Do your kids enjoy playing games? Did you know there are many educational games that actually make students smarter? 

That’s right: kids can have fun playing games with friends or siblings and keep learning at the same time! Whether they’re interested in programming, geography, science, language or math, educational games provide students a means for learning new things, practice informational skills and find new passions. 

If you’re looking for ways to engage your kids in learning activities that teach them valuable expertise in a fun and entertaining way, read on. We’ll guide you toward five different kinds of educational games that actually make students smarter – all while having the time of their lives!

The Benefits of Playing Games

Games have benefited mankind throughout civilization. That’s why, on December 20 every year, we celebrate International Games Day as an outlet for:

• Learning
• Having Fun
• Beating Stress
• Sharpening Problem-Solving Skills
• Learning Strategy, Planning, Coordination & Communication
• Helping Us Understand Different Cultures
• Strengthening Bonds with Family & Friends

We’ll bet you didn’t realize educational games had so many benefits, did you? They really do! As you can see, playing games serves everyone involved, from students to parents and families. In fact, just about everyone enjoys games in one form or another because they hold multi-generational appeal, unlike any other avenue of learning. We should play games more often!

Whether your children prefer playing online, with actual physical pieces, on a cell phone or on a website with others of similar interests, games can be fun, entertaining and educational. The fact that they make students smarter is just an added benefit that makes them hard to turn down.

5 Kinds of Educational Games

Depending on students’ preferred mode of learning, parents should encourage young people to play educational games in one of five different forms. For some kids who enjoy a mixed learning experience, a combination of game types may prove the best way to hold their interest. Others may prefer a more visual, tactile or kinesthetic experience.

To entice your children toward the world of games, first consider what they like to do with their free time. Then consider whether they prefer to play alone or with others. Finally, choose educational games from the following guide that best suits your students’ learning styles.

#1: Video Games

Many parents don’t realize it, but video games can be both fun and educational. To prove this point, an ongoing study in the medical journal JAMA Network Open indicates that kids who play video games daily show improved cognitive skills, in comparison with kids who don’t play at all. 

Here’s just a small sample of some popular educational games you could indulge your kids in via video.

Minecraft  

Players explore a virtual 3D world, where they learn and use valuable skills that help them survive.

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Creativity
• Problem-solving
• Collaboration
• Reading
• Math

The Oregon Trail 

One of the best educational games regarding strategy in which players lead a wagon train journeying down the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri, to Willamette Valley, Oregon, in 1848.

Skills It Teaches Kids: 

• Historical Events
• Critical Thinking
• Problem-Solving Skills 

Wordscapes

Players use swiping motions to create words from random letters used to fill a crossword puzzle. 

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Vocabulary

The Little Big Planet Series

Players jump from platform to platform, avoiding obstacles to make it to the next level. They can also create and build their own levels, characters and contraptions in this fun, educational game.

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Logic
• Spatial Orientation Skills
• Design
• Problem Solving

Where on Earth Is Carmen San Diego? 

Using a magnifying glass, students interview witnesses in different cities. Then, they gather clues about a mystery, learning about geography and history along the way. A truly fun way to make students smarter.

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Geography
• Locations of historic events 
• Other geographical facts

#2: Online Games

Kids who enjoy playing virtually with friends love online educational games! Offering students a chance to connect through mutually enjoyable activities, online games make it easy for kids to connect with family or friends across the globe. 

These free online games don’t require subscriptions, payment or downloads. Just click the link and your youngsters can immediately start playing these games that help make students smarter! 

Pictionary 

Played through the site Skribbl.io, groups of up to 12 kids create a private room. Then, they take turns drawing a word with their mouse or guessing in chat what their friends are drawing. The site times each round and offers words to draw and guess. This game focuses on creativity and logic.

Battleship

The object of this game is to try and sink all of the other player’s ships – before they sink yours. Go to “opponent” and “friend” on this website, and your child will receive a custom link they can send to a friend to start the game. This is one of many educational games that emphasize strategy, planning and logic.

