# Hideout: Early Reading — Silly, engaging reading games

> Early reading games teaching phonic patterns through interactive, context-based mini-games. (iPhone/iPad app by Third Rail Games LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hideout-early-reading/id625966929 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Third Rail Games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/602934098)
- Category: Education, Games, Casual, Family
- Price: $2.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.40/5 from 33 App Store ratings · 107 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 226 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2013-04-08
- Data updated: 2026-08-25
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hideout-early-reading/id625966929/reviews.md

## What is Hideout?

Hideout teaches early reading skills using research-based principles and applications, presenting phonic patterns used in context within an expansive set of captivating (and a little silly) mini-games:

-AP (It's stormy and windy outside. Tap the cap and map to zap them away!)
-OP (Visit the pop shop to pop the popcorn til it reaches the top of the bucket!)
-IT (Hit the rocks to split them into bits so they fit into the pit!)
-ET (Catch the pets in the net so they don't get wet; then load them onto a jet!)
-EN (Move the ten hens into the pen where ten men can feed them!)
-AG (Drage the rags into the bags, and then tag each bag!)
-UB (Scrub and rub each cub in the tub until it's clean!)
-IP (Dip the chips and watch the dip drip as you feed the little guys.)
-OCK (Visit the dock to knock over the towers of blocks and rocks, and then put them into the socks!)
-ACK (The snacks are arriving on a track. Stack them on a rack!)
-IN (The pictures arrive in a bin. Pin them each to the wall, and then spin them away!)
-UG (Tug the plug from each jug so the bug can crawl free!)

Letters, sounds, and phonic patterns are introduced and practiced in contexts that are playful and appealing to children, yet give meaning and purpose to the skills they learn.  Children practice purposefully sequenced skills and identify word patterns, learning to recognize the words so they can read about what they do and observe. The contexts and activities keep children engaged with constant variety in the way they present and illustrate word meanings.  Each captures children’s interest and invites them to read and create words that describe or explain it.  Developed at Brigham Young University by those who created and administer the Systematic and Engaging Early Literacy (SEEL) classroom program, Hideout replicates the kind of interactive face-to-face lessons that are taught by SEEL teachers and available on the SEEL  website (education.byu.edu/seel).

## Key features

- Research-based early reading instruction
- Engaging mini-games for phonic patterns
- Contextualized word learning
- Practice word recognition
- Interactive and playful learning
- Sequenced skill development

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $2.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Workshop Area | Free | one-time |


## What do users think of Hideout?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🎵 Catchy, engaging music and sound design
- 🎨 Colorful, attractive visuals and artwork
- 📚 Excellent phonics and early reading instruction
- 🎮 Interactive games that keep children engaged
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Effective for diverse learners including special needs children
- 🆓 Free app with no mandatory paywalls
- 🧠 Teaches word families, blending, and rhyming effectively
- ⭐ Well-designed progression from letters to words to sentences
- 🎯 Intuitive interface and smooth navigation
- 💪 Recommended by speech-language pathologists and educators

**Cons**

- 🔊 Sound issues and volume problems on some devices
- ⏱️ Limited content - only three word families
- 🚪 Navigation issues - difficulty exiting screens
- 💰 In-app purchases blocking access to full content
- ⚡ App feels too fast-paced for some learners
- 🎯 Confusing illustrations in some activities
- 📵 Abandoned development with no updates

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Sound not working on some devices despite volume settings being correct
- No way to exit screens or return to home menu
- App crashes or freezes on certain devices
- In-app purchase system incompatible with school MDM systems
- Support website broken with outdated information

**Most requested features**

- Add more word families and sound combinations
- Expand content with additional phonetic patterns (ch, wh, th, sh, long vowels)
- Create a paid full version with more content
- Add controls for presentation speed for auditory processing needs
- Implement proper menu buttons for navigation
- Develop a complete reading program series
- Add more levels and progressive difficulty

## Recent user reviews (10 of 107)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hideout-early-reading/id625966929/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Great game!!

*2023-03-09*

This is a game I remember playing as a kid! I wanted to find it again, and my little sister did. I’m so happy she did because it brought me so much happy memories!! I love this game and would recommend it! Anyone reading this, know that you are loved and you’ve got this!!

### 5/5 — Low sound love app

*2023-01-26, version 2.2.1*

I love this app as an SLP! The only issue is that I cannot increase the sound on my iPad and there doesn’t seem to be a way to do it in settings of the app. I can barely hear it. Not sure if others have this issue.

### 1/5 — I can't find where to buy it!

*2023-01-11, version 2.2.1*

I can't find where to buy it!

### 5/5 — Fantastic

*2022-05-09*

A great app. Love the visuals. Very entertaining. Kids love it.

### 5/5 — Excellent!

*2021-08-30, version 2.02*

Very engaging, easy & made to be lots of fun even for me (grandma).

