Our Favorite Online Games That Are Fun and Educational Too (2024)

Kids are on screens a lot more these days, so why not make it educational? Every day, it’s getting easier to find apps and websites that offer great activities for language arts, math, science, art, and STEM. There are many options out there, so to help you get started, we’ve put together this list of the 40+ best online educational games for elementary kids as well as middle and high school students.

Elementary Online Educational Games

ABCMouse

Our Favorite Online Games That Are Fun and Educational Too (1)

Offering a full curriculum for children ages 2-8, this site includes fun and interactive games, songs, and puzzles for reading, math, science, and art.

Helps with: Reading, Math, Science, Art

Adventure Academy

Who’s reading for an adventure? This educational MMO takes kids age 8-13 on a knowledge quest through language arts, math, science, and social studies.

Helps with: Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies

Buzzmath

Looking for a way to improve outcomes in a way that kids will enjoy? This site takes K-12 students on a time-traveling adventure to meet some of the most influential mathematicians in history.

Helps with: Math

Camp Wonderopolis

Explore interactive STEM and literacy-building topics on this site that features a cool and captivating design (and quirky trivia)!

Helps with: Science, Reading

Carmen Sandiego

Embark on an international mission to find one of the most notorious super sleuths. Using Google Earth and Google Expeditions, the search for Carmen Sandiego has never been more intense!

Helps with: Social Studies

Creativity Express!

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This very cool site offers interactive visual arts education for students in grades 2-8 to promote creative thinking in the next generation. In addition to 16 animated lessons, you’ll also have access to the comprehensive Teacher Account Center.

Helps with: Art

Duck Duck Moose Reading

Based on Common Core State Standards, this online game teaches phonics including the letter sounds for all consonants, short vowels, and long vowels. Kids will also practice spelling consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words.

Helps with:Language Arts

FunBrain

Dive into a coral reef or be a star climber on this great site that features a wide assortment of games that can be filtered by grade level for kids preK-8.

Helps with: Science, Reading

Gamestar Mechanic

Do you have a gamer in your class? This site helps kids ages 7-14 learn how to design their very own video games through game-based quests and courses!

Helps with: Science, Technology

GoNoodle

Whether they’re jetpacking through the stars in Zapp Von Doubler’s Space Race or clearing weeds in the garden in Om Petalhead’s Flower Power, kids will enjoy this collection of fun games!

Helps with: Physical Education

Learning Games for Kids: Health

What are some nutritious snacks or three common allergies? Kids in grades K-5 can learn about a range of health topics from body parts to staying fit with these interactive games.

Helps with: Health Science

Little Alchemy 2

This deceptively simple game is actually a lot of fun. Kids (and teachers!) can experiment with combining different elements, such as fire or dirt, to create something entirely new!

Helps with: Science

Minecraft: Education Edition

Kids love the regular Minecraft video game, but this education-focused version takes learning to the next level. With lessons, STEM curriculum, and project-based challenges, this immersive digital environment promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Helps with: STEM

Moose Math

Moose Math engages kids in a mathematical adventure and teaches counting, addition, subtraction, sorting, geometry, and more. While playing 5 multi-level activities in the Moose Juice Store, Puck’s Pet Shop, and Lost & Found, kids can earn rewards to help build their own city and decorate buildings.

Helps with:Math

National Geographic Kids

Head out On the Trail With Captain John Smith, explore Ancient Greece with Zeus the Mighty, or just take a quiz about sharks on this robust site filled with great games and activities for young learners.

Helps with: History, Science

PBS Kids Games

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You’ll find everything from social studies to teamwork and feelings in this incredible collection of games that vary in degree of difficulty. The website is truly filled with some of the very best educational games!

Helps with: Science, Social Studies, History, Art

Prodigy Math

Looking for personalized math lessons for your students? Kids will take a Prodigy placement test that generates games tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. They’ll build confidence by solving math challenges to progress in the game!

Helps with: Math

RoomRecess

Access over 140 online educational games for kids in grades K-6 on this site which was developed by an elementary school teacher with a focus on reinforcing fundamental learning concepts in math, reading, spelling, language arts, typing, and problem-solving.

Helps with: Typing, Spelling, Language Arts, Reading, Math

Starfall

Starfall activities are research-based and align with Individual and Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics. There are engaging and interactive games for students in grades K-3.

Helps with: Language Arts, Math

Sumdog

Teachers love this great site that offers personalized math and spelling practice for kids ages 5-13 through adaptive learning and multi-player games. This is definitely one of the best online educational games out there!

Helps with: Math, Spelling

Tate Kids

How good are your airbrush skills? Which famous artist should design your bedroom? Are you a master of street art? Kids can explore these questions and more with the cool quizzes and games on this art-focused site from the Tate Gallery.

