# Cato's Hike Lite — A Programming & Logic Odyssey

> Educational puzzle game teaching programming logic and problem-solving to children and adults. (iPhone/iPad app by Hesham Wahba.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catos-hike-lite/id580699267 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Hesham Wahba](https://appshunter.io/developer/358331461)
- Category: Education, Games, Strategy
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.90/5 from 51 App Store ratings · 14 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 10.3 · 41 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2012-11-28
- Data updated: 2026-07-04
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catos-hike-lite/id580699267/reviews.md

## What is Cato's Hike Lite?

A little programmer odyssey! 

"Who says that computer programming should only be left to the adults?... although Cato’s Hike is geared towards children, it can definitely unlock the little programmer in all of us." -- AppAdvice 

Even though this is the Lite version, it includes the tutorial world and the *FULL* map editor and sandbox so you can create your own little worlds and puzzles and play through them and challenge your friends and family around you.  The full version of the game will unlock the rest of the worlds and allow you to email and share your programs and maps as well as open maps and programs that your friends and family send you so you can teach and learn from them as well!

Cato is a little boy who just like every little boy likes to go out and play. One fine day Cato was playing outside when a portal to another world opened up in front of him; a portal to another world! 

Cato stepped through and discovered that this world unlike his own didn't follow the same rules. Every time he tried to take a step or an action he'd find himself stuck in place. Stuck that is until he finally discovered the rules in this universe: by writing a program for himself he would be able to overcome all obstacles and learn something new along the way! 

Features: 
* Simple programming interface using beautiful cards with pictures 
* 59 levels and 10 tutorials (always working to add more!) 
* Powerful map editor so you can create your own maps and puzzles and share with friends 
* Preview your maps directly in the map editor to save time and test out your maps more quickly! 
* Saves program progress so you can pick up at any time and iteratively develop 
* Email your puzzle solutions to share your genius with others 
* Beautiful artwork and amusing sound effects and music 
* A manual to help guide parents and more interested users 
* Puzzles ranging from easy to hard to teach different programming concepts without trying to force them 
* Loops, branches and if/else, and simple memory using colored flags are the main tools used to introduce programming 
* Emailed maps include gorgeous screenshot of what you are sending so your friends know what to expect 
* Cato's Hike teaches children (ages 5+) the essentials of programming and how to think about solving complex problems 
* The challenges in there are solvable easily by children of all ages but more nuanced and complex solutions should challenge teenagers and parents alike! 
* Just a fun puzzle game :) 

Upcoming features: 
* MORE LEVELS! 
* Hints on harder levels 
* Possibly more tutorial levels if enough ask for it 
* Possible cloud-sync 

Essentially, 'Cato’s Hike' is a universal game for the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch to teach kids and young children basic programming skills. The younger ones will obviously enjoy solving levels using simpler coding techniques but the hope is the older ones will pick up more advanced concepts like loops and branching as well as even more advanced concepts like a basic stack or memory! There is enough in here to keep everyone from children to parents engaged! More challenges are upcoming however so stay tuned! 

As with all my projects I take this one very seriously and I hope you enjoy. I intend to continue improving Cato's Hike as much as possible and incorporate your feedback and suggestions as well as try to make it more intuitive and better able to convey the concepts it is setting out to teach. If you have any questions, suggestions, ideas, or bugs you'd like to report please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly at: hesham.wahba@gmail.com

## Key features

- Simple card-based programming interface
- 59 levels and 10 tutorials
- Full map editor for creating custom puzzles
- Preview maps within the editor
- Save program progress
- Share puzzle solutions via email
- Introduces loops, branches, and if/else concepts

## Recent user reviews (10 of 14)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catos-hike-lite/id580699267/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Lulu

*2025-06-29*

This game is really a lot of fun for children of different ages because little kids can enjoy the simple journey using basic programming concepts, while older ones can delve into more complex ones at the higher levels. The graphics are done very nicely and you can save your progress so you don’t have to start every time.

### 2/5 — Very buggy, many crashes

*2015-12-28*

So many bugs, no way am I buying the paid version. This app crashes, plus once you get it playing its lacking buttons it says you need and the UI is super wonky. Sad.

### 4/5 — Wait a minute

*2015-06-14, version 1.3*

Aha! Planetcute, we meet again

### 2/5 — Buggy

*2015-04-19*

Ironic that a programming teaching app has bugs

### 1/5 — Stupid.

*2014-04-19*

You don't learn to program using this. The help/tutorial files are often blank. The steps and symbols are really hard to understand. All you have to do is match the pictures and the program runs without any logical thought. Complete waste of time.