### 5/5 — Speech language pathologist recommends

*2021-08-18, version 2.02*

As a speech-language pathologist working with young children, Hideout is one of the main apps I recommend to parents to help their children learn the basics to reading. The app is great for typically developing children or developmentally delayed children. Hideout can help boost phonological awareness through its repetition, rhythm, word families, blending, and sentence awareness.

### 4/5 — iap bought

*2021-08-18, version 2.02*

workshop area

### 5/5 — Great for Rhyme Time

*2020-04-20, version 2.02*

I love this app for a quick Kindergarten rhyme time review. it is not only fun for kids but adults are captivated too. This program incorporates song, movement, and visuals to review word families. Also this Swiss family Robinson tree house hideout naturally taps into a young child’s intrigue. Way to go!

### 5/5 — Kids' favorite game

*2018-02-25, version 2.02*

I can't believe I've never left a review for this game. My 6 year old loved this game when he was younger, and it's now his little brother's favorite game! I love the pop up words and engaging games. The levels are well balanced with straight reading instruction and game play, perfect for a kid's attention span. Thank you for making an amazing game!

### 5/5 — My Son Like This

*2017-08-27, version 2.02*

My son love this app. I can see where there's a lot of possibilities with this app. Going inside the three house. Setting the app to make the child read this out load to score points to access different areas in the tree house. My son love the hip music too. It's a great start.

## Frequently asked questions about Hideout

### What does Hideout: Early Reading do?

Hideout: Early Reading teaches early reading skills through a variety of mini-games. It focuses on phonic patterns, introducing and practicing them within engaging, context-based activities to help children recognize words and build reading fluency.

### What are the key features of this app?

The app utilizes research-based principles to present phonic patterns in context through captivating mini-games. It emphasizes purposeful skill sequencing, word pattern identification, and interactive learning to keep children engaged and foster word recognition.

### How is this app monetized?

The app is free to download and use, but it offers in-app purchases. This model allows users to access the core features for free while providing options for additional content or features through purchases.

### Who is this app designed for?

This app is designed for young children who are beginning to learn to read. It is also a valuable tool for parents and educators looking for engaging and effective ways to support early literacy development.

### What kind of reading skills does this app teach?

The app focuses on teaching early reading skills, specifically targeting phonic patterns. Children learn to identify letter sounds and word patterns by playing games that place these skills within meaningful contexts, helping them to recognize words and understand their meanings.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.2.2 — 2023-06-30

Fixed audio bug
Home screen: Fixed interface bug
Home screen: Adjusted some colors for usability
Home screen: Adjusted some sign positioning for narrower screens

### 2.2.1 — 2022-12-07

Removed home screen In-App Purchase interface for good.
Updated for newer devices and operating systems.

### 2.02 — 2016-11-17

Bug fixes

### 2.01 — 2016-11-15

Fixed critical display bug where words would remain onscreen if back button was tapped during song.

### 2.0 — 2016-11-09

It's our newest update ever!

SUPER HUGE ADDITIONS:
Added a second-story workshop area to the hideout (just swipe on the screen to get there.)
Added three new activities: Pin Bin, Snack Rack, and Bug Jug.

OTHER STUFF:
Rewrote the entire app from the ground up to support the graphics capabilities of newer devices.
Restructured home screen to accomodate new Hideout areas and swipe-style navigation between areas.
Added popcorn popping out of Pop Shop.
Added eyes blinking in cave.
Added bugs crawling around on Hideout.
Added stacks that shoot out magic dust.
Rewrote touch handler on post-song word making
UB: Made the cubs easier to scrub

## Apps similar to Hideout

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Main Idea -Sentences](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/main-idea-sentences/id895683482) | 3.8 (19) | Free | Education |
| [Reading Train Starter Books](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-train-starter-books/id702227884) | 4.2 (26) | Free | Education |
| [SPELLING MAGIC 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spelling-magic-2/id438133737) | 4.3 (15) | Free | Education |
| [Monkey Math School Sunshine](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monkey-math-school-sunshine/id451287325) | 4.3 (57) | $1.99 | Education |
| [Sight Words Phonics Superhero](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sight-words-phonics-superhero/id1493091265) | 4.3 (10) | Free | Education |
| [SCIP](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scip/id1006804111) | 5.0 (4) | $59.99 | Education |

## More apps by Third Rail Games LLC

- [Alphabet Zoo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphabet-zoo/id416075232)
- [Greater Gator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/greater-gator/id625747308)
- [Chicken Yard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chicken-yard/id963994526)
- [LetterMarch](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lettermarch/id1198261937)
- [Pulse Runner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulse-runner/id6444805326)

All apps by Third Rail Games LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/602934098

## Related topics

[reading games early](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/reading-games-early) · [early reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/early-reader)

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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 2026-08-25.*