# Bluster! > Educational word matching game for vocabulary development with multiple play modes. (iPhone/iPad app by McGraw-Hill School Education Group.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluster/id416160693 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [McGraw-Hill School Education Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/413312889) - Category: Education, Games - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.50/5 from 8 App Store ratings · 22 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 8.0 · 21 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2011-01-31 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluster/id416160693/reviews.md ## What is Bluster!? Breeze through vocabulary building with Bluster! This word matching game develops vocabulary and word understanding for school-aged children, or anyone brave enough to battle the elements. Shine bright in single-player mode as you learn and practice important word skills. Match rhyming words, prefixes and suffixes, synonyms, homophones, adjectives, and more. Collaborate with a friend in team mode. The multi-touch iPad screen allows both players to play simultaneously, so you can work together to weather the vocabulary storm. Switch to versus mode and play head-to-head for the ultimate test of your lightning quickness. Disrupt your opponent with weather attacks like tornadoes and blizzards - it’s thunderous fun and just might give you the edge you need to reign supreme! Bluster includes over 800 vocabulary words. Players choose a skill to practice and then try to make matches of three. Ten matches wins a round. Features: • Three different play modes - including two-player action. • A variety of grade level appropriate content. • Engaging animated gameplay with sound effects. • Head-to-head and High Scores tables. • Plays on the iPad in both landscape and portrait mode. • In app purchases for additional vocabulary. ***** Want to get all the vocabulary packs? Consider Bluster Deluxe! ***** ## Key features - Vocabulary building - Word matching - Single-player mode - Two-player collaboration - Head-to-head versus mode - Over 800 vocabulary words - Grade-level appropriate content ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Base Words | $0.99 | one-time | | Extra Rhyming Words | $0.99 | one-time | | Extra Prefixes | $0.99 | one-time | | Extra Synonyms | $0.99 | one-time | | Extra Words | $0.99 | one-time | | Extra Word Roots | $0.99 | one-time | | Extra Rhyming Words | $0.99 | one-time | | Extra Words | $0.99 | one-time | | Extra Adjectives | $0.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 22) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluster/id416160693/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Awesome App *2019-01-17* I use this app for 6 years in a first grade classroom as a volunteer. The kids are focused and enjoy the challenge of beating the levels. This past year I had a third grader tell his teacher, he leaned about Prefixes and suffixes way back in first grade. It great to be able to challenge them. It is also great to tell them they are learning 2nd grade materials. My kids Especially love the honors board where they challenge themselves to be faster! Thank you for keeping this app updated for tablets!! A definite 5 star app! ### 5/5 — Super Literacy App! *2016-01-16* This is a well thought out, well designed App that I will be recommending to colleagues! ### 2/5 — Prefix Problems *2014-09-13* Great concept and kids would love! It does have issues with prefix game ie: includes project and progress. "Ject" and "gress" are not root words. Look forward to the improved vocabulary. ### 5/5 — Awesome *2014-04-29* This app is awesome! I use it often in my class and the students love it! ### 4/5 — Bluster Review *2014-04-09, version 1.3.1* This app Bluster is a game for students to learn more about rhyming, adjectives, prefixes and suffixes. So this is a language art app. The creators of Bluster is McGraw-Hill School Education Group. In order for this app to work properly you iPhone/iPad/iPod must have an update of iOS 5.0 or later. Once you've opened the app there is the sound of the pouring rain with crashing thunder. It will show a city with a rain cloud over it. The dark colored cloud with have rain and accessional lightening. Three orange buttons with white lettering will be on the screen. The top one will say play. Then the one bellow it will read honors. The very last one says how to play. If you tap the button that reads play then you should see three sky blue slides. The first one is how many players you want to play with. If you slide the first sky blue slide there will be three options; single, team and versus. The next slide down has another three options for the levels ; level two, level 3 and level 4. The last slide has options for what subject you want to play with; prefixes and suffixes, adjectives, and rhyming words. Once you choose your options there is a orange circle that says ok in white lettering. You tap that after all your choices. There is going to be different rules for different options. Let's say that you chose single, level 2 and rhyming. You would get a list of words ( You get a list of words for all the options ) and you would have to slide through the words to find three rhyming words. There will be three dark blue spaces above so you are able out the rhyming words. So you would drag one of the