27 Best Educational Games for Kids to Play Sorted by Subject
In the rapidly evolving landscape of education, the integration of technology and play has paved the way for a new era of learning. Educational games for kids have become invaluable tools, offering engaging platforms that make the process of acquiring knowledge both enjoyable and practical. Whether it’s honing math skills, exploring the wonders of science, or delving into the realms of history and geography, these games cater to various subjects. Here’s a curated list of the best educational games for kids, categorized by subject:
Mathematics Games
Prodigy Math
Prodigy Math stands as a fantasy-based math game, captivating over 100 million students, teachers, and parents globally. Aligned with the curriculum, it covers topics from 1st grade to 8th grade, including fractions and geometry. The adaptive nature of the game ensures it adjusts to the child’s learning style and grade level.
Blooket Play Game
Learning maths is sometimes dull and challenging, but now, with Blooket, students can learn fundamental math skills through the engaging game of Blooket. In blooket, you can design math games and efficiently teach the following topics,
- Multiplication Facts: (0-12)
- Division Facts
- Simplify Fractions
- One Step Equations
- Perimeter of 2D shapes
Buzzmath
Tailored for middle school, Buzzmath aligns with common core and TEKS curricula. In an engaging storyline, players help an inventor save Mathlantis by restoring the population’s math knowledge. The game involves time travel, meeting famous mathematicians, and overcoming challenges to transform Mathlantis.
Twelve a Dozen
Developed by Touch Press Games, Twelve a Dozen aids in understanding the thought process of algebra. As players embark on a journey with Twelve, the numeric hero, they solve puzzles, explore longer algebraic equations, and contribute to the rescue mission of her family and Dozenopolis.
Art Games
Start with Art!
Embark on a journey into the world of art, creativity, and visual learning with Start with Art! This game guides children through foundational art lessons, emphasizing art as a language, conveying messages, and exploring concepts of line and shape.
Tate Kids
Tate Kids, an initiative by Tate art galleries, allows children to play art-related games and quizzes. From helping robots save famous art to creating landscapes, kids can engage in educational and creative activities.
Colorfy: Coloring Art Game
For those inclined toward digital art, Colorfy offers a vast digital coloring book with over 1000 pictures. Ranging from florals to famous paintings, it provides a creative outlet for artistic expression.
Language Arts Games
Prodigy English
Prodigy English employs sandbox gameplay to engage kids in English language skills. Set in a village, players collect resources to build objects in their world. The adaptive algorithm adjusts questions based on grade and ability, fostering reading and vocabulary skills.
HOMER
HOMER, an early learning program, personalizes reading plans based on a child’s current level and interests. Through HOMER Stories, it curates stories tailored to the child’s passions, combining education with entertainment.
Vocabulary Spelling City
A supplemental literacy tool, Vocabulary Spelling City, helps children learn spelling and grammar. With free online spelling games and a premium membership offering customized lists and homework practice, it enhances vocabulary retention and reading comprehension.
Wallykazam! Letter and Word Magic
Based on the animated TV series Wallykazam! Introduces preschoolers to early reading skills. Games focus on letter recognition, tracing, and phonics, making it an interactive and educational experience.
Room Recess
Room Recess provides a variety of educational games for kids to play during recess. Covering topics like nouns, sight words, and phonics, each mini-game encourages engagement and skill development. Teachers can find additional worksheets for reinforcement.
Health and Physical Education Games
GoNoodle
GoNoodle aims to get kids moving with engaging video content featuring songs, dance, yoga, mindfulness, and stretching. It transforms screen time into active time, offering over 300 videos to make physical activity enjoyable.
Learning Games for Kids: Health
This website offers 36 health-related games across four categories, teaching children about their bodies, allergies, dental hygiene, and staying fit. Despite being outdated, the games remain valuable for introducing new concepts.
Disaster Master
Disaster Master is an educational game designed to teach kids about staying safe from environmental disasters. With eight levels centered on different disaster challenges, it educates players on safety measures in various situations.
Science Games
Tinybop
Tinybop provides educational apps and digital games that allow children to explore diverse topics like the human body, plants, homes, weather, space, animals, and states of matter. The interactive nature of the games promotes foundational science literacy.
Toca Lab
Toca Lab offers open-ended games where children can experiment and make connections in the world of science. Elements and Plants editions let kids explore the periodic table and understand how plants evolve, fostering curiosity.
Camp Wonderopolis
Camp Wonderopolis is a website filled with fun games for kids to channel their inner scientists. From learning about food chains to mastering melting points, each topic includes mini-games that engage kids in biology, chemistry, and physics.
Technology Games
Tynker
Recognizing the importance of programming skills, Tynker provides coding courses designed for all experience levels. With over 3,700 modules, Tynker motivates children to advance their coding skills through interactive lessons, badges, and self-paced learning.
CodeSpark Academy
CodeSpark Academy covers various skills needed for programming, including creativity, logical thinking, and problem-solving. The coding game, accessible via the web or devices, introduces coding concepts through puzzle games with characters called the Foos.
Gamestar Mechanic
Gamestar Mechanic, an online game and community, teaches game design principles to children. Divided into Play, Design, and Share components, it encourages creativity and mastery in game design, allowing kids to publish and collaborate on their creations.
PBS Kids Games
PBS Kids Games uses favorite television characters to explore culture, environments, identity, governance, science, and more. The variety of games, from Jet’s Planet Pinball to Fidgits to the Rescue!, caters to different learning styles.
iCivics
Founded by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, iCivics transforms abstract civic concepts into engaging problems. The game-based approach helps children understand real-life issues and become thoughtful and active citizens.
One Globe Kids – Friends
This social studies game allows children to “meet” other kids worldwide through photo- and audio-based stories called “A Day in My Life.” Exploring places like Haiti, New York City, the Netherlands, or Indonesia, kids learn about geography, culture, and politics.
History Games
Civilisations AR
Civilisations AR is an engaging app that brings history to life through augmented reality. Exploring artifacts and hidden layers beneath masterpieces, users can discover ancient secrets and historical wonders.
History for Kids: All Civilizations Learning Games
This game offers a fun way for kids to discover the ancient world through games and adventures. Covering 14 different civilizations, it combines vibrant colors, high-quality images, and avatar creation to make history enjoyable.
Geography Games
National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids provides online quizzes, funny fill-ins, and action-adventure games to make learning about geography enjoyable. It’s an extension of the iconic magazine, bringing interactive content to children.
Carmen Sandiego
In collaboration with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Carmen Sandiego games use Google Earth to track down burglars globally. Players interview characters, gain clues, and test their geography knowledge while helping Carmen Sandiego in her pursuit of justice.
Ready to See the Impact Educational Video Games Can Have?
The incorporation of educational video games for kids transcends traditional learning methods. By gamifying education, these platforms not only strengthen academic skills but also foster a love for learning. As parents and educators seek a balance between screen time and educational content, these games emerge as powerful tools for shaping young minds.
In conclusion, the gamification of education, when done thoughtfully, can transform screen time into a valuable learning experience. By catering to different subjects and learning styles, these educational games for kids create an engaging and effective way for children to acquire knowledge. As we navigate the evolving landscape of education, these games stand as beacons of innovation, guiding the next generation toward a future enriched with curiosity and knowledge.
