The NeighborMood is an educational video game from FoolProof and DotDotFire that helps children consider how money and wellbeing choices can affect everyday life. Players take the role of Ali, a high school senior balancing school, work, and social life while making financial decisions. A tutorial covers researching choices, reading fine print, impulse buying, opportunity cost, and evaluating job offers. Season 1 focuses on saving and financial safety, including high-fee services, payday lenders, phishing, and disputing unauthorized transactions. Season 2 covers budgeting; the teaching guide lists Seasons 3 and 4 as coming soon. In-game tools described by the guide include BankSafe for checking balances, transferring money, and monitoring transactions, and Froggle, a search engine. The guides provide lesson objectives, discussion prompts, evaluation notes, and activities for classroom, remote, or home learning. The game is free and commercial-free, with no hidden agenda, and is available on Android, iOS, and the web.
Who it is for
It suits children learning about budgeting, credit, saving, and everyday financial decisions. Educators can use the teaching guides and activities in classroom, remote, or home learning.
What is good
- Free and commercial-free, with no hidden agenda
- Available on Android, iOS, and the web
- Includes budgeting and credit lessons
- Teaching guides include lesson prompts and activities
What to know first
- Seasons 3 and 4 are listed as coming soon
- Privacy policy does not specifically identify NeighborMood
Verdict
The NeighborMood combines financial decision-making practice with lessons on saving, budgeting, and financial safety. Its teaching materials support educators, though the listed guide only has Seasons 1 and 2 ready.
Get started with The NeighborMood
- Visit the NeighborMood website.
- Play on the web or use the Android or iOS version.
- Begin with the tutorial, then continue to Season 1 on saving and Season 2 on budgeting.
- Educators can use the teaching guides for lesson objectives, discussion prompts, and activities.
What the free plan stops at
The teaching guide lists Seasons 3 and 4 as coming soon; the available season details cover saving in Season 1 and budgeting in Season 2.
Questions about The NeighborMood
Is The NeighborMood free?
Yes. It is listed at no cost and described as commercial-free.
Which platforms can I use it on?
It is available on Android, iOS, and the web.
What does the game teach?
Its tutorial covers researching decisions, fine print, impulse buying, opportunity cost, and job offers. Season 1 covers saving and financial safety, while Season 2 covers budgeting.
Can teachers use it in lessons?
Yes. Teaching guides include lesson objectives, classroom discussion prompts, evaluation notes, and activities for remote or home learning.
Who developed The NeighborMood?
FoolProof and DotDotFire developed the game.
What personal data does it collect?
FoolProof's programs privacy policy says it collects a minimum amount of personal data for programs to work, but it does not specifically identify NeighborMood.
The NeighborMood plans and pricing
All plansCompared on financial literacy apps
- Free plan
- Yes
- Budgeting lessons
- Yes
- Credit lessons
- Yes
- Financial simulations
- Yes
- Guided practice
- Yes