Helps with: Art

Turtle Diary

Introduce kids to new, exciting ways of learning with the help of fun online games, videos, experiments, puzzles, coloring sheets, and more! Turtle Diary activities pair with the appropriate grade level to enhance retention of material and increase success in the classroom.

Helps with:Language Arts, Math, Science

Tynker

The games and challenges on Tynker give kids ages 5 and up a fun and easy way to build coding skills. The site is also offering free access to premium coding courses during school closures!

Helps with: Technology

Vocabulary Spelling City

Dive into engaging learning activities and games, for kids in 1st through 6th grades, designed to promote vocabulary, spelling, phonics, and language arts.

Helps with: Spelling, Language Arts

Middle/High School Online Educational Games

Algebraic Reasoning Sweet Shop

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Who doesn’t like candy? Buy and sell sweet treats in this game that helps students grasp concepts related to price and purchasing.

Helps with: Math

Boat Coordinates

Use this fun boating game to learn and practice concepts related to grids and quadrants. Race along the X and Y axes to get to the finish line as fast as you can!

Helps with: Math

Cells Alive

This information website provides all sorts of interactive ways to learn about cells! Interactive models, puzzles, and more all help tell the story of this building block of life.

Helps with: Science

Design a Space Station

NASA is designing a new space station and needs your help! Learn fascinating information about space and what it’s like to live there as you answer questions to help build a new space station.

Helps with: Science

GimKit

Created by a high school student, this interactive review game is something kids can play on their own devices, earning in-game money for correct answers that they can use buy upgrades and powerups!

Helps with: All subjects

GeoGuesser

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This guessing game uses maps and photos from around the world to educate kids on world locations as well as historical landmarks and famous cities. User-made quizzes add to the guessing fun!

Helps With: Geography, Social Studies

High Stakes Heist

Use your knowledge of the order of operations to crack the safes and help hero Kit Foxtail return the townspeople’s’ money that was stolen by the evil Duke von Wolfington. You’ll have to think fast as you try to solve equations in the correct order before time runs out!

Helps with: Math

iCivics

Help kids learn the foundations of civics and government with this collection of highly interactive games including Court Quest, Newsfeed Defenders and Do I Have the Right?

Helps with: Social Studies

NASA Games for Grades 5-8

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With several games, activities, and educational options to choose from, the NASA Stem @ Home For Students website offers a wide array of entertaining and informative options for grade 5-8 students!

Helps with: STEM

PhysicsGames

This website offers dozens of different simple games to choose from that help educate kids on the mechanics of physics. Whether they are shooting pigs, knocking down walls, or trying to balance a building, they’ll learn and have fun at the same time.

Helps with: Science

PlayForward: Elm City Stories

Funded by NICHD/NIH and developed by the play2PREVENT Lab and Schell Games, PlayForward: Elm City Stories offers an engaging way to develop life skills to reduce risk among teens. Topics cover a range of behaviors including substance use, sexual health, academic dishonesty, and unsafe driving. Educators can request FREE access to the web-based game here.

Helps with: Health Science, Life Education

Red Remover

This addictive game will have both you and your student doing everything you can to try to remove the red blocks. Watch them “smile” as they fall and try to complete all the levels!

Helps with: Science

Science Brainteasers, Puzzles, and Riddles

Through a wide assortment of puzzles, riddles, brainteasers, and more, kids can learn about their own health and the health of the environment on this website from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Helps with: Health Science

Science Hangman

Use the clues to guess the scientific term before the cellular hangman disappears. Choose from literally hundreds of subject sets that include grade-specific vocab, state-level standardized tests, and more.

Helps with: Health Science

smokeSCREEN

As part of their #BeTheFirst Initiative, smokeScreen was Developed by the play2PREVENT Lab, 1stPlayable, Schell Games and funded by the NIH/FDA and the CVS Health Foundation. The game addresses the range of challenges that young teens face, with a dedicated focus on youth decision-making around smoking and vaping and strategies for both smoking prevention and cessation. Educators can request FREE access to the web-based game here.

Helps with: Life Education

Sortify: Angles

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Learning about angles can be tricky, but this game uses cue cards and sorting bins to help students learn to properly classify angles into different categories. Make sure they’re all correct and then submit the responses to earn the most points!

Helps with: Math

Trigonometry Minigolf

Trigonometry has never been more fun than in this game that uses correct answers to power your golf swing as you aim for a hole in one! Miss an answer? The game will let you know what you did wrong and give you another shot.

Helps with: Math

Quizlet

From flashcards to help students learn français, to games that make it easy to get a handle on history, this site offers activities in a wide range of topics.

Helps with: Language Arts, Science, Math, Social Science

Wrecks Factor

S.O.S.! Ships are sailing into your harbor and you need to help keep them from sinking! Solve the quadratic equations to keep the boats afloat and clear the board … if you take too long, boats start to sink and you lose a life.

Helps with: Math

Do you have any favorite online educational games? Share in the comments below! Also, want even more ways to promote learning at home? Be sure to check out our growing list of online learning resources!

