Quandary
Slick ethics game teaches students to make tough decisions
Bottom Line: This versatile game that can teach ethics, argumentation, and civics is light on interactivity but will come alive through discussion.
Hall of Heroes
Responsive game helps students prepare for transition to middle school
Bottom Line: Wonderful and fun social-interaction game designed to teach cooperation and friendship skills needed for middle school and beyond.
Beats Empire
Music producing game balances fun with critical thinking and planning
Bottom Line: Students will have a blast with the music production and band-managing theme that carries with it some useful lessons in 21st century skills.
Convene the Council
Foreign policy game teaches well but doesn't dazzle
Bottom Line: A good if not impressive springboard for understanding a bit more about how foreign policy decisions are made.
Humankind
Refinement of strategy game formula supports historical exploration
Bottom Line: Like any consumer-oriented game, this experience will absorb and delight students far more than "educational" games, but it'll require open-minded and creative teaching.
iCivics
Well-designed games, lessons can spice up your civics curriculum
Bottom Line: This game-based curriculum would be an excellent addition to any secondary social studies.
NewsFeed Defenders
Social media simulation builds news literacy skills
Bottom Line: This is a great tool to kick off critical discussions about news and social media.
Sid Meier's Civilization V
Legendary strategy game is a hit with history buffs in school and out
Bottom Line: For flexible classrooms, creative teachers, and sharp students, Civilization V is the perfect platform for making rather than memorizing history.
SimCity
Exciting city simulator great for online play
Bottom Line: SimCity does a great job teaching kids about cities by putting them in control of designing them, but this game needs a constant Internet connection.
Think Like Churchill
Stunning visuals, thoughtful feedback bring critical decision points to life
Bottom Line: An excellent tool for studying the events and ethics that guide pivotal moments in history.
BBC iReporter
Spot real stories, dodge fake news in cheeky media literacy sim
Bottom Line: A refreshingly modern way for students to explore how to filter and interpret info and media during breaking news events.
Radio General
WWII game has layers of learning, novel voice-based controls
Bottom Line: This is a refreshingly new approach to a WWII game that offers students a more accurate simulation of battlefield chaos.
Spent
Provocative, first-person look at poverty builds empathy
Bottom Line: It'll need some scaffolding, but for students ready for the subject matter it's a great -- if sobering -- way to illustrate to students the daily realities and struggles of poverty in America.
Political Animals
Charming political campaign sim mixes data analysis and civics
Bottom Line: It's a highly entertaining and surprisingly deep way to help students see the strategy -- as well as ethical choices -- involved in elections.
Democracy 3
Nuanced political sim about the balancing act of government
Bottom Line: This is a grown-up civics sim, full of tough choices, compelling cause and effect relationships, and controversial issues that will work best for older government students.
Papers, Please
Mature immigration game forces tough ethical choices
Bottom Line: It's a provocative simulation about ethics and immigration that could spark debate but might be tough to implement.
Please Knock on My Door
Effective and affecting game about dealing with depression
Bottom Line: A slow-paced SEL game for helping students understand the nuances of managing mental health.
This War of Mine
Strategy game offers superb, mature take on war and civilian survival
Bottom Line: A stark portrayal of civilian life in a war-torn city that requires strategic thinking and invites repeated plays.
