Games do not always have to be about having fun. It is also possible to learn a few things while you complete challenges, take out enemies, or win a competition.

For grown-ups, the lessons can come from the stories that are found in single-player campaigns. There have been many games that have had stories that not only make you think but also cause you to implement changes in your life for the better.

When it comes to kids, it is possible to have games that provide both enjoyment and education. Some games are designed with this in mind, where the challenges are created to challenge the intellect and teach new information.

Others are a bit more complex in the way they teach children. There are games that are designed to test the cognitive ability of the children and to make sure that they expand their horizons in terms of the way they think and behave.

Here, we have taken a look at such games and compiled a list of the 11 best educational games for Xbox Series X / S.

Roblox

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Genre:Adventure
Developers:ROBLOX Corporation
Release Date:January 21, 2016
Find at:Microsoft Store
Multiplayer:N/A
Average Playtime:55 hours

We begin our list with a game that almost every kid has played at some point. Roblox truly has been a global phenomenon, with the internet littered with memes about kids begging their parents for Robux.

Even though it may seem like something designed to get kids addicted, Roblox can be whatever you make it out to be. There are literally thousands of games within Roblox, and the games your kids end up playing will determine just how much information they glean from them.

Of course, a large percentage of the Roblox population just plays a variant of the first-person shooter. However, there are a lot of games that encourage kids to think. Some of them revolve around puzzles, while others are about building things in a creative manner.

Roblox also encourages kids to communicate with each other, and it can be a very social experience at times. Lastly, it is possible for kids to put their imagination to work and create their own games in Roblox. Overall, Roblox may just be the most educational game out there.

Insects

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Genre:Education
Developers:Microsoft Corporation
Release Date:November 2, 2017
Find at:Microsoft Store
Multiplayer:N/A

Insects was created back in 2017 as a way for Microsoft to show off the capabilities of its console. it was originally designed with game developers in mind. It demonstrated the graphical detail and the spatial audio that could be achieved on the then brand-new generation of Xbox consoles.

Now, it has been repurposed to be an educational game. To be clear, this is not really a game in the sense that there are challenges to complete. However, it does allow kids to walk around in a field, interact with various insects, and see how they behave.

As a lot of kids are not really interested in textbooks, Insects is a great way to acquaint them with the world of science. The demo can only be experienced for a few hours before it becomes boring and repetitive. However, it is completely free to download and play.

Educational Games for Kids

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Genre:Education
Developers:Crazysoft Limited
Release Date:September 1, 2020
Find at:Microsoft Store
Multiplayer:N/A
Average Playtime:3 hours

As the title suggests, this is a collection of games that are designed to be fun, engaging, and educational. All of the games have gone through testing to see if they can really teach the kids something new.

There are over 20 games in the pack, and each of them is appropriate for a certain age group. While there are games for kids as old as teenagers, we all know that these games are primarily designed for children much younger than that.

Most of the games are for kids between the ages of three and five. Some of them are based on simple concepts such as riding a bicycle. Others are a bit more complex and have logic-based puzzles that the kids need to solve.

PC Building Simulator

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Genre:Simulation
Developers:The Irregular Corporation
Release Date:August 13, 2019
Find at:Microsoft Store
Multiplayer:N/A
Average Playtime:24 hours

PC Building Simulator is all about building and repairing PC. This part can only teach your child so much. So unless you are planning on raising your kid to be the ultimate PC handyman, this game might not be such a good idea.

However, the single-player mode also revolves around running a PC building and repairing shop. This means that you need to handle customer orders and manage a business at the same time.

There is no reason for us to state the obvious, but this is a great skill for anyone to learn. The mechanics of the game are simple enough that anyone who is six years or older should be able to learn them with ease. As such, think of PC Building Simulator as a tool to teach your child the basics of a business.

Bridge Constructor

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Genre:Adventure, Educational, Classic, Puzzle
Developers:Clockstone STUDIO
Release Date:August 15, 2015
Find at:Microsoft Store
Multiplayer:N/A
Average Playtime:4 hours

Most of the titles on our list of the best educational games for Xbox Series X and S seem to be very self-explanatory. Bridge Constructor is no different. All that players need to do here is to build bridges that are both practical and well-constructed.

Sounds simple, but there is a lot of complexity here. Not only do players need to stay underneath the budget, but they also need to satisfy certain criteria. Think of it like a puzzle game that also has certain elements of resource management in the mix.

With 64 levels of varying difficulty, it will take your child quite a bit of time before he or she is done with Bridge Constructor.

Minecraft

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Genre:Adventure, Survival
Developers:Mojang/Microsoft Studios
Release Date:September 19, 2017
Find at:Microsoft Store and Amazon
Multiplayer:Local multiplayer (2-4), Online multiplayer (2-8)
Average Playtime:88 hours

Along with Roblox, Minecraft is the other game that kids seem to be crazy about. Just like Roblox, Minecraft allows for the freedom to experiment and do whatever you want.

On PC, Minecraft has a huge modding community with mods that change the way the game works. While the modding scene is not that big on Xbox, there are still endless possibilities whenever you fire up the game.

For kids, this allows their creativity to shine through. Even in something as basic as the survival mode, players need to ensure that they build defenses against the zombies and avoid all the natural elements that could harm them.

Lastly, remember that Minecraft is not a game that can only be enjoyed by kids. A lot of hardcