(Some of) The Best Educational Games We’ve Played
In our years of dedicated gameschooling we’ve played a lot of games. A lot. While we enjoy the vast majority of games we play, there are some that are closest to our hearts; the ones we come back to time and time again. This list represents some of our favorite games, and the best educational games, we have ever played. From preschool to adulthood, we’ve got you covered.
As always, please don’t take the grade-level designations as set in stone. Almost all of these games can be played outside of their suggested age range, and age ranges/grades are mostly arbitrary anyhow.
This post has affiliate links, they cost you nothing to use but if you make a purchase I earn a small commission that helps with the upkeep of the website and associated groups. Thank you!
Educational Games for Preschool
Shopping List (Orchard Toys)
Skills learned: Matching, memory, patience
Yeti in My Spaghetti (PlayMonster)
Using Yeti in My Spaghetti to Teach STEM
Skills learned: Physics, prediction, coping with anxiety
Happy Bunny (Blue Orange Games)
Skills learned: Colors, counting to 4, cooperative and competitive play, game mechanics
Enchanted Forest (Ravensburger)
How to adapt Enchanted Forest for younger ages & special needs
Skills learned: Story telling, memory, counting, how to move on a game board
Tiny Polka Dot (Math for Love)
Skills learned: Math, counting, matching, critical thinking, observation
Educational Games for Elementary School
Sum Swamp (Learning Resources)
Read my review of Sum Swamp Math Game
Skills learned: Counting, beginning addition & subtraction
MÖBI Math Tiles (MÖBI)
Read my review of MÖBI Math Tiles
Skills learned: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, solo or group play
Cardline / Timeline (Asmodee)
Skills learned: History, ancient history, prehistory, timelines
Explore the World (Outset Media)
Read my review of Explore the World
Skills learned: World cultures, flags of the world, world monuments, history
Niya (Blue Orange Games)
Skills learned: Strategy, complicated matching, predictingh
Cat Crimes (Thinkfun)
Skills learned: Observation, critical thinking, logic, reading comprehension
Educational Games for Middle School
Merge Cube Games (Merge)
Skills learned: Pretty much everything
Ticket to Ride (Days of Wonder)
Read my review of Ticket to Ride
Skills learned: Spatial reasoning, strategy, geography, probability
Evolution The Beginning (North Star Games)
Read my review of Evolution the Beginning
Skills learned: Adaptation, evolution, ecosystems, strategy, thinking skills
See Evolution the Beginning on Amazon
Lost Cities Card Game (Thames & Kosmos)
Read my review of Lost Cities the Card Game
Skills learned: Critical thinking, observation, probability
See Lost Cities the Card Game on Amazon
Prime Climb (Math for Love)
Skills learned: Multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, strategy
Chemistry Fluxx (Looney Labs)
Skills learned: Chemistry, speed play
Educational Games for High School & Adults
Ticket to Ride (Days of Wonder)
Read my review of & gameschooling tips for Ticket to Ride
Skills learned: Spatial reasoning, strategy, geography, probability
The Resistance (Indie Boards & Cards)
Skills learned: Deception, cooperative play, critical thinking, observation
Sheriff of Nottingham (Arcane Wonders)
Skills learned: Reasoning, spotting deception, poker face (a very helpful skill in adulthood!)
See Sheriff of Nottingham on Amazon
Pandemic (Z-Man Games)
Skills learned: Teamwork, debate, geography
Cytosis (Genius Games)
Skills learned: biology, STEM
Dungeons & Dragons (Wizards RPG Team)
Skills learned: creative writing, teamwork, decision making, math
See the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set on Amazon
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Meg Grooms is a decades-long secular homeschooling mother of 6 children, ranging in age from preschool to married with kids of their own. Always a vagabond at heart, Meg and her family have embraced a slow travel lifestyle, currently calling Southern California home. Your guess is as good as hers as to where they’ll end up next.
Meg blogs about secular homeschooling and gameschooling at Homeschool Gameschool.