# Cato's Hike — 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/id574335479 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Hesham Wahba](https://appshunter.io/developer/358331461) - Category: Education, Games, Simulation - Price: $5.99 - Rating: 4.10/5 from 48 App Store ratings · 25 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.6 · 38 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2012-11-08 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catos-hike/id574335479/reviews.md ## What is Cato's Hike? 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 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 * A visual manual to help guide parents and more interested users * Loops, branches and if/else, goto labels, looking and chaining looks to look ahead, goto's, and simple memory using colored flags are the main tools used to introduce programming * 60 levels and 12 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 * Puzzles ranging from easy to hard to teach different programming concepts without trying to force them * 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 - Visual programming interface with cards - Introduction to loops, branches, and memory - 60 levels and 12 tutorials - Map editor for creating and sharing puzzles - Save and preview custom maps - Email puzzle solutions and maps ## Recent user reviews (10 of 25) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catos-hike/id574335479/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Good idea but buttons don't always work *2016-04-07, version 1.3* Great idea for programming but it doesn't show you how to go back and fix a step. Sometimes the buttons don't work. Needs better instructions. Don't spend your money on this one yet. ### 4/5 — Catos hikes *2014-10-28, version 1.3* Some times confusing but its fun and helpes me in every day life :) Thank you makers you are awesome :) :) :) :) :) ### 2/5 — Instructions are too poor and ambiguous! *2014-06-02, version 1.3* I purchased this for my kid. Since I am a programmer I thought that this would be good tool to teach him some programming. He did not like it and complained that he was confused. I tried it and after the first two steps in the tutorial I was confused as well. I tried for twenty or thirty minutes to try and figure out what I was supposed to do. But I couldn't figure it out even though I have almost 30 years of experience as a programmer. I would not recommend this app. It will probably discourage a child from ever developing an interest in programming. This app needs refinement of its instructions and tutorials. ### 2/5 — Major issues- please help!!! *2014-06-02, version 1.3* This is a very expensive education game not to work properly... Lightbot is priceless but it is half the price with double the value. My issue is that the dialogue screen in the tutorial doesn't show the symbols/buttons to which it refers. For example- it look something like this: "Choose the ⬜️ to create a loop. True ⬜️⬜️ False⬜️⬜️ Turn using ⬜️ menu and ⬜️." This is how the entire tutorial shows up on my IPad. (I am using it on a new model iPad mini, updated with current iOS 7.1.1) Playing this myself, (I'm 34) the tutorial is somewhat self evident because the code is already written for you, and you just have to choose it and press play. But going on to level 2 and 3, I only know how to walk, turn and loop back to the beginning. I don't see anyone else with this issue. I have cleared my runtime memory and have re-downloaded the app to make sure it wasn't something wrong on my end. But the same thing happened. Help please! The app is useless for the children without the tutorial. It's useless for me too! I will immediately change my review if this is fixed, as I think it is a promising app. ### 5/5 — Fun & Effective Way to Learn the Basics of Computer Programming *2014-04-24, version 1.3* Cato's Hike is an excellent way to introduce anyone -child or adult- to the basic concepts and logic of computer programming. Through a fun "game," you learn the fundamental logical framework that forms the foundation of every program and every programming language. In playing with this app, you learn a computer language without even realizing it. Instead of using text "commands," you use symbols to program your character to accomplish her task. If you "get" the concepts presented in this game and master them, you're well on your way to being a "real" computer programmer for fun or profit. The program could be improved by integrating the tutorial into the gameplay levels, rather than by presenting all the concepts in the tutorial upfront. Nonetheless, this is a truly exceptional learning tool to introduce computer programming to anyone. ### 4/5 — Fun and challenging *2013-06-27, version 1.3* I bought this game thinking my kids (8 yr old girl and 13 yr old boy) would enjoy it. They do. But so do I! We are all wanting to play, and frequently all try to solve the levels together, or see the different decisions we made. I find some of the levels quite challenging. So challenging, in fact, that I desperately wish there was