1986 · Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium · Educational

Number Munchers

Learn basic math skills with Number Munchers. Keep your Muncher away from the Troggles by munching on multiples, factors, prime numbers, equalities, and inequalities. If you can stay away from the Troggles and earn enough points, you'll be part of the Muncher Hall of Fame.

Released: 1986
Platforms: Apple II macOS MS-DOS
Genres: Educational
Developers: Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium
Publishers: Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium
Series: Munchers
Modes: Single-player

About

Number Munchers is an educational video game and a spin-off of Word Munchers. It was released by MECC for Apple II in 1986, then MS-DOS and Mac in 1990. The concept of the game was designed by R. Philip Bouchard, who also designed The Oregon Trail.

Two versions of the game were released: the Consumer Version (for home use) and the School Version (for classrooms). After The Learning Company acquired MECC, the game was rebranded as Math Munchers.

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player controls the muncher who must move around a grid and munch on numbers that match the logic rule above while avoiding the threatening troggles. As the player progresses the levels, the logic rules have bigger numbers, and harder difficulty and multiple troggles pursue the muncher.

There are five different modes of play in Number Munchers to advance players' mathematical skills. These modes include Multiples, Factors, Primes, Equalities, and Inequalities:

Reception

Reviewer Benj Edwards regarded the game as one of the "Top 10 Educational PC Games of the 80s" in PC Magazine and one of the "Best 17 Educational Games of the 70s, 80s and 90s" in PC World. The number munching was commonly compared to a Pac-Man game. GamesRadar+ praised the game for its cartoony graphics and a viable way to make math fun. It was considered both an award-winner and best-seller from Parents' Choice, InCider Magazine and Media & Methods.