Yahtzee

Played at Buddyboardgames.com, this is a dice game based on poker. The site displays a scorecard and five dice. The object of the game is to virtually roll certain combinations of numbers, and earn points to try and win the game. This game helps make students smarter by building math skills.

The Vote’s Out

In groups of three to twelve players, students answer questions with witty responses. Afterward, players vote on their favorite answers. The player with the most votes at the end wins. This game emphasizes writing, vocabulary and creativity.

Boggle

Played on Wordshake, students try to score points by finding words in random letters on a 4×4 grid. Words can go up, down, backward, forward or diagonally. Timed in three-minute segments, the player with the most points at the end of the time wins. Educational games like this one help kids with reading, vocabulary and spatial reasoning.

Connect 4

Played at Papergames.io, this classic game can be played individually with a friend or tournament style in a group. Using a grid, students try to become the first person to form a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line with four tokens. Much like tic-tac-toe, this educational game can become quite competitive, with players using logic, strategy, spatial orientation and problem-solving to try and win.

#3: Card Games

If you’re looking for a cheap, compact and easy-to-transport educational games option, consider card games for your students. Kids can learn from them at home, on the road or just about anywhere. Even better, they’re easily stored in small spaces.

We recommend the following fun card games that can actually make students smarter. 

Go Fish

Played in groups of three to six, this stress-free card game provides fun and learning for all! Using a standard deck of 52 cards, the goal is to collect complete sets of four cards with matching numbers. Players exchange cards with other students or fish for them from the deck. The player who collects the most sets of matching cards wins.

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Taking Turns
• Matching
• Critical Thinking
• Cooperation
• Number Recognition

Old Maid

Everyone loves this traditional, classical game of matching, which can be played with a set of Old Maid cards or a simple deck of playing cards. Similar to Go Fish, groups of two or more students pair up sets of two matching cards. Players draw cards from the deck and continue the matching process until everyone is out of cards. Whoever has the most pairs wins – as long as they don’t have the old maid. One of the most fun and educational games available! 

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Taking Turns
• Matching
• Strategy
• Critical Thinking

Sleeping Queens

The object of this game is to wake up sleeping queens who have fallen under a spell. Students use different card combinations to wake up queens. The one who wakes up the most queens wins. 

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Strategy
• Counting
• Basic Math

Wordical

Using consonant cards and vowel dice, students create words from letters. The object is to create the longest words with the hardest letters. Kids have fun trying to outdo their peers in this educational game of spelling and vocabulary.

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Reading
• Spelling
• Vocabulary
• Critical Thinking
• Basic Math

Virulence

One of the newest educational games available in card form, Virulence teaches students about viruses. Kids act as viruses and compete to infect a host cell by placing bids using cards. They score points by replicating themselves and building up their bidding hand. The player with the most points wins. This game of Biology definitely makes students smarter!

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Science
• Biology
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Logic and Deduction

Monopoly Deal

This is a great option for parents who don’t want to deal with small game parts. Though very different from the classic board series, kids enjoy this educational game where they work to acquire same-color card sets containing properties. They must complete and acquire three full sets of the property before their peers do in order to win.  

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Strategy
• Math
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Money Skills

#4: Board Games

Board games provide a great way to supplement your children’s education. Educational games like these make learning fun. They reinforce what kids learn in school and give them an opportunity to learn hands-on. Additionally, they can be played by kids of all ages and interests.

Try your hand at some of the following educational board games with your kids.

Monopoly Junior

A simplified, child-friendly version of Monopoly, this board game teaches kids how to handle money. They buy interesting properties like pet stores, candy stores and video game arcades, and learn the principles of entrepreneurship and banking. 

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Math
• Money Management
• Cooperation
• Strategy
• Memory Skills
• Sportsmanship

Robot Turtles

A fun and simple board game that teaches students the concept of coding. Youngsters learn to program a turtle and guide it across the game board. The goal of the game is to get your robot turtle to its matching colored jewel. 

