We couldn’t get this to work at all. You have to slide the maps around, because the camera view is too narrow to “see” the whole board, and it just doesn’t recognize the board 95% of the time. We tried 3 different devices, and all three were a bust.
It’s basically a hide and seek game. The app shows them what to find, they lay the magnifying glass down on the object (after you’ve slid the map over for the camera to hopefully detect), then you reposition the magnifying glass 12 times so they get credit for the find... it’s a mess.
Even if it worked perfectly, I’m not sure it’s any more fun than a Where’s Waldo book.
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From the manufacturer
Osmo is Magic
Detective Agency for iPad and Fire Tablet
Get started with a hands-on learning game, search for landmarks around the world while also learning trivia facts about geography, culture, and history while using a game piece magnifying glass (Detective Agency).
(Osmo Base, reflector, iPad & Fire Tablet are required to play, NOT INCLUDED)
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What They'll Learn
Search for Clues
Learn about geography while searching for clues in 6 famous cities, Osmo Town and The World.
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What They'll Learn
Learn History
Learn facts about landmarks: Eiffel Tower, Egyptian Pyramids, Statue of Liberty & more.
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What They'll Learn
Spark Imagination
An innovative pretend play experience that combines a classic search-and-find game with digital fun!
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What They'll Learn
Be a Detective
Use observation skills & critical thinking into play, as you connect the dots & unravel the mystery!
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Geography
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Culture and History
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Critical Thinking
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Observation Skills
Ways To Learn
Solve Mysteries
Run your own Detective Agency! Inspect hundreds of clues with your magnifying glass.
Learn Geography
Discover hundreds of clues in famous cities from around the world, including Paris, Beijing, New York, and more!
Observation Skills
Develop focus, observation skills, and attention to detail.
Self Guided
Your child can self guide themselves on this learning adventure.
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Learning Through Play
Fun & Educational Screen Time
"I'm playing a real game & not just a game on the iPad. It brings us on an adventure." 8 year child
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In over 31,000 classrooms
Teachers Love Osmo
"The use of manipulatives enhances the educational experiences." Educator, Matthew Murray
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Created in 2013
Experience Hands-on Learning
"Understands learning styles & lets children be curious & learn while having fun." Osmo Parent
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Osmo Learning System
Using Physical Game Pieces with Digital Technology
Is your child a music lover, coder, drawer, or aspiring mathematician? Educational games to inspire.
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Learning for Ages 3-12+
Developed by Parents, Teachers & Engineers
Educational toys lets children supplement school learning through active learning experiences.
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Kids Love Osmo
2
Schools Love Osmo
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Parents Love Osmo
4
What is Osmo?
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For the Love of Learning
Compare Osmo Products
Detective Agency |
Pizza Co. |
Genius Starter Kit iPad |
Genius Starter Kit Fire |
Coding Family Bundle |
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Ages
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5-12 | 5-12 | 6-10 | 6-10 | 5-10 |
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Osmo Base
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Not Included | Not Included | iPad | Fire Tablet | Not Included |
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Compatibility
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iPad & Fire Tablet | iPad & Fire Tablet | iPad | Fire Tablet | iPad & Fire Tablet |
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Number of Games
|
1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
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Geography & History
|
yes | — | — | — | — |
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Observation
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yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
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Critical Thinking
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yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
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Problem Solving
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yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
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Physics/Spatial Learning
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— | — | yes | yes | — |
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Coding & Logic
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— | — | — | — | yes |
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Math
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— | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2019
Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2018
Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2018
Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2018
Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2018
Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
Super fun for kids, and I got to play as well.
By Kari on November 14, 2018
I ordered Detective Agency to take down to Houston to visit my best friends kids. They hadn’t heard of OSMO before. Thankfully it was easy to upload on the iPad. It an awesome hit with the 6 and 9 yr old and ME! We played at the house, and the kids played it at the restaurant as the adults caught up with friends. Finding the clues was engaging and interactive as a group but just as fun with one player. I appreciated the compact ability to put it in a bag and have handy when we ran around the city. I earned rock star status by being able to answer “yes” to the question... “can we play OSMO again?”
By Kari on November 14, 2018
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2018
Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2018
Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2018
Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Julie
Too frustrating as glitchy - child will lose interest quickly.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2019Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
Djilly L.
Very different from Osmo's other games, but enjoyable & recommended
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2020Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
Very different from Osmo's other games, but enjoyable & recommended
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2020
Worthy successor to the former games. Osmo once again manages to produce an attractive, high quality, interactive game. And importantly, one that is very different from the other Osmo games or any other Ipad game.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2020
The game is again presented in a bright coloured premium format. The packaging contains a sturdy cardboard ‘travel’ sleeve that includes the various thick cardboard city maps (8 towns /cities in total) and a plastic magnifying glass with a long handle. To start to play you will a.) need to get the separately available Osmo stand and lens cover. b.) install the Detective app, available from the common app store.
The game is quite fun to play and an decent challenge even for somewhat older children. So its good for our son aged 6 however despite the 9-12 age advise our 9-year old daughter was more easily bored with this game after the initial surprise. I quite like that cities like Paris and its landmarks are included, that we have visited as a family. Even more interesting is New York that our son will visit soon with us. Within these varies city/town maps the player essentially has to find items and characters and indicate them with the magnifying glass.
Our children have an Ipad ban. They can use their pads on our trips abroad in the car or in the plane. And occasionally at home for streaming purposes or to play some meaningful games (I love my video games!), But we want to avoid the mindless Youtube browsing or endless repetitive forgettable games. Osmo is of an entirely different capacity. They can play that as often as they wish which they often do intensively for several days in a row. So as parents we are obviously big fan of these, quite expensive but high quality games. This one is also recommended.
Images in this review
clare
More suited to kids around 5 or 6 years of age
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2019Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
KNA
A bit disappointing for 7yr+ old
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2020Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
eddie
Best Osmo Game so Far!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 30, 2019Style: Detective AgencyVerified Purchase