words from the list and drop it into one of the three blue spaces. You have a limited amount of time to get it done. Personally I think this app should be used for elementary school students. It's perfect for all ages. But during this app I got easily bored and didn't want to use it. So if you chose to get this app try using it on younger children instead if junior high students. If there was to be any improvement on this app I would recommend that it should have more levels and more options to chose from. Like the creators should put nouns and verbs in there. ### 3/5 — Say the words *2014-01-11* This would be better if the word was said when it was touched. Also, where is Level 1? ### 5/5 — Great! *2013-05-08* My 2nd through 5th grade students are loving this app. I was excited to find an app that multiple students could utilize at once since I have a 50 minute class and 15-25 students wanting to use the iPad in that time. ### 5/5 — Great educational fun! *2013-03-26* This app is wonderful for ESL students! Thank you! ### 5/5 — Great *2013-03-19* The game bluster that I just played was in a way very challenging I men you have unlimited time ### 5/5 — Love *2013-02-04* Great app should get !(: ## Frequently asked questions about Bluster! ### What learning methodology does Bluster! use? Bluster! employs a word matching game format to help users learn and practice vocabulary. It focuses on matching rhyming words, prefixes, suffixes, synonyms, homophones, and adjectives to build word understanding. ### How does Bluster! track progress? While specific progress tracking features are not detailed, the game includes single-player mode for practice and head-to-head high score tables, suggesting a competitive element for measuring performance. ### Does Bluster! offer certifications? The provided information does not indicate that Bluster! offers any formal certifications upon completion of its vocabulary exercises. ### What is the user sentiment for Bluster!? Bluster! has a positive user sentiment, indicated by its high rating of 4.5 stars from 8 ratings. ### What are the pricing details for Bluster!? Bluster! is free to download and play. It offers in-app purchases for additional vocabulary packs, with a 'Bluster Deluxe' option available to get all packs. ### Is Bluster! safe for young children? Bluster! has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for young children. The game focuses on educational vocabulary building in an engaging format. ### How often is Bluster! updated? The latest version of Bluster! is 1.5, which was last updated on September 18, 2017. This indicates a less frequent update schedule. ### What devices does Bluster! support? Bluster! is designed to play on the iPad and supports both landscape and portrait modes. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.5 — 2017-09-18 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. New Features! (see Settings) + Show hints - highlight mismatched words + Sound Effects - turn off background audio and feedback + Disruptors - turn off storms + Reduced Words - fewer words during gameplay + Speak Words - words spoken on selection, single player mode Conversion to 64-bit app in preparation for iOS 11 release ### 1.3.1 — 2014-03-20 New in 1.3: • Five new scenes! • Minor UI updates • Built for iOS 7 • Bug fixes New in 1.3.1: • Stability fixes ### 1.3 — 2014-02-21 • Five new scenes! • Minor UI updates • Built for iOS 7 • Bug fixes ### 1.2 — 2013-02-01 • In app purchases for additional vocabulary. • Pause the passage of time in single player mode by tapping the sun. • iOS 5/6 support ### 1.1 — 2011-03-01 We listened! Time for single-player mode has been adjusted. A few bug fixes also included. ## Apps similar to Bluster! | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [WH Questions Skills](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wh-questions-skills/id1055252994) | 4.3 (4) | Free | Education | | [HB Following Directions](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hb-following-directions/id705212745) | 3.2 (23) | Free | Education | | [Bitsboard Flashcards & Games](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitsboard-flashcards-and-games/id516842210) | 4.4 (1,011) | Free | Education | | [HB Phonological Awareness](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hb-phonological-awareness/id667457445) | 3.4 (24) | Free | Education | | [Spelling City Games for Kids](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spelling-city-games-for-kids/id1420405518) | 4.3 (1,573) | Free | Education | | [HearBuilder Sequencing](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hearbuilder-sequencing/id731924449) | 2.9 (16) | Free | Education | ## More apps by McGraw-Hill School Education Group - [¡Así lo digo! Level 1](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/asi-lo-digo-level-1/id982548360) - [¡Así lo digo! Level 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/asi-lo-digo-level-2/id1001571476) - [¡Así lo digo! Level 3](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/asi-lo-digo-level-3/id1048984022) - [Inspire Science 3D](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inspire-science-3d/id1448760753) - [McGraw Hill AR](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcgraw-hill-ar/id1620378347) All apps by McGraw-Hill School Education Group: https://appshunter.io/developer/413312889 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*