Video games are usually seen as forms of entertainment and not as learning tools. However, there are a huge number of titles that provide not only hours of enjoyment but teach real skills you can use offline or even improve upon. Games are even being used today as a way to help people de-stress and cope with various mental health issues.
From Stardew Valley to Minecraft and even to all the sports and fitness titles out there, there is something for everyone. No matter what you are looking to get out of the specific title you chose to indulge in on a regular or even casual basis, you will no doubt come away learning something new.
Updated February 16, 2023, by Rebecca Timberlake: Thankfully, there is no shortage of games being released and updated every year, and among them are simulation and educational games for all ages. As we continue to move forward and embrace more and more technology in our lives, so, too, will we accept video games and their role in teaching us new skills in a fun and engaging way.
15 PC Building Simulator
PC Building Simulator teaches exactly what the title suggests: the basics of building your very own PC. You'll also learn diagnostics and troubleshooting for fixing PCs, as well as how to build and run your own repair shop. There are multiple expansions that add specifics for things like Razer and esports needs.
While you might not be able to build a real computer from scratch by playing this game alone, it does teach you the rudimentary aspects that will help you pick up real PC building in no time.
14 Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Obviously Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes isn't going to teach you how to defuse a bomb in real life, but what it does teach is the skill of communication. You and a friend take opposite roles: one of you is defusing while the other has the manual. The trick is, you can't see what the other sees, and are forced to rely solely on your words to keep from exploding.
This game can be as hilarious as it is stressful, but the more you play, the better you'll get at describing what you see to those who can't, as well as explaining step-by-step instructions in an effective and easy-to-follow manner.
13 Car Mechanic Simulator
Car Mechanic Simulator gives you the basics of running a mechanic's shop from fixing the cars to dealing with customers. You can bid on cars at auctions, bring in junkers and fully restore them, and upgrade your workspace and tools to enhance your skills. The more you play, the more you'll pick up, as the game features everything from engine repair to general tune-ups.
You'll familiarize yourself with car terms pretty quickly when you go to scrapyards to source materials for repairs, too, so you'll be able to keep up with your real-world mechanic the next time you take your car in for maintenance.
12 *911 Operator
911 Operator isn't necessarily going to make you a top-performing operator in real life, but it does help you develop critical thinking skills, prioritization, and empathy. You play the operator on-call at the 911 services, and it's up to you to determine what level of emergency is being called in, as well as what responders are needed to remedy the emergency.
You can obviously play this with a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to calls, but if you take it seriously, you'll learn to hone your listening and thinking in the face of limited details and urgency to the situation.
11 Influent
Influent is a language learning game that gives you control over how and when you learn, unlike certain apps that notify you constantly. The Definitive Edition has 23 different languages to learn, including Mandarin, Welsh, Korean, and Russian. Plus, you get pronunciations from native speakers instead of computer-generated voices, so you have a better understanding of how words will sound in an actual conversation.
As you play through the game, you'll get to click on items to learn the words instead of having to follow a script, and you can change words out for synonyms depending on your needs.
10 Minecraft
Minecraft was originally launched in 2011 and remains popular today. While it may be fun to slay monsters and complete objectives, Minecraft can teach you engineering and coding while at play. People have created incredible things throughout the game.
Mojang even created a Minecraft: Education Edition website with tons of lessons, challenges, and curriculums to be used in class, specifically math and science. Since Minecraft is such a hit among the younger generations, it only makes sense to use it as a teaching tool kiddos can relate to in school.
9 Cooking Mama
Cooking Mama is a series that has been around for a while, first hitting the market in 2006. Since its arrival, it has helped us learn some of the basics of cooking and meal preparation by making it fun. Unlike some other cooking sims, this series is playable for all ages, and the steps are easy to understand and relate to a real-world kitchen.
Cooking Mama: Cookstar has even integrated social media into the game with a subtle nod to Instagram, allowing you to upload your creations and become an influencer.
8 Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley, the cute indie farming simulator by ConcernedApe, has it all. From learning how to farm, economics, and the importance of a clean environment, there is so much to gain from playing. You'll also learn how to care for and raise animals, cook, and even fish.
Forming relationships and caring about your neighbors is also explored throughout the game, wrapping a lot of real-life lessons in it as well. All in all, Stardew Valley does an incredible job of mixing many aspects of real life into an enjoyable game, from growing crops to basic communications within your community.
7 Microsoft Flight Simulator
The physical training program required to fly can be out of reach for a lot of people, which is where Microsoft Flight Simulator bridges that gap of accessibility. If you've ever wanted to try your hand at piloting without actually leaving the ground, this simulator is extremely realistic and uses accurate data and locations.
Seasoned pilots have even been known to use it to try out new routes and conduct emergency drills. For those just looking to enjoy a calm flight, though, the scenery is breathtaking.
6 Game Builder Garage
If you love playing games, you may have even wanted to attempt to make your own. Coding may be too difficult for you to learn, or maybe you just don't have time to dedicate to it, but thankfully Nintendo gave us Game Builder Garage to simplify the process.
The step-by-step lessons and guides make it easy to learn the basics of creating a game from start to finish. There are seven games to design in the guided part but in "Free Programming Mode" you can take what you have learned and truly let your imagination run wild.
5 Rocksmith
Rocksmith brings the lessons and basics of the guitar right into your living room. If you're familiar with Rock Band, which taught the rhythm and techniques of drums, this game does the same while focusing on guitar.
What separates this title from others that came before is you can use your real guitar to play instead of a controller shaped like a guitar like those utilized in the past. Another cool feature is that Rocksmith gets you ready to read tablature, a form of musical notation, which is how music and songs are learned offline and online.
4 The Typing Of The Dead: Overkill
Typing is a constant part of your day from school to work — even texting friends requires a strong ability to type. If you find your typing skills lacking, however, The Typing of The Dead: Overkill offers a fun and engaging way to boost your skill level. It's actually a spin-off of the popular arcade shooter House of the Dead, which guarantees you'll have a blast while learning.
Fans of killing zombies will especially love using it because your keystrokes and how accurate you are with spelling are how you defeat them. The faster you type, the faster they fall. Move over Mavis Beacon: there's a new typing teacher in town!
3 Colors Live!
Technology has allowed art to expand into the digital realm, and with Colors Live! budding artists can create their own works of art. Playing this game helps with dexterity and creativity, as well as gaining knowledge of artistic components and mechanics.
Daily challenges encourage you to continue improving your art skills, and the ability to share your creations online and get inspiration from others gives it a social element that builds community within your skill range.
2 Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing teaches so many life skills from interior decorating, fishing, cooking, and even building concepts. Animal Crossing: New Horizons took sharing custom designs to a whole new level by allowing you to create unique designs for clothing and wallpaper, for example, and share them with other players.
The DLC Happy Home Paradise expanded this further by letting you become an in-game interior designer for clients and get paid with in-game currency and exclusive items. This reflects how real estate agents and interior designers operate in the real world, which could spark the desire in many to pursue that career path.
1 F1 2021
Regular driving is nothing compared to Formula 1 competitive racing, and the F1 video game series has helped everyday people become pros just from playing consistently. Some esports players have used the skills they gained playing to compete against real pros using a real car on a real track.
The F1 series as well as Forza Horizon has opened up a whole new competitive aspect to the sport with a growing arcade racing community. The controls and mechanics are so realistic it's hard to remember it's just a racing simulator.