TOP PICKS | 27 TOOLS
Best Science Games for Students
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Ecology, Earth, and Space Science
MarcoPolo Ocean
Young explorers discover oceans through puzzles and free play
Bottom line: This fun app helps kids gain an appreciation for the waters that cover much of the Earth's surface.
Grades: Pre-K–K
Price: $2.99
Space by Tinybop
Zoom into our solar system, solve mysteries with open-ended play
Bottom line: Learn about the sun, moon, and planets through interactive open-ended play.
Grades: 1–8
Price: $2.99
Habitactics
Keep your ecosystem from crashing in this addictive puzzle game
Bottom line: Habitactics employs game-based learning to help students discover relationships in ecosystems.
Grades: 6–12
Price: $7.99 Users can also get Habitactics as part of a $4.99 per month subscription to all of Touchpress's games.
Tyto Ecology
Well-developed biome sim provides cheap, endless learning
Bottom line: This affordable ecosystem balancing game teaches life science skills while keeping students engaged.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Paid $6.99 for base game (3 biomes); $3.99 for each biome expansion pack.
Stop Disasters!
Slick sim explores global natural disasters
Bottom line: Few other browser-based sims better illustrate the potential of gaming for learning about serious issues in our world.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Fate of the World: Tipping Point
Complex global-influence game in which players’ choices rule the world
Bottom line: Complex multi-issue game succeeds in teaching world politics and global development while building perspective and decision-making skills.
Grades: 10–12
Price: $18.99
Biology and Botany
Crazy Plant Shop
Shop sim makes Punnett squares playful
Bottom line: Key science skills and competencies serve not as add-ons to the game but core mechanics, allowing genetics learning to occur naturally through play.
Grades: 4–10
Price: 5.99 per account
Cell Strike
Fight infections on compelling biology-based missions
Bottom line: A fun and efficient way for students to learn how components of the immune system work, with a bonus lesson in strategy.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free to try, Paid Free to download; $7.99 unlocks the full game. Access all TouchPress games for $4.99 per month.
Who Wants to Live a Million Years?
Fast, focused natural selection game encourages experimentation
Bottom line: Gives students a thoroughly interesting and interactive introduction to natural selection, paving the way for deeper study.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free
Cell and Cell Structure
Visually stunning tool great for supplementing lessons about cells
Bottom line: Cell and Cell Structure is an interactive and engaging reference tool that takes kids on a journey to learn about cells.
Grades: 6–12
Price: $2.99 Discounts and give-aways are frequently offered on the developer's blog.
Cell Command
Immersive biology game keeps students interested during learning
Bottom line: Students take away a broad knowledge of cell anatomy and function.
Grades: 6–12
Price: $9.99, $89.70/classroom
Re-Mission 2
Six arcade-style games tackle tough subject of cancer
Bottom line: Hours of engaging gameplay will grab even non-gamers and, with some guided reflection, can spur serious learning about the human body.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Niche - a genetics survival game
Immersive genetics sim puts evolution in students' hands
Bottom line: This hands-on genetics game allows students to experiment, explore traits, and come away with a sophisticated understanding of the subject.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Paid $17.99
Solve the Outbreak
Become a disease detective -- read clues, analyze data, save lives
Bottom line: Solve the Outbreak is a free, engaging resource that teaches kids about disease control and prevention.
Grades: 8–12
Price: Free
Physics and Chemistry
Thinkrolls
Fun physics platformer teaches, engages young elementary students
Bottom line: Highly engaging game packs in physics learning and puzzling fun.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Price: $2.99
Crazy Gears
Highly applicable STEM-themed free play; easy appeal for wide audience
Bottom line: A clear, simple, and fun introduction to science and engineering topics that may otherwise feel unapproachable for some kids.
Grades: K–3
Price: $2.99
Simple Machines by Tinybop
Excellent elementary NGSS engineering practices embedded in fun games
Bottom line: Fun gameplay lets kids explore important physics concepts in a solid standards-aligned context.
Grades: K–5
Price: 2.99
Bobo Explores Light
Cute robot guides kids through concepts in excellent science app
Bottom line: New ways to play with light inspire kids to learn more from this hands-on science app.
Grades: 2–6
Price: $4.99
Inventioneers Full Version
Budding engineers create design solutions with fun physics puzzler
Bottom line: A fun, engaging way to boost critical-thinking and problem-solving skills while learning about important science and engineering practices.
Grades: 2–8
Price: $2.99 Price varies for Android version.
Sound Rebound
Make musical contraptions with playful sound and physics sandbox
Bottom line: This engaging and open-ended sandbox app has limited functionality but will engross students for extended periods.
Grades: 4–8
Price: Free
World of Goo
Fun puzzler about building structures with unique materials
Bottom line: This game offers a dependable hook for getting kids interested in geometry and the elements of building structures.
Grades: 4–12
Price: 19.99
Motion Force
Thrilling projectile puzzle game features solid physics principles
Bottom line: This fun, gentle introduction to projectile motion will stick with students.
Grades: 5–10
Price: $5.99 Each student will need an individual account in order to preserve save states and track student progress.
Portal 2 Puzzle Maker
Mind-bending level editor for beloved physics game
Bottom line: For STEAM educators with the right tech and know-how, it'd be puzzling not to use this tool.
Grades: 7–12
Price: $19.99 Puzzle Maker is included with purchase of Portal 2.
Garry's Mod
Complex physics sandbox is daunting but rich
Bottom line: This physics sandbox ramps up the complexity but not the usability, leaving it up to the right teachers and students to unlock its benefits.
Grades: 8–12
Price: $9.99
Chairs! Organic Chemistry Game
Learn chemistry chair conformations through a tactile puzzle game
Bottom line: This fun puzzle game helps students draw chair conformations; teachers will need to add context.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Paid $0.99
Collisions: Play Chemistry
Game-based challenges build crucial chemistry concepts
Bottom line: Learn about atoms, ions, and bonding through challenge-based gameplay.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free to try, Paid The Atoms module is free to play, and there is a 30-day free classroom trial for all modules. All-access accounts cost $135 per year for one class, $395 per year for multiple classes, and $1,150 per year for schools.
Kerbal Space Program
Design and launch a rocket into space in realistic astrophysics sim
Bottom line: This accurate rocket sim encourages trial-and-error learning and makes for great (and often explosive) physics and engineering experiments.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free to try, Paid $39.99, free demo
