Take the Westward Trail

Before you set off, choose your profession, name your party, buy supplies, and choose a start date. Too soon, and the grass isn't ready for your oxen. Too late, and winter will catch you. You can set your rate of travel and rate of consumption of your food at this stage, as well.

Choose your profession wisely, each has strengths and weaknesses that affect your skills and starting capital. Take care with your supplies, too. Extras can be traded, but too few and you will lose precious days hunting or attempting to trade for more.

The hunting is basic, attempting to aim your stick-figure's shot. It can be a pain to get the hang of, but with a bit of practice you'll miss less. There will be forts, now and then, to rest up and resupply. As you might expect, the prices of goods go up the farther you get from Independence.

You can attempt to trade with other wagons for needed goods, though some of these will be bad deals for you, and you'll have to weigh that against your need, and the need not to waste time trying for better trades. You'll also run into rivers, and the crossings can be treacherous. It conveys well the strain to survive, racing winter, attempting not to fall to illness and fatigue.

You may not want to name the party after your own family, unless you have a macabre sense of humor. Possible endings can be gruesome, though these are in text, not graphics. I feel it's a bit too much so for my seven-year-old, but we'll use it to round out Oregon Trail studies when she's a little older.