TOP PICKS | 14 TOOLS
Best Business and Finance Games
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Dinorama
Fun, entrepreneurial sim encourages kids to make smart money moves
Bottom line: Dinorama is a safe and fun way for students to learn real-world financial concepts.
Grades: 2–5
Price: $1.99
Motion Math: Cupcake!
Irresistibly sweet bakery sim empowers kids to run a successful business
Bottom line: Motion Math: Cupcake! is an empowering, exciting way for kids to learn and practice real-world application related to math and economics.
Grades: 2–5
Price: $4.99
Motion Math: Pizza!
Serving up valuable economics lessons with an extra helping of fun
Bottom line: Fantastic math game gives kids a taste of what's needed to run a profitable business.
Grades: 2–5
Price: $3.99
People's Pie
Federal budget game's challenge delivers powerful message
Bottom line: Federal budgeting -- and its unique ethical and mathematical balancing act -- fits game-based fiddling and strategizing well, but expect a challenge.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free
Zoo Tycoon
Excellent park management game helps kids explore economics and zoology
Bottom line: A great way for budding zoologists to learn more about animals and the business of caring for them.
Grades: 5–12
Price: $19.99
Biz Kid$
You can bet on business and finance being interesting for teens
Bottom line: Biz Kid$ is a great introduction to financial literacy, with linked activities as well as frequently updated interactive video clips and a blog.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
iCivics
Exceptionally well-designed games, lesson plans demystify government
Bottom line: This excellent addition to a civics classroom simplifies complex topics.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Next Gen Personal Finance
Straightforward finance site brimming with resources for teachers
Bottom line: This is a useful, high-quality, well-organized resource for teachers putting together short personal finance lessons or entire curricula.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
SimCity
Exciting city simulator great for online play
Bottom line: SimCity does a great job teaching kids about cities by putting them in control of designing them, but this game needs a constant Internet connection.
Grades: 6–12
Price: $19.99
Build-a-lot
Financial management made fun via real estate-themed building sim
Bottom line: Fiscal responsibility, city planning, and budget management are taught in a casual and engaging way.
Grades: 7–12
Price: 19.99
Spent
Provocative, first-person look at poverty builds empathy
Bottom line: It'll need some scaffolding, but for students ready for the subject matter it's a great -- if sobering -- way to illustrate to students the daily realities and struggles of poverty in America.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Layoff
Bejeweled-style gameplay adapted to build empathy, critique downsizing
Bottom line: An easy, instantly engaging, and fascinating starting point for deep conversations about the economy, business, government, and workers.
Grades: 8–12
Price: Free
Offworld Trading Company
Rare, combat-free strategy game focused on trade, finance
Bottom line: Great intro to basic economics principles with baked-in gameplay and real-world applications.
Grades: 8–12
Price: $39.99
Personal Finance Lab
Authentic stock market simulation's foray into curriculum falls short
Bottom line: Uneven financial curriculum emphasizes stock trading while other skills lag behind.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Paid Contact developer for pricing.