### 3/5 — Crashes

*2013-09-08*

It looks great but I can't get into the first level or create a map. It crash out of the game when I try. I am using iOS 6.01 maybe it will work with iOS 5? Please update your app!!

### 2/5 — Confusing interface, buggy

*2013-06-19*

I felt the interface was more complicated than it needed to be for a kids game. Very buggy, kept crashing. Giving two stars because the concept is good, but I felt it wax unusable.

### 1/5 — Crashes

*2013-05-23*

I go to the practice or not the level be teaching you how to do stuff and it keeps on crashing i really want to try this out too 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

### 1/5 — Crap.

*2013-03-17*

Whenever you try to load a level it crashes. Would have been good app though

### 1/5 — doesn't work

*2013-03-02*

very first tutorial refers to a button .... green rectangle with an up arrow inside   that isn't on the interface anywhere.

if you hit the next free circle in the grid you seem to get a list of actions as indicated, but choosing the indicated "walk" card and then hitting > generates an error message implying you hadn't placed an action card. 

maybe it can be made to work but not if you try to follow the instructions in the tutorial.

## Frequently asked questions about Cato's Hike Lite

### What programming concepts does Cato's Hike Lite teach?

Cato's Hike Lite introduces fundamental programming concepts such as loops, branches, and if/else statements. It uses colored flags for simple memory, helping users understand how to build programs to overcome obstacles.

### Can I create my own puzzles in Cato's Hike Lite?

Yes, this Lite version includes the full map editor and sandbox. You can create your own worlds and puzzles, and even preview them directly within the editor to test your creations.

### Is Cato's Hike Lite suitable for very young children?

Cato's Hike is designed for children aged 5 and up. The puzzles are solvable by children of all ages, with simpler techniques for younger players and more complex challenges that can engage teenagers and parents.

### How does Cato's Hike Lite save progress?

The game saves your program progress, allowing you to pick up where you left off. This feature supports iterative development, enabling users to refine their solutions over time.

### What devices is Cato's Hike Lite compatible with?

Cato's Hike Lite is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices. It is designed as a universal game for Apple's mobile ecosystem.

### Does Cato's Hike Lite have ads?

No, Cato's Hike Lite is ad-free. You can enjoy the tutorial world and the full map editor without any advertisements interrupting your learning experience.

### How often is Cato's Hike Lite updated?

The latest version is 2.0, released on September 25, 2017. The developer is always working to add more levels and is considering future features like hints and cloud-sync based on user demand.

### Can I share my creations with friends using Cato's Hike Lite?

Yes, you can share your puzzle solutions via email. The emails include a gorgeous screenshot of your creation so your friends know what to expect when they receive it.

## Version history (last 3 releases)

### 2.0 — 2017-09-25

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

- support for iOS 11
- support for iPhone (8, 8+, X, 7, 7+, SE), iPad Pro (9.7", 10.5", 12.9")
- 64-bit support
- bug fixes

### 1.3 — 2012-12-12

- much improved look and feel for the iPhone with easier to press buttons to access programs and hide programs and so on
- can now look MANY steps ahead!!!  Just put one look after another for the same thing and it will look ahead as many cards as you have in a row!
- colored labels or GOTO's that you can place in code and jump to them for loops or mini-procedures
- colored flags that you can drop and pick up for different reasons
- new Advanced World level, It's a Bug's Life
- can look specifically for grass and stone now
- tap character on main screen to switch
- updated manual and added two more intermediate programs to teach about the new GOTO's and GOTO LABEL's as well as a new tutorial on chaining looks to look ahead multiple steps
- new tutorial level added at end of tutorial list
- fix crash on exiting right after the fireworks appear after winning level
- other bug fixes and cleanups

### 1.2.1 — 2012-11-28

No release notes.

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## More apps by Hesham Wahba

- [Tracing Paper Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tracing-paper-lite/id439509324)
- [Cato's Hike](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catos-hike/id574335479)
- [Minimal Islamic Prayer Times](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimal-islamic-prayer-times/id583253512)
- [Minimalist Prayer Times Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-prayer-times-lite/id583646917)

All apps by Hesham Wahba: https://appshunter.io/developer/358331461

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*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 2026-07-04.*