The Most Engaging Games for the Classroom

Top Pick

One thing games are really good at is engagement. Unfortunately, the games kids want to play and the games teachers want them to play don't always align. These are the exception, balancing just-one-more-turn play with rock-solid learning, leaving students and teachers happy.

Cork The Volcano - Puzzlets Publisher: Digital Dream Labs LLC Fun elementary coding through hands-on puzzle tiles	Grades K-5 Type App Price Free, Paid Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
GoNoodle Visit Website: https://www.gonoodle.com/ Brief bursts of physical exercise add classroom fun, build brain power	Grades K-5 Type Website Price Free, Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
The Robot Factory by Tinybop Publisher: Tinybop Improve designs, collect favorites in robot creation sandbox	Grades K-8 Type App Price $3.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Fruity Fractions Publisher: Lighthouse Learning Stellar tool builds rock-solid foundational understanding	Grades 1-3 Type App Price 2.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 5
DragonBox Big Numbers Publisher: WeWantToKnow AS Carrot-and-stick arithmetic app makes students fluent in regrouping	Grades 1-4 Type App Price $7.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
The Land of Venn - Geometric Defense Publisher: iMagine Machine LLC Brilliant, wacky adventure game seamlessly integrates geometry	Grades 1-4 Type App Price $2.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 5
Prodigy Publisher: Smart Teacher Adaptive math practice wrapped in role-playing adventure	Grades 1-8 Type Game Price Free, Paid Platforms Linux, Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Slice Fractions: School Edition Publisher: Ululab Inc. Clever twist combines math instruction with engaging gameplay	Grades 2-5 Type App Price $5.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Crayon Physics Deluxe Publisher: Kloonigames Influential physics game is still a draw	Grades 2-12 Type Game Price $19.95 Platforms Linux, Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Minecraft Publisher: Mojang Spiraling sandbox of adventure and creation gets kids to dig deep	Grades 3-12 Type Game Price $26.95 for desktop, $19.99 for consoles (except Wii U at $29.99) Platforms Linux, Mac, Wii U, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Contraption Maker Publisher: Spotkin Solve problems, puzzles, brain teasers while creating wacky machines	Grades 3-8 Type Game Price Free, Paid Platforms Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Zoombinis Publisher: Technical Education Research Centers, Inc. Classic logic puzzler gets a beautiful new look	Grades 3-8 Type App Price $4.99 Platforms Android, iPad, Kindle Fire, Apps for Windows, Mac Apps Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
DragonBox Algebra 5+ Publisher: WeWantToKnow AS Mesmerizing step-by-step puzzler sets the foundation for algebra	Grades 4-8 Type App Price $4.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire, Windows Phone, Apps for Windows Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Twelve a Dozen Publisher: Bossa Studios Ltd. Engrossing math platformer puts problem-solving skills to the test	Grades 4-8 Type App Price $4.99 Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Elegy for a Dead World Publisher: Popcannibal Compelling sci-fi world imagined -- and written -- by its players	Grades 4-12 Type Game Price $14.99 Platforms Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Geoguessr Visit Website: https://geoguessr.com/ "Just one more turn" gameplay jazzes up geography	Grades 4-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Kahoot! Visit Website: https://getkahoot.com/ Game-like student-response tool can spark competitive fun	Grades 4-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating 3
SimCityEDU: Pollution Challenge! Publisher: GlassLab Classic city-building game tuned to teachers' needs	Grades 5-8 Type Game Price $19.99 individual; $49.99 to $649.99 license packs Platforms Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 3
The Yard Games Visit Website: https://theyardgames.org/ Short games simplify middle school science ideas	Grades 5-8 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Journey Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Gorgeous, moving adventure -- a jewel of social and emotional learning	Grades 5-12 Type Game Price $14.99 Platforms PS3, PS4 Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Never Alone (Kisima Innitchuna) Publisher: E-Line Media Illuminating native Alaskan folktale supports SEL skills	Grades 5-12 Type Game Price 14.99 Platforms PS4, Windows, Xbox One Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Divide By Sheep Publisher: tinyBuild Extremely addictive puzzle game has dark, slightly gory play	Grades 6-12 Type Game Price 2.99 Platforms iPhone, Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Publisher: 505 Games Unique cooperative adventure with lasting social and emotional impact	Grades 7-12 Type Game Price Platforms PS3, Xbox 360 Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Publisher: 2K Games Best entry in classic strategy series might not be best for classrooms	Grades 7-12 Type Game Price $59.99 Platforms Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
DEVICE 6 Publisher: Simogo Inventive, interactive short story puzzles, scares, and delights	Grades 8-12 Type App Price $3.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating 5
Gone Home Publisher: The Fullbright Company Compelling narrative game fosters empathy, self-reflection	Grades 9-12 Type Game Price $19.99 Platforms Linux, Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 5
Kerbal Space Program Publisher: Squad Design and launch a rocket into space in realistic astrophysics sim	Grades 9-12 Type Game Price Free to Try, Paid Platforms Linux, Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Papers, Please Publisher: 3909 Mature immigration game forces tough ethical choices	Grades 9-12 Type Game Price $9.99 Platforms Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4

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