Flash games- from the early days of Nickelodeon's website, kids have been enthralled by the instantly accessible, quick-to-load internet games, and though modern video game entertainment has become high definition, the niche of flash games has weathered the storm. As a 90s child, I frequented the major cartoon websites to play "clickamajigs" and games based on my favorite shows like Rugrats- so it's no surprise that I was drawn to the Baby Hazel franchise.
Baby Hazel, shown here in all her glory, is a strange take on role-playing, where the player is not only spectating, but has a direct role in taking care of an internet baby (and her parents and pets, occasionally). The goal of Baby Hazel games is always the simple, and an echo to real-life baby raising: make Baby Hazel happy and keep her happy. Similar to a real toddler, Hazel has a short temper and goes through a routine of fun- if the attending adult can provide it for her. Changing diapers, baths, serving food, anything that you'd do for a real child, you'll do for Hazel. And if you don't (or don't do it fast enough), Hazel will cry and your Happiness Score goes down.
My favorite in this strangely addictive saga has been- Baby Hazel African Safari. Not only was this game the antithesis of political correctness, it was geologically wrong and full of awkward decisions. Why would Baby Hazel's parents fly all the way to South Africa for camping? Surely they would have gotten the same effect from a road trip to the closest national park- and more importantly, why would they only bring soup and juiceboxes? There are more questions than answers when it comes to Baby Hazel flash games, and personally, I find it more entertaining when I don't know them- there's a sense of mystery.
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