Having played Color Zen on both the Wii U and 3DS not long ago, you might think I’d had my fill.  That isn’t the case however, as Color Zen Kids has managed to show.  Don’t let the “Kids” description in the title discourage you.  While this is obviously a brilliant game for a younger crowd, there’s still some enjoyment here for adults, albeit a lesser amount.

What makes Color Zen Kids differ from its predecessor?  Well for one, the challenge isn’t as steep.  It’s easier to fill the entire screen here, as the more complex mechanics take a back seat in favor of a more standard approach.  This isn’t unexpected, and the core is still enjoyable.

The layouts themselves abandon the abstract theme in favor of kid friendly animal designs.  These are fun to view, and can still crowd the screen even though they’re less complex.  The various critters, and the clever vertical way they’re displayed made my wife and I smile more than once, so I imagine kids would find them delightful!

Content wise there’s much less here – only 120 puzzles.  They’re fun to replay, but I would’ve liked to see more of them.  The cost is low (still $3.99) but since it’s predecessors offered nearly four times the amount of puzzles for the same price, this isn’t as strong a value.  I hope some free DLC will be forthcoming.  Limited content is the biggest strike against Color Zen Kids.

One of the most noteworthy features of Color Zen is the strong music.  Color Zen Kids retain that, with fresh new tunes that retain the spirit of the original tracks while making them more suitable for kids.  Happy and pleasant, the music is very likable. The only drawbacks are once again lack of TV sound on the Wii U, and brief loading on the 3DS.

Color Zen Kids is a very good game that would benefit from a cheaper price or additional content.  Don’t be surprised if your children fly through this game quickly.  At least they’ll have fun while they do, and you probably will also.  Download it today for either system, enjoy what it has to offer, and hope for some free DLC soon.