Yesterday afternoon when he got back from school, my five year-old son snuck into my study and shouted “BOO!” at the top of his voice. It seems ‘making Daddy jump a metre in the air in shock’ is the new prank of choice in my household. Hmm.

Giving people an almighty fright is quite fun, it has to be said. And that’s the focus for Toca Boca‘s latest children’s app, Toca Boo. Released in time for Halloween, it blends ghosts, spooky chasing and… disco music? Yep, disco music.

The app is based around a character called Bonnie and her family, with your goal being to scare the bejaysus out of them in as entertaining ways as possible.

“Float around the house and look for the family. Hide under tables, behind curtains or even duvets. Search the rooms but stay away from the light or else you’ll be seen,” explains its App Store listing.

“Rattle things, turn on the kettle and make the characters nervous! Can you hear their heartbeat? Great, it’s time to BOO!”

It’s a departure from previous Toca Boca apps in its graphical style, but we really like it: cartoon characters with spindly legs, and a darkened house with the odd splash of neon pink. Its use of lighting is very clever too, as you try to keep in the shade ready to scare.

The way you hide behind (and sometimes in) furniture is also very well done: we predict riotous laughter when your children discover they can splosh into the toilet, for example. And the reactions of the family members when you ‘BOO!’ them is priceless.

It’s marvellous fun, anyway, while the fact that Bonnie is the ghost is a reassuring way to let your kids know that any ghoulish goings-on in your house are more likely to be pranks than actual afterlife-antics.

Toca Boo costs £1.99 for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store.