriented educational content rather than an advanced mathematics tool. That does not mean every child will find the presentation equally engaging. Some children respond well to game-like practice, while others prefer a teacher, a workbook, or physical cards. The rating describes suitability for a broad audience, not a promise that the learning style will fit every learner.

Small habits that make the practice work better

I would begin by using the game diagnostically rather than treating every session as a test. Watch which questions cause hesitation, not only which ones are answered incorrectly. A child may know an answer but take much longer with it than with others. That difference can reveal which facts need extra practice, and it is more useful than simply celebrating a high score or rushing through a set.

A second helpful habit is to alternate independent play with a quick conversation. After a session, ask the child to explain one answer in their own words. If they can say why the answer works, the practice is supporting understanding. If they can only remember a pattern without explaining it, use a real-life example—groups of objects, equal sharing, or repeated jumps on a number line—before returning to the game.

A third tip is to avoid using the app as a punishment. Times tables already create anxiety for some children, and turning every mistake into a correction can make the game feel like another source of pressure. I found the best role for it to be a predictable, brief activity with a clear stopping point. Ending after a focused attempt is often better than continuing until the child becomes frustrated.

It can also help to separate practice goals. One session might concentrate on accuracy, while another emphasizes remembering facts more smoothly. Children do not always improve both at the same pace. If a child is still building confidence, accuracy should come first. Speed becomes meaningful only after the underlying facts are reasonably secure.

Trade-offs compared with familiar alternatives

Compared with flashcards, the game is likely to feel more inviting to a child who dislikes paper drills. Flashcards, however, are easy for an adult to customize and do not depend on a screen. A parent can remove mastered facts, isolate a difficult table, or ask the child to explain the answer. Times Tables - Multiplication is more convenient for independent repetition, while cards offer more direct control over the lesson.

Compared with a workbook, the game can make repeated questions feel less monotonous. A workbook is usually better for showing written working, recording progress on paper, and developing the layout skills needed for school exercises. If a child knows answers mentally but struggles to write or organize calculations, the game alone will not address that weakness.

Compared with a broad mathematics app, this game has the advantage of a tighter purpose. A child can focus on multiplication and division instead of moving between geometry, measurement, fractions, and arithmetic. The disadvantage is equally clear: families wanting a complete learning path may find the scope limited. A broader app may be a better purchase when several mathematical topics need attention at once.

Compared with a teacher or tutor, the game is inexpensive and available for repeated practice, but it cannot observe a child’s reasoning in the same way. It may show that an answer is wrong without revealing whether the child misunderstood multiplication, misread the question, or simply tapped too quickly. Adult guidance remains important, especially for younger children or anyone who is repeatedly guessing.

Where the experience may fall short

The narrow subject can become repetitive for children who already know their times tables confidently. Once recall is automatic, continuing with basic drills may offer less benefit than working on word problems, fractions, estimation, or multi-step calculations. I would not choose this as a child’s only mathematics resource after the core facts are secure.

There is also a difference between recognizing an answer and producing one independently. Game questions can help strengthen recall, but a child may still struggle when the same fact appears inside a story problem or a written calculation. Parents should occasionally move away from the screen and ask the child to apply the fact in a different setting. That is how you find out whether the learning transfers.

In-app purchases are another point of friction. Because the game is free to start but offers items between $0.99 and $19.99, adults should make the payment arrangement clear before children use it alone. I would treat any purchase as optional until the free experience has been tested over several sessions. The fact that a paid item is available does not automatically mean it will improve a child’s results.

Device compatibility is worth checking as well. The current version is 2.4.8 and requires Android 6.0 or later. That is useful information for families using an older phone or tablet, because an educational game is not helpful if the device cannot install or run it. On a compatible device, the main decision is less about access and more about whether game-based repetition suits the child.

Who is most likely to benefit

I would recommend it first to children who need regular times-table practice and respond better to interactive activities than to worksheets. It can also suit parents who want a free way to test whether a child enjoys digital math practice before paying for a larger educational package.

It may be especially useful during a transition period: a child has learned the idea of multiplication in class but needs more repetition at home, or has started division and needs to connect it with known multiplication facts. In those cases, the game can fill a small, clearly defined gap without taking over the entire study routine.

It is less suitable for children who become distracted by game elements, feel anxious when answering quickly, or need detailed explanations after every mistake. It is also not the right choice for a learner looking for advanced mathematics, extensive written exercises, or a complete curriculum in one place. For those needs, a teacher-led resource, workbook, or broader learning app may offer better value even if it costs more.

My buying decision

With an average rating of 4.5 from around 13 thousand ratings and more than a million installs, the game has clearly reached a substantial audience. Those figures make it reasonable to consider, but they do not replace personal testing. Educational apps are unusually dependent on age, confidence, attention span, and the child’s preferred way of learning.

My verdict is to try it when the goal is focused, low-cost practice of multiplication and division. The free access makes that decision easy, and the educational purpose is clear. I would keep adult supervision around the first sessions, not because the game is difficult to start, but because the most useful learning happens when mistakes lead to explanation rather than random repetition.

The best value here is not unlimited screen time; it is a short, repeatable practice routine that supports work happening elsewhere. If the child enjoys that routine and still needs times-table reinforcement, Times Tables - Multiplication is a sensible addition. If the child needs broader mathematics, deeper explanations, or paper-based problem solving, I would skip paid extras and choose a more comprehensive alternative instead.

Overall, Times Tables - Multiplication is a practical educational game from BrainSoft Apps with a clear role. It is free to begin, suitable for Everyone, and focused enough to be useful without pretending to replace a full mathematics lesson. I would recommend it as a companion for building recall—not as the entire plan for learning math.