From The Voice to Geocaching: four of the best apps to download this Christmas
Every toy has been played with, the sofa has been turned into a fort a hundred times over, and if you suggest “a nice walk in the woods” one more time, there’s a significant chance the kids might actually explode.
Christmas is traditionally a time for togetherness but after repeating the same holiday rituals year after year it’s no surprise that the assembled crowd is gagging for something new. A game of Monopoly just isn’t going to cut it.
Enter technology. And with Christmas now stretching before us, there’s never been a better time to freshen up your devices with apps that the whole family can enjoy together. Here are four favourites to try …
1. The Voice (Free)
If you believe the next Ariana Grande or Bruno Mars is living under your roof, download this karaoke app and give them the professional backing track they deserve. With special effects and a songbook stuffed with hundreds of hits from rap to musical theatre, wannabe singers can record themselves singing their favourite songs and even add them to the live feed.
Watch people all over the world belt out Beyoncé songs and, if you’re feeling up to the challenge, duet with them too. Once the show’s over, get the family together to watch the performance back and even send it on to your relatives.
2. Mario Kart Tour (Free)
Parents who remember whiling away hours on Nintendo’s Super Mario Kart will love introducing the game to their kids on this free-to-download and now multiplayer game. Simply swiping the screen controls your kart, and up to seven other players can compete in each race.
With 64 courses to choose from and more than 30 characters and vehicles, this app – the most downloaded iPhone game of last year – promises to entertain. And given how addictive it is, your biggest challenge will be making sure you don’t overcook the turkey on Christmas Day.
Related: From carol concerts to Santa’s grotto: five of this year’s best digital Christmas activities
3. Geocaching (Free)
Download this app to embark on a real-life treasure hunt. Simply choose the cache you want to find, head there using the GPS on your smartphone and you’ll find a real-life waterproof treasure box, containing a logbook and various items. The idea is you sign the book, trade a trinket (if you want) and log your find online.
Registering when you download the app will show you how many caches are hidden near you, and the thrill of locating what you are searching for promises to prise even the most sofa-loving teens out of the house.
4. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (Free)
Are you that family that lets out a collective groan whenever a contestant gets the answer wrong? Then it’s time to put yourselves to the test. Reaching the top of the money tree might seem simple from the comfort of your own sofa but, with this app, all the family can find out if they’ve really got what it takes to bag a million (pretend) pounds. And with a leaderboard that updates daily, the competition can stretch all throughout the holidays.
Let the kids go head-to-head, or use the questions to stage your own version of the TV show. You’ll need a slightly annoying host, a dimmer for the lights and some seriously tense background music. There’s only one rule: no coughing.
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Third-party products mentioned in this article are not Vodafone products and are not associated with Vodafone or endorsed by Vodafone in any way.