context sensitive help, or a hint button, or a sample solution/explanation. If they provide that, then 5 stars. But really, this "game" is awesome for anyone interesting in learning programming skills or seeing if they enjoy this sort of brain work. ### 5/5 — Really makes you think *2013-06-23, version 1.3* This fun app has hours of things to Things that stretch and challenge you I'm learning with my eight year old ### 1/5 — Crashes! *2013-06-07, version 1.3* Crashes every time I try to play the tutorial. ### 5/5 — Just what I was looking for!!!! *2013-05-16, version 1.3* Great for anyone who wants to learn coding! Great for all ages! ### 5/5 — Coding for the mature *2013-04-09, version 1.3* I wanted to learn coding, but I'm not mathematical or computer savvy. I'm a sixty year old woman. Cato's Hike is teaching me the logic behind programs in a very entertaining and absorbing way. Really, I dream! Tiles and programs. I strongly recommend it. ## Frequently asked questions about Cato's Hike ### What is Cato's Hike? Cato's Hike is an educational puzzle game designed to teach children and young adults the fundamentals of programming and problem-solving. Players guide a character through a new world by creating programs using a simple, visual interface. ### What programming concepts does Cato's Hike teach? The app introduces core programming concepts such as loops, branches (if/else statements), goto labels, looking ahead, and memory using colored flags. These are presented in an accessible way through puzzles and tutorials. ### How much does Cato's Hike cost? Based on the provided information, Cato's Hike is a paid application. There are no mentions of in-app purchases or advertisements, suggesting a one-time purchase for the full experience. ### What devices is Cato's Hike compatible with? Cato's Hike is described as a universal game for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. This indicates it is designed for iOS devices. ### Can I create my own puzzles in Cato's Hike? Yes, the app features a powerful map editor that allows users to create their own puzzles and maps. You can then preview these maps directly within the editor and share them with friends. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.0 — 2025-05-11 - support for latest iOS versions - bug fixes ### 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 — 2012-11-26 Please enjoy the latest feature-filled update! Many of your requested features have been added so please review if you are satisfied as they are the life-blood of Cato's Hike! - added a help screen/manual - 2 new tutorials and 2 new levels - play and preview maps straight from map editor - added support for emailing programs to share with your friends with a picture of it so they can see your genius! - add/remove columns even from topmost row or leftmost column of card layout, just ignores modifying the start card - display message when importing of programs or maps successful and fix imports that would crash - stop button restarts level - move custom maps to top of list when editing maps so you can see your maps first - improved icon - move fullscreen to far right on iPad to make a little space - adjust widths for iPhone 5 - save map when don't enter name and you get naming popup instead of requiring another save button press - fix bug where dropping a flag may also drop keys or gems, etc... - send feedback and rate me buttons in the about screen - many more small tweaks and fixes ### 1.1 — 2012-11-13 Note: I intend to continue improving Cato's Hike by adding more features to make it easier to understand including hopefully more tutorials and a manual. Please hang tight and enjoy! (reviews always appreciated as they are the lifeblood of Cato's Hike) - critical: fix 4 levels that couldn't be completed - critical: added missing level - added new level "Look Before You Leap!" to "Branching Out" world - saves default program so you don't have to keep saving if you restart a level or go on to a new one, just hit new program if you want to start fresh - saves default program over last loaded program so you can iteratively develop even if you exit and come back later - emailed maps include gorgeous screenshot of what you are sending so your friends know what to expect - removed default email from sharing of maps - fix subject in email to "Cato's Hike" not "Cato's Journey" which was an older test name of game - updated credits ## Apps similar to Cato's Hike | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Mimo: Learn Coding/Programming](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mimo-learn-codingprogramming/id1133960732) | 4.9 (107,982) | Free | Education | | [Super Robot Bros: Play & Code!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/super-robot-bros-play-and-code/id1561796391) | 4.5 (28) | Free | Education | | [Boat Games for Kids](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boat-games-for-kids/id1179727768) | 4.1 (161) | Free | Education | | [Code the Robot. 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User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*