Best Educational Video Games (2024 Update)

Aside from being insanely fun, educational video games are great for studying, refining your knowledge and providing a new landscape that caters for visual learners.

Many people don’t know this, but video games can help improve your focus and memory whilst educating students on history, science and more. In fact, there’s a real-life soccer manager who has never received a real education but manages a professional football team; learning his trade through Football Manager, the game!

So, you may be surprised at how much better you retain information!

If you’re struggling at school, there are a bunch of games that can help you better understand the subject that is troubling you. And, today, we’re rounding up 10 of them!

Top 10 Best Video Games For Learning

Many students today use academic writing help to free up time for video games. But not all of them understand that with the right choice of video games, they can actually serve as a stimulant for learning. Today, we will analyze the best video games that are not only exciting but also have solid educational value.

Here are the top 10 best educational video games to play next:

Kerbal Space Program
Portal 2
Civilization VI
Rome: Total War
Minecraft
Little Big Planet 3
Assassin’s Creed Series
Subnautica
Roblox
Cities: Skylines

Keep on scrolling to find out more about each of these classic titles and how they serve the purpose of both education and a little time-killing! 👇
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Kerbal Space Program 2

Learn Physics, Engineering & Spaceflight

Release Date: 24th February 2023
Game Developer: Intercept Games
Platforms: Windows PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Series X

First on our list of top educational games is Kerbal Space Program. It is a space flight simulator developed by Squad with the premise of building a rocket and flying it out into space. Now, while that may sound a little linear, believe me, Kerbal Space Program is not as easy as I have just made it sound.

The player has to design the rocket, considering many factors such as weight, aerodynamics, fuel, and more. Overload on one and suffer with another. Miss a vital component and see your rocket tumble straight back down to earth.

This game is exciting and challenging, and at the same time, it teaches players a lot about physics and spaceflight. Kerbal Space Program is an excellent choice for those who are interested in physics and want to learn more about the galaxy beyond.

Time to channel your inner Elon Musk!

Portal 2

Learn Physics, Problem-Solving & Spatial Reasoning

Release Date: 18th April 2011
Game Developer: Valve Corporation
Platforms: Windows PC, Mac, Linux, PS3, Switch & Xbox 360

Another great game for those who want to develop their minds while having fun is Portal 2. Following its globally popular predecessor, Portal 2 is a puzzle game developed by Valve Corporation. The player has to solve various puzzles by using the “portal gun,” which creates a portal connecting two different places.

While playing Portal, players learn a lot about physics, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving. This game is an excellent choice for those who want to improve their thinking and problem-solving skills.

The puzzles in the games from the Portal series are built on an understanding of the laws of physics (both basic gravity and advanced optics) and the advanced spatial thinking of the player. A complete passage of games from the Portal series will improve your logical thinking, ability to solve spatial puzzles, and analytical skills.

Civilization VI

Learn History, Geography & Politics

Release Date: 21st October 2016
Game Developer: Firaxis Games & Aspyr
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, Android, PS4 & Xbox

If you’re interested in history, strategy, and world-building, then Civilization VI is the game for you. It is a turn-based strategy game developed by Sid Meier which requires for you to lead a civilization from the Stone Age to the Space Age.

While playing Civilization, players learn a lot about history, geography, and politics. They also learn about different cultures and religions. This game is an excellent choice for those who want to learn more about the world and its history whilst conquering through a variety of means too.

The game Civilization requires careful planning, thoughtful consideration of the consequences of each step, and imagination. Players have to manage the development of their civilization, taking into account a multitude of factors. The game is a perfect way to learn about history, geography, different cultures, and religions.

Rome: Total War

Learn History & Strategy

Release Date: 22nd October 2004
Game Developer: Creative Assembly & Feral Interactive
Platforms: PC, Android & iOS

If you’re interested in strategy and tactics, then Rome: Total War is the game for you. Both Rome: Total War and all other games within the Total War series are real-time strategy games series developed by Creative Assembly. Requiring a lot of tactical and strategic thinking, players have to plan their army’s movements and attacks, taking into account a multitude of factors. The game is a perfect way to learn about strategy, tactics, and history.

Each game in the Total War series is a significant opportunity to immerse yourself in the historical period chosen by the developers and get a clear cut of the era with an accurate recreation of the historical context. You can choose any faction that existed within that period and lead it to victory, learning more and more about the military tactics of the time, historical figures, significant cities, the nuances of diplomacy, and trade in the process. Any game in the Total War series is a full-fledged interactive history book with minor deviations for the sake of excitement.

As a great game for educating you for a historical essay, the Total War series is full of inspiration and facts. Of course, you will not be able to specify Total War as a trusted source, but with the help of the game, you can easily and quickly understand in which direction to start the search.

Minecraft

Learn Architecture, Resource Management & Planning

Release Date: 18th November 2011
Game Developer: Mojang Studios, Xbox, Telltale Games & More
Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox, iOS & Android

Minecraft is a sandbox video game that allows players to build and explore. From an educational standpoint, it is the perfect game for creative people who enjoy building things. Players can learn a lot about architecture, design, and engineering while playing Minecraft which makes Minecraft an excellent choice for anyone studying architecture, design, engineering or resource management.

