Steam has a world of opportunity in terms of games, with a wide variety of genres available at the consumer’s fingertips. Educational games are a genre that doesn’t get much love or attention.
Learning doesn’t have to be boring, though! Many educational video games combine passive learning with entertainment. From learning about historical events to simple problem-solving, video games now have a lot to offer in terms of educating consumers while simultaneously being fun. These games prove that learning doesn’t have to be confined to textbooks or school and can be done from the comfort of a gaming chair.
10 Thrive
Who said science had to be dull and complicated? In Thrive, players get to take control of an organism on an alien planet. They aim to adapt to new environments through evolutions to survive and thrive.
Taking inspiration from Spore, players will get to control a singular microbe and find the resources it needs to stay alive and reproduce. In the editor, players can see how well their species survive and modify them, changing their membranes and visual appearances. Players learn about biology using actual compounds and organelles inspired by real science.
9 It’s Spring Again
It’s Spring Again is a short and sweet game, supposedly aimed at children ages two and above. Its goal is to educate players about how the seasons change, using an adorable art style and narration.
It’s Spring Again is a wholesome, valuable game for anyone that wants to brush up on their natural science, teaching players how seasons affect Earth and its inhabitants.
8 Bee Simulator
Learn about small but integral parts of an ecosystem! Bee Simulator, though aimed at children, allows players to take on the role of a small bee. They fly around an expansive park based on New York’s Central Park and collect pollen from different flowers for their hive.
Each loading screen has an interesting fact about bees, so players can play while simultaneously learning about the importance of these winged creatures.
7 Bio Inc. Redemption
Ever wanted to play Devil’s Advocate? Featuring over 600 actual diseases, viruses, and health conditions, Bio Inc. Redemption is a realistic biomedical simulation in which players can make life or death decisions.
There are two story campaigns. Players can choose Death, where they can mix and match to create the ultimate illness to infect and torment innocent victims. Or they can choose Life and identify and cure patients before it is too late. Save or destroy the human race, one life at a time.
6 Sid Meier’s Civilization 6
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is a turn-based strategy game in which players take on the role of a famous historical figure of their choosing. It challenges players in both logic and history. They then have to expand their own empire, advance their culture, and compete against some of the world’s greatest past leaders.
Civilization VI teaches players about different cultures and some of history’s greatest empires and tests their critical thinking and strategy skills.
5 Kerbal Space Program
Behind its fun, goofy exterior, Kerbal Space Program is quite an educational game. Players can access an array of different parts to create their own fully functional spacecraft to travel through space in style.
Players get to explore a vast array of different planets in the Kerbal solar system, expanding their expedition. It teaches players about space, aerodynamics, and orbital mechanics as the game employs realistic physics engines and mechanics!
4 911 Operator
In 911 Operator, players take on the role of an emergency dispatcher, with lives in their hands. They must rapidly deal with incoming calls and react appropriately to the situations unfolding. Players must remember that the person on the other end of the line could be anyone.
The caller could be a dying child’s relative, a volatile gunman, or just a prankster. How players handle these scenarios is up to them.
This game is educational in that it gives players real-life First Aid instructions. It also allows them to develop their critical-thinking skills under (fictional) pressure.
3 Scribblenauts Unlimited
Heavily focused on problem-solving, Scribblenauts Unlimited uses the player’s imagination and a magical notebook to manifest any words of the player’s choosing to unlock stars. The world is literally the player’s oyster, as they are virtually unlimited in the words they can use.
This would be a fun game to teach young children different adjectives and for non-Native speakers learning English.
2 PC Building Simulator
Ever wanted to build a beast PC while on a PC? PC Building Simulator allows players to do just that. Players will get many jobs thrown their way, from simple diagnostics and repairs to building bespoke specialist computers.
This immersive business simulator allows players to build their own dream PC using fully licensed parts from real-world manufacturers. It can teach even the most novice PC user how to put a real-life desktop PC together. PC Building Simulator provides simple step-by-step instructions and guides, providing information on each computer part and its function. A great simulation game useful for real-life!
1 Assassin’s Creed: Origins
There are many games in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. They take players on a trip down historical memory lane, as each game is based on historical events. Famous historical figures like Charles Darwin and Cleopatra feature in these games.
Players can learn about history without even realizing it! Assassin’s Creed: Origins specifically really hones in Ancient Egypt, allowing players to see the pyramids up close and personal. Ubisoft combines a great storyline, unique gameplay, and accurate facts to make history an enjoyable experience.
