5 video games that won't turn kids' brains to mush

iStock

A lot of video games claim to be educational. But like many parents, I find it a real challenge to track down games that effectively balance learning and engagement - and I study games for a living. As we discuss in our online course Understanding Video Games, if a game has too much educational content, it's frequently not very fun. When it's too fun, it often sacrifices educational content or opportunities for creative play. Then there's the question of whether what is being learned is transferable to external situations. Frequently, players just learn how to play the game more effectively rather than gain any real-world skills.

Depending on what goals you have in mind, here are five games that I think get the balance right and offer meaningful opportunities for learning and creativity. (I offer my suggested age ratings but, as always, parents should vet the games to make sure they're appropriate for their families.)

Minecraft, Creative Mode (Microsoft)

A game not without its critics, but watching my girls explore and create in Minecraft is a delight. They can also play together in the same game world, which adds to the fun and creativity as they teach each other what they have learned (age 7+).

Toca Builders (Toca Boca)

This is a lovely little creative space for young kids to build things on a mobile device. Our youngest child loved this accessible game when Minecraft was too challenging, and both girls still go back to this game from time to time (age 5+).

Kerbal Space Program (Squad)

A wonderful game where you build rockets (usually unsuccessfully) to get to orbit (usually catastrophically) which helps you understand physics (frequently tangentially) (age 10+).

DragonBox Algebra 12+ (WeWantToKnow)

A remarkable game that teaches kids the fundamentals of algebra. There's also a version for younger kids, but this version is suitable for children much younger than 12 (age 7+).

Sweatshop (Littleloud)

Sweatshop is not a game for young children but rather for those 12 and older. It has a strong social message, part of a genre called "games for change," and its cartoony animation sardonically addresses a complex social issue. The game balances the mechanics of a tower defence game, where the goal is to stop enemies from reaching a specific point, with the message of the impact of unfettered capitalism and globalization. Sweatshop is brilliant, and it is one of the best games I can think of that promotes interesting and useful conversations around the dinner table (age 12+). (Note: some of the language and images may not be suited to some families.)

Sean Gouglas, who teaches the massive open online course Understanding Video Games, is an associate professor in humanities computing and senior director of interdisciplinary studies in the Faculty of Arts. His research focuses on the relationship between universities and the computer game industry in Canada, especially as it relates to curriculum development and intellectual property, and on the role of women in computer games as characters, players and developers.