Top STEM Games for Kids

Written by: Liza Gresco, Mom and PR Specialist at Moss Tucker Group

Parents are always searching for educational games for kids, but the reality is simple: a game isn’t really educational if a child doesn’t want to play with it. Fun should always come first!

The good news? There are plenty of games that make learning science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) exciting for kids (and even adults) of all ages.  

 

Why STEM Games are important

STEM Games can play a vital role in developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity in both children and adults. Games focused on STEM make complex concepts accessible and engaging, encouraging players to apply logic, strategy, and innovation in a hands-on way. STEM games are so effective that players often don’t even notice they’re learning!

We’ve rounded up some of the top STEM games for kids by age to help you find your next favorite:

 

Best Preschool STEM Game:

Digger’s Garden Match: Earn the Title of Top Dog

1-6 players • 15 min • 4 & up

Digger’s Garden Match is a great way for little ones to learn counting skills as players count the number of shapes they matched on each turn and move their doggie bone forward on the scoreboard. Digger’s Garden Match also helps players learn to identify shapes and colors as they recognize and match colors in order to play their tiles.

Why we love it: This is a great game to flex Spatial Reasoning, building problem-solving skills, creativity, hand-eye coordination, and logical thinking. Games involving matching and movement help kids develop spatial awareness, an essential skill for engineering and math.

 

Best STEM Game for Teaching Kids Coding Concepts:

Team Digger: Dig up those Coding skills

2-4 players • 30 min • 6 & up

This cooperative game lets players learn early coding skills while trying to dig up all the bones before the other hidden items.  Using five cards at a time, players choose dig sites they want to move to and plan how best to move their pawn there. Players work together sharing their cards to make the ideal sequence

Why we love it: This game is a super fun way to introduce coding skills at a young age through sequencing. Using five cards at a time, players choose dig sites they want to move to, and plan how best to move their pawn there. Players work together sharing their cards to make the ideal sequence. Team Digger also helps develop Spatial Reasoning Skills as players examine the board to figure out the best path for their dog pawns to reach their selected dig sites. This best-seller is also a 2023 Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner and was featured in their 45 Best Board Games for Kids in 2024.

 

Best STEM Card Game:

Corner Center Match: Match them up before they do!

2-6 players • 10 min • 7 & up

Boost your focus and self-control! Race to pick a card from your hand whose corner shape matches the target card’s center. Be quick and precise—beat the other players to match all the cards in your hand first! Players must race to get rid of their cards as fast as they can by matching colors and shapes. 

Why we love it: This card game enhances STEM skills by helping kids match shapes and colors using pattern recognition, boosting observational, visual-spatial, and association skills. Corner Center Match is also good for developing quick thinking skills as all players are racing to play a matching card before the other players.

Best STEM Teaching Game:  

ByPass: Take the open road to STEM!

2-4 players • 25 min • 8 & up

Feel the wind in your hair on this epic road trip! Use your spatial reasoning and planning skills to build bypasses and find the smoothest routes. Swerve through twists and turns, leveraging traffic cones to elevate your adventure.

Why we love it: ByPass is great for developing Spatial Reasoning. Players will be tasked with keeping track of multiple route options across many tiles as the game progresses. They’ll also need to be able to reassess those routes as bypasses are played. ByPass also helps develop planning skills. Players will have to plan a route over many turns, trying not to make their goal clear to the other players. At the same time, they’ll need to predict what their opponents will do and protect their own route.

 

Why it’s important to include STEM games during play?

It’s crucial to incorporate STEM games for kids during play as these games help children:

- Develop Problem-Solving Skills: Many STEM games require players to think critically and find solutions, fostering analytical thinking and resilience.

-Enhance Spatial Reasoning: Games involving puzzles, building structures, or coding challenges help kids develop spatial awareness, an essential skill for engineering and mathematics. Spatial reasoning builds problem-solving skills, creativity, hand-eye coordination, and logical thinking.

-Improve Collaboration and Communication: Many STEM games encourage teamwork, teaching children how to communicate ideas effectively and work together to solve challenges.

-Encourage future careers in STEM: As technology continues to evolve, a strong foundation in STEM helps prepare children for careers in medicine, engineering, programming, and more.

 

STEM games can also help adults keep their minds sharp and their skills relevant:

-Boosting Cognitive Function: By playing STEM games, adults can maintain mental agility, improving their memory, problem-solving skills, and logical reasoning. 

-Encouraging Lifelong Learning: Learning never stops! STEM fields are constantly evolving, and games provide a fun way for adults to keep up with new technologies and concepts.

-Enhancing Strategic Thinking: Most STEM games and puzzles require players to think ahead, recognize patterns, and strategize effectively in order to advance and win.

-Supporting Career Growth: With industries increasingly relying on data, programming, and engineering principles, staying engaged with STEM challenges can positively impact your professional career advancement.

-Providing Meaningful, screen-free Entertainment: Hey, even adults need time off from the digital world. STEM games offer a balance of fun and education, making them a great alternative to passive screen time while promoting skill development.

Why is STEM so important?

According to the National Math and Science Initiative STEM is the greatest lever to accessing opportunity and is unmatched in unlocking student potential.  Consistent, high-quality STEM education builds critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills - attributes students need for every career and community endeavor.

Explore your favorite STEM games for kids from SimplyFun and tell us which one is your favorite!

 

More on the Blog:

Cool Math Games That Encourage Less Screen Time

Aspirational Play Can Help Kids Explore STEM

 

Explore Our STEM Games:  Shop Math & STEM Games