DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party review

What’s this? A game for young children that we can actually heartily recommend? Whoa! But yes, I’m pleased to report that DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party is a fun and well put-together game for youngsters that doesn’t feel like a quick cash-grab or a rushed use of a license. For kids who love Gabby’s Dollhouse, or tots who are dying to get their hands on your controller for the first time, it’s well worth considering.

If you’re unfamiliar with Gabby’s Dollhouse as a franchise, it’s a super-colourful Netflix series that mixes together animation and live action, and it’s aimed at pre-school aged children. It’s since spawned a range of toys, Lego and a feature-length film — and with the movie hitting cinemas this week, the release of the game is no coincidence. This isn’t a game of the film, though; it’s very much its own thing, simply set in the world of the Netflix series.

Unlike the Peppa Pig games, Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party doesn’t look exactly like the TV series it’s based upon (there are no live-action segments here, for starters), but it does a good enough job of aping its appearance. It boasts a colourful, clean 3D style, with many of its levels sporting very cute papercraft elements. You’ll find all the characters from the Netflix series here too, and as far as I can tell, many of the voice actors have reprised their roles, giving the game a much-appreciated air of authenticity.

DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party is the sort of game that’s easy to appreciate, then, even if you’re not the target audience. It helps that the gameplay is rather enjoyable, too, with a nice mix of activities on offer. From laid-back platforming sections to exploring the titular Dollhouse itself, kids are going to have a great time controlling Gabby. To add even further appeal, there are dozens of minigames to be discovered as well.

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The minigames aren’t amazing, but for kids, they’re fun enough and, most importantly, they’re easy to get the hang of. They’re varied, from colouring in paintings to playing a quick game of bowling, and once they’re unlocked, they can be played as many times as you’d like. There are even racing and flying sections. Needless to say, it’s not the sort of game that ever gets repetitive.

I think that older kids might find DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party a little boring, however. There isn’t much challenge here, and I’d wager there are more suitable games for kids aged, say, eight and above. But for pre-school aged kids and those in between, and particularly those who are only just starting to get interested in playing games, this is an enticing prospect.

It’s great to look at, it’s authentic to the TV show, and it’s easy to pick up and play, making Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready Party easy to recommend. Bravo to developer Infinigon for nailing the kids’ TV spin-off game, because so many of them fall horribly flat.