There’s no doubt that Barbie is the hottest movie in theaters right now. Who doesn’t want to paint their whole world Malibu Barbie hot pink and hop in their bright pink convertible like it’s 1994?
Barbie’s glossy glamor may be the pink wave that every little girl dreams about, but it got us here at EFG wondering: where are all of the good Barbie games? Sure, we have Star Stables, but that’s hardly Barbie material. (Although it’s a great game.) In the early 2000s, we had a deluge of Barbie games that tied in with (sometimes surprisingly good) Barbie movies and television shows. These games were often nonsensical license cash grabs that were the very definition of garbage.
All Barbie games aren’t made equal, mind you.
There have been a number of low-key, enjoyable, and downright gender-critical Barbie games that have come out over the years.
Barbie and the Three Musketeers was probably the last truly great Barbie game and it came out way back in 2009. Since then, Barbie games have mostly turned to mobile for their fanbase and their content ideas.
Barbie’s Dreamhouse Adventures (mobile) and Barbie Fashion Closet (mobile) are both social simulator games that allow Barbie fans to live out their hot-pink drenched Barbie dreams on their phones. Dreamhouse Adventures is a bit more narrative-driven, allowing players to really immerse themselves in Barbie’s Dreamhouse world. Barbie Fashion Closet is all about dressing Barbie up in digital spaces (without needing to buy all of her clothes… because that adds up pretty quickly).
There are also a bunch of web-only Barbie games, but tread with caution there. These are either very old games or are not official Mattel titles.
New Game Coming?
With all of the success that Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie is garnering, perhaps we’re heading towards a new Barbie game that will give Barbie fans, new and old, a fresh set of adventures into that world.
Imagine a Barbie rogue-lite where Barbie and her friends “dungeon dive” in Malibu to unlock new outfits and new careers together. Or perhaps a party-driven RPG for Barbie and friends. Honestly, the options are endless. We hope that some innovative studio somewhere with the cash money for a licensed project will embrace the hot pink messiness of Barbie and friends to give us what we deserve: a Barbie game that is just as subversive as the movie itself.
What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!
Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!
Follow us on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram!
Subscribe to our Podcast!
Linda Wrobel 
Stephen Duetzmann