Originator Inc

Math Tango

Recommended Ages

K–5th grades (ages 5–10)

Finding a math app that builds real skills instead of just handing out coins and confetti is a common struggle. Math Tango addresses this by embedding solid arithmetic practice in a story-driven world where kids complete missions, puzzles, and boss challenges to progress. Developed by Originator, the team behind Endless Alphabet, the app focuses on number sense, operations, and early problem solving for roughly K–3, with adaptive levels that adjust as children improve. We love that kids can move at their own pace while still encountering conceptual models like number lines and arrays, not just flashcard-style drills. It’s especially good for kids who are anxious about math but love collecting characters, customizing worlds, and working toward longer-term goals. The app does require a subscription and an iOS device, which won’t work for every family, but we’ve seen it deliver excellent value as a daily practice tool. Pro tip: treat Math Tango as a 10–15 minute “math game time” after hands-on or book work, and occasionally sit beside your child to talk through their strategies.

Great for early‑elementary kids who already grasp basic concepts but need engaging practice to build speed and confidence, especially those who love collecting rewards, customizing characters, and exploring game worlds.

Pros

Story‑based worlds, silly monsters, and puzzle challenges make arithmetic practice feel like a game, helping many reluctant learners stick with math; covers core operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and number sense for roughly ages 5–10; multiple profiles and adaptive levels work well for siblings; frequently praised by homeschoolers as a fun, low‑friction supplement rather than a full curriculum. 

Cons

Requires a paid subscription and internet‑enabled device; focuses more on fluency and repetition than on conceptual explanations, so some kids may memorize steps without understanding why they work; the bright, busy graphics and reward animations can overwhelm sensory‑sensitive learners; not designed to cover upper‑elementary fractions, geometry, or word‑problem strategies in depth.

Math Tango is sold through app stores or as part of Piknik; it isn’t tied to a specific ESA or charter list, but many programs will reimburse app subscriptions when they’re clearly used for math instruction—check with your funding provider about technology or supplemental‑curriculum rules.

$7.99/month on App Store

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Math Tango
$8.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
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Math
Math

Math Tango Mission

Math Tango’s mission is to turn foundational arithmetic into something kids actively look forward to by blending solid, classroom-tested math strategies with joyful world‑building gameplay. Through stories, monsters, and puzzles that cover addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, the app aims to build deep number sense and confidence for roughly ages 5–10 while keeping anxiety around math low.

Math Tango Story

Math Tango was created by Originator, a small studio of parents, artists, and engineers best known for the Endless early‑learning apps. After years of experimenting with playful literacy tools, the team wanted a way for their own kids to practice math facts without rote drills, so they combined the reward loops of favorite games with a carefully sequenced curriculum. The result is an app families often use for a few minutes a day as a fun supplement to any math program, with content continually updated based on classroom feedback.

About Modular Learning

FAQ: Additional Details about Math Tango

In a typical session, your child chooses a mission, answers a series of quick math puzzles, and watches their cute monster celebrate with dances and sound effects as they earn coins to upgrade their island or space base. Sessions are short and high‑energy, making it easy to fit in 10–15 minutes of practice between other homeschool subjects.

Math Tango is a K–5 math app where kids solve hundreds of short puzzles in two themed worlds (Island for addition/subtraction and Starbase for multiplication/division), unlocking monsters and decorations as they master each level. A built‑in lesson‑plan wizard generates an age‑appropriate sequence, so families can use it as a daily fact‑practice block alongside a core math curriculum. 

Parents typically choose the starting level, keep an eye on which operations are being practiced, and may sit nearby to coach strategy (for example, using doubles or making 10) while the app handles pacing and feedback.

Kids should be comfortable counting, recognizing numerals, and understanding basic addition and subtraction concepts; multiplication and division content is best for learners who are already working with times tables in a separate program.

Math Tango gamifies early arithmetic and place value, making it a fun choice for ADHD and young autistic learners who respond well to immediate feedback and rewards. For kids with dyscalculia or math anxiety, it’s best used with adult co‑play and no pressure on speed or “perfect” scores.

Math Tango is a gamified practice app focused on basic operations and early concepts. It can be motivating for some children with dyscalculia once ideas have been taught concretely, because the gameplay gives extra, low‑stakes rehearsal. It is not a complete teaching program and some kids may feel overwhelmed by the on-screen stimulation, so I’d monitor frustration levels and turn off or ignore any speeded elements.

Can be motivating for some 2e kids who like game‑style rewards and extra practice with basic facts. For easily overstimulated learners, use in short bursts and don’t worry about perfect completion of every level.

Math Tango is a gamified practice app focused on basic operations and early concepts. It can be motivating for some children with dyscalculia once ideas have been taught concretely, because the gameplay gives extra, low‑stakes rehearsal. It is not a complete teaching program and some kids may feel overwhelmed by the on-screen stimulation, so I’d monitor frustration levels and turn off or ignore any speeded elements.

Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time without a cancellation fee, but publishers note that unused portions of a subscription period generally aren’t refunded; App Store and Google Play refund windows and rules apply if you request a refund through those platforms. 

Less ideal as a sole math program or for highly conceptual learners who need a lot of visual models and real‑world word problems; not the best match for families who avoid subscriptions or prefer entirely screen‑free math.

For concept‑heavy, puzzle‑style apps consider ST Math, DragonBox, or Beast Academy Online; for more traditional but kid‑friendly practice, XtraMath, Khan Academy, or printable games can pair well with or replace Math Tango. 

The app has recently been rolled into the Piknik subscription bundle and continues to receive updates, including expanded levels, UI tweaks, and support tools to sync progress across devices. 

Use Math Tango after your main lesson as a 10–15 minute “adventure time” review, and occasionally sit with your child to talk through how they solved problems so that conceptual understanding keeps pace with fluency.

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Meet Joe and Rex

Math Tango comes from Originator, co‑founded by Joe Ghazal and Rex Ishibashi, two of the five parents who left a previous kids’ app company to start their own studio focused on high‑quality educational games. Originator, originally launched as Callaway Digital Arts and now based in the San Francisco Bay Area, has created multiple award‑winning apps that regularly hit #1 in the App Store’s education categories and are known for combining polished design with genuine learning value.