In Minecraft, players can build anything they can imagine. Behind the cartoonish visual style lies complex mechanics with virtually limitless design possibilities. It’s a creative’s dream.

With frequent awards for the best Minecraft home, while you cannot build these types of homes in real life, there are a bunch of instances where mechanisms that players were able to recreate in Minecraft using only an understanding of mechanics and physics have played true in reality.

Little Big Planet 3

Learn Problem-Solving & Lateral Thinking

Release Date: 18th November 2014
Game Developer: Sumo Digital
Platforms: PS4 & PS5

Little Big Planet 3 is a puzzle platformer video game. You play as a little character named Sackboy, who has to complete levels by collecting items such as keys and treasure. These items are placed in cleverly designed levels that require you to think logically and use your brain to solve the many puzzles presented to you.

You can create a whole level of your own, complete with custom objects.

Players solve puzzles by exploring and interacting with the environment in Little Big Planet 3, which gives you a first-person view of your surroundings. The game requires players to have good spatial awareness while also being able to reason logically since they may need to build or fix objects to solve a puzzle.

If you’re looking for an immersive game that will switch your logical thinking brain back online, the entire Little Big Panet series is absolutely perfect.

Assassin’s Creed Series

Learn History & World Culture

Game Developer: Ubisoft
Platforms: Windows PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Series X

While Assassin’s Creed games as standalone titles are not strictly educational, when you start to play through the entire series, you will pick up a large amount of knowledge on various historical periods and cultures.

Assassin’s Creed is a popular video game series that has been around for many years. Players take on the role of an assassin who must complete various tasks, such as assassinating key targets and completing missions.

With each game set throughout various historical periods that cover a variety of cultures, customs, and architecture, Assassin’s Creed titles are absolutely filled with education. Explore the different cities of the world and learn about the different cultures that exist within them while also becoming a quick study on various historical religions as you work your way to restore peace.

Subnautica

Learn Oceanography & Survival

Release Date: 16th December 2014
Game Developer: Unknown World’s Entertainment
Platforms: Windows PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, PS5 & Xbox

Subnautica is a survival game that simulates the experience of being stranded on an alien planet. The goal is to survive and escape the planet. Players collect resources, build a home and explore the underwater world while they try to find a way back home.

The game also features beautiful graphics, even though it’s set in an underwater environment. Many creatures look like real-life animals, particularly sea lions, sharks, and dolphins. Others have unique designs suitable for the game’s futuristic setting, such as jellyfish with built-in headlights and mechanical fish.

Subnautica is a famous underwater exploration and construction game. Players must survive on an alien planet by collecting resources and building shelters. The game is a great way to learn about oceanography, as it features a variety of real-life ocean creatures and plants. Players can also learn about survival skills, such as building a fire and finding food and water.

Roblox

Best Education Game For Computer Science & Development

Release Date: 1st September 2006
Game Developer: Roblox Corporation
Platforms: Windows PC, Mac, iOS, Android & Xbox

The multi-award winning Roblox is the epitome of educational video games. With thousands of stories featuring young children creating full-stack developments with Roblox, I cannot think of any better educational video game for our future workforce.

Designed for investigation, experimentation and inspiration, Roblox is not just a video game but a dedicated team of professionals that are on a mission to revolutionise the classroom. You can chat, play, create, develop, work as part of a team or even create your own game within the game itself.

With so many custom games to explore and plenty of opportunity to flex your creative brains, Roblox is a game that will live on, just like Minecraft, for a very very long time.

Honestly, it’s that good I can see it featured throughout classrooms soon.

Cities: Skylines

Learn Strategy, Finance & City Management

Release Date: 21st October 2016
Game Developer: Colossal Order
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, Android, PS4, PS5 & Xbox

For the future premier of Australia or those hoping to become a member of parliament, a city management game such as Cities: Skylines is superb for educating students on all aspects of a successful urban environment. Build new buildings, make sure your community has good plumbing, raise your city’s wealth and navigate through natural disasters in what is possibly the most comprehensive city-simulation game around.

With a variety of challenges or a blank canvas to choose from, Cities: Skylines is absolutely jam-packed with lessons that can be learned. While games like Tropico may be similar to Cities: Skylines with regards to population management, Cities: Skylines takes the crown for its depth of variety.

If you see yourself with a future career in city planning, go with Cities: Skylines

The Final Word

So there you have our roundup of the best video games for education. From out-and-out educational video games to games that were not supposed to be educational but turned out to be some of the most intuitive experiences around, there’s plenty to choose from.

No matter whether you are a college student or still in pre-school, stepping away from games such as Fortnite (which actually does have a creative mode) and stepping into games that flex your intelligent muscles, video games provide much more than just an entertaining experience.

Now, all we have to do is convince the older generation that all this time we have invested in gaming has not gone to waste. Yeah… Good luck with that!

Do you know of any other educational video games?

Drop a comment below with your recommendations for us to play, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible! Once you’re done, don’t forget to check out some of my other roundups, game reviews and technology deep dives:

Content Disclaimer: This handpicked shortlist of the best educational video games has been independently written. GamePro has not been commissioned by any game developers featured on this list, nor have any royalties been exchanged for this article. This includes financial reimbursement, free advertising or free gifts.

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