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Our Favorite Online Games That Are Fun and Educational Too (8)

Our Favorite Online Games That Are Fun and Educational Too (2024)

FAQs

Our Favorite Online Games That Are Fun and Educational Too? ›

Elementary Online Educational Games
  • ABCMouse. Offering a full curriculum for children ages 2-8, this site includes fun and interactive games, songs, and puzzles for reading, math, science, and art. ...
  • Adventure Academy. ...
  • Buzzmath. ...
  • Camp Wonderopolis. ...
  • Carmen Sandiego. ...
  • Creativity Express! ...
  • Duck Duck Moose Reading. ...
  • FunBrain.

What are some fun but educational games? ›

These top 10 classroom games provide fun ways to engage your students in academic learning, without them even realizing it!
  • Charades. ...
  • Hangman. ...
  • Scatter-gories. ...
  • Bingo. ...
  • Puzzles. ...
  • Draw swords. ...
  • Hot potato. ...
  • Pictionary.
Mar 2, 2018

What's the most educational game? ›

15 Best Educational Video Games For Children
  1. 1 Big Brain Academy.
  2. 2 Civilization 6. ...
  3. 3 National Geographic Challenge. ...
  4. 4 Endless Ocean. ...
  5. 5 The Oregon Trail Series. ...
  6. 6 Scribblenauts Unlimited. ...
  7. 7 Democracy 3. ...
  8. 8 Wordscapes. ...
Nov 4, 2021

Why are online games educational? ›

Educational video games are important for individualized learning. Develops hand/eye coordination. Children can learn programming, coding, and CAD design using video game play. Games like Minecraft teach children basic survival skills, such as sourcing wood to build a home, and many other skills.

What is educational games for students? ›

Educational games are those designed to teach people about a specific subject or a specific skill. They are made predominantly for kids and students of all ages, and can be used both inside the classroom and out. Educational games are a subset of serious gaming.

What are the five educational games? ›

Check out these five active educational games for kids:
  • Sylla-balls. ...
  • Letter Sound/Sight Word Road. ...
  • Letter Sound Hopscotch. ...
  • Sight Word/Letter Stomp. ...
  • Numbers Bowling.
Apr 16, 2015

Why are educational games good? ›

Interaction and opportunities to make choices are among the virtues of the new generation of educational games, experts say. Games help us develop non-cognitive skills, which are as fundamental as cognitive skills in explaining how we learn and if we succeed, according to the panelists.

What video game is educational? ›

Both Minecraft and Portal are adaptable to some learning environments; for instance, Minecraft has been used for young children while Portal has been used by high school physics teachers. Portal 2 has also been used to develop cognitive skills in older undergraduate students, however.

What video games are good for education? ›

Many educational games have been released since the days of The Oregon Trail. Some of the most popular are: Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, Math Blaster!, Zoombinis, iCivics, DragonBox Algebra and History Maker VR. Most games are for pre-K to elementary school students.

Why online games activities are fun and interesting to students? ›

Enhances memory, brain's speed and concentration

Games that are immersive and require strategy and problem-solving skills to win require players to remember and take in a lot of information. Regularly playing these types of games can help improve young players' short and long-term memory.

Is online games good for students? ›

According to a study by the British National Literacy Trust, playing video games provides young people with a way to read, improves their self-confidence and reading skills, promotes their creativity and writing, supports positive communication with family and friends, increases empathy, and supports mental well-being.

How are games educational? ›

Instead, games that put authentic learning first focus on deeper concepts, exploration and experimentation, and developing a sense of accomplishment by building skills and applying them to real-world contexts by: Spending time on playing and figuring things out for themselves, rather than instruction or explanation.

What is online educational games? ›

1. A hybrid type of game genre that is played on the Internet through a Web browser, utilizes game formats, and incorporates some type of learning objectives, the goal of which is to promote student learning in a fun, engaging, and interactive way.

What are educational games called? ›

"Edutainment" games are those that are typically based on drilling fundamental lessons in a linear progression, with added entertainment value. "Educational video games" are ones that encourage creative thinking and problem solving.

What was the first educational video game? ›

Teaching kids about ecosystems and wildlife, Odell Lake was one of the first science-focused educational games on the market. Reader Rabbit (1986)Reader Rabbit is among the most influential and successful educational games of all time.

What makes a good educational game? ›

We need to make sure that the game is as intrinsically motivating as possible. The actual key activity in the game must be interesting and engaging. Motivation should be in tune with the requirements of good gameplay like good balancing, a well tuned rewards system, varied consequences, and quick user feedback.

Does Roblox have educational games? ›

An educational experience built on Roblox, the Math Obby is a small, fun, and unique obstacle course that tests math and parkour skills. Add, subtract, and multiply your way to victory! Laval Tech is an online educational platform for content creators and learners to build valuable skills.

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