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• STEM
• Coding
• Cause & Effect
• Strategy
• Sportsmanship

Camp

One of several awesome educational games that focuses on the great outdoors. Students answer questions and learn fun facts about nature as they move their animal characters along the board and venture through a forest. The first player to circle the board and arrive back at the campfire wins. A fun game to make students smarter about science and nature.

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Science
• Geography
• STEM
• Critical Thinking
• Animal Facts & Recognition

Math Rush

A fantastic academic game for students who struggle with math facts. In Math Rush, students must work as a team to crunch numbers before time runs out. Balancing strategy, speed and sequencing skills, kids collaborate to solve problems and beat the clock. Educational games like these exercise minds and help kids master skills.

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Basic Math
• Critical Thinking
• STEM
• Cooperation
• Sequencing

 Maestro Mastery

An educational game for music lovers of all ages. Students learn about their favorite composers and famous pieces. Regardless of the type of music kids prefer, this game is sure to entertain and educate. A side benefit: it helps boost concentration at home and school.

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Music History
• Composers
• Music Appreciation
• Memory
• Critical Thinking

Story Cubes

A fun and creative way to get your kids to tell stories! Students roll a set of nine picture dice containing items, characters, places and animals. Then, they make up a story using what they roll. Promotes imagination and creativity. Make students smarter with educational games of invention and narrative.

Skills It Teaches Kids:

• Reading
• Writing
• Story Telling
• Creative Thinking
• Language Arts

#5: Mobile Games

The best thing about mobile games is that they can be played anywhere, at home or on the go. With today’s children exposed to gaming from a very young age, these types of educational games entice kids, draw their attention and teach them educational principles in the most fun and engaging ways.

If your children always have a cell phone or tablet in hand and you’d like to encourage learning, check out a few of these top mobile games available in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Khan Academy Kids

A free educational mobile game, Khan Academy Kids is stocked with thousands of books, activities and videos. Kids between the ages of two and eight use this app to get creative, open up and express themselves in new and fun ways. Cute little animals guide students through activities like drawing, coloring, storytelling and basic math exercises. Guaranteed to increase creativity and make students smarter!

ABC Kids

Young toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners learn the alphabet through visualization here. Through matching educational games, they learn to identify both uppercase and lowercase letters, followed by words and spellings. This is a great way for parents to increase youngsters’ understanding of language and its use.  

Star Walk Kids

Teach your children about the basics of astronomy. Using high-quality animations and audio, students explore the universe and learn about space and the solar systems. One of the best educational games with science and astronomy all wrapped up in one!

Skillz

This game improves memory; increases reflex, accuracy and speed, and teaches color coordination. Working from level to level, students compete against peers to find matching, hidden objects as fast as they can. As they graduate each level, kids receive stars that they can convert into “brains” that help them continue to progress. This game of strategy definitely makes students smarter!

Lumosity

Science-based games filled with tons of challenges! This app contains 50+ activities that exercise memory, speed, flexibility, attention and problem-solving skills. The game adapts to students’ skills and progress, and adjusts the difficulty accordingly. Additionally, developers release new features regularly, so kids who need a lot of variety stay engaged while building brain power. A great app for training the mind through interactive, educational games.

Escape Room: Mystery World

An innovative escape game that kids love! Locked in a room, students must use their brains to think, observe, guess, interfere and explore – until they find a way out. The level of difficulty rises as youngsters train their minds and logic skills to traverse more than 300 levels and find the answers they need. This is one of those educational games it might be hard to pry kids away from!

Educational Games: Making Champions of Children

Learning doesn’t have to be formal, stuffy or boring. Educational games provide an opportunity for kids to apply their imagination, creativity and passions in new ways that help them get excited about learning. And you can play with them!

We hope you’ll use this guide to lead your children toward active, productive learning that sticks with them for years to come. You’ll help make them champions of their own destinies – and they’ll love you all the more for your efforts!