Should They Play?The parents' guide to apps and games

Should I let my child play Toca Boca World?

4+

Yes

From age 4. It's creative pretend play with no chat and no strangers, but it sells a lot of extra packs.

Toca Boca World is open-ended pretend play: children build homes, dress characters and act out stories, with no winning or losing. It's played alone, with no chat and no strangers, and there are no adverts. The thing to watch is money. The app is free, but many places and outfits are paid packs, and young children may ask for them or tap to buy. Turn on purchase approval on their device and nothing can be bought without you. The steps below take a minute.

Toca Boca World passes all 7 safety checks. See how we decided, and the official age ratings

Last checked . Toca Boca World is made by Toca Boca (Spin Master) and runs on iPhone & iPad, Android.

What is Toca Boca World?

Toca Boca World is a digital dolls' house for young children. They design characters, decorate homes and make up stories in places like a café, a hospital and a hair salon. It used to be called Toca Life World.

Our advice by age

Under 4
NoCommon Sense Media and the App Store rate it from 4.
4 and over
YesYes. Turn on purchase approval first, and talk about paid packs before they ask.

What to watch out for

  • SpendingRisk is medium by default, low with controls on

    Many places, furniture and outfits are paid packs, usually a few pounds each, and children see them as they play. With purchase approval on, nothing is bought without you.

  • Time spentRisk is low by default, low with controls on

    There's no end, and free weekly gifts encourage coming back. Screen-time limits on the device help.

  • Contact from strangersRisk is low by default, low with controls on

    There's no chat and no other players, so strangers can't reach your child through the game.

What's good about it

  • Open-ended pretend play that encourages storytelling
  • No chat, no strangers and no adverts
  • Lots to do in the free version
  • Works offline

How to set it up safely

Required steps are the conditions of our verdict. If you can't do them, our answer is no. Takes about ten minutes. Do it with your child so they know what's switched on and why.

  1. Turn on purchase approvalRecommended

    Use Ask to Buy on Apple, or purchase approval on Google Play, so every pack needs your OK.

  2. Talk about paid packsRecommended

    Agree before they play that they'll ask you first, and which packs, if any, you'll buy.

  3. Set a daily time limitRecommended

    Use Screen Time on Apple devices or Family Link on Android.

Common questions

What age is Toca Boca World suitable for?

4 and over. Common Sense Media and the App Store rate it 4+.

Can strangers talk to my child in Toca Boca World?

No. It's a single-player game with no chat and no other players.

Does Toca Boca World cost money?

It's free to download, but many places and outfits are paid packs of a few pounds each. Turn on purchase approval so nothing is bought without you.

Is Toca Boca World the same as Toca Life World?

Yes. Toca Life World was renamed Toca Boca World.

What would change your verdict?

Chat or play with other people being added, or official action against Toca Boca over child safety. We re-check every review at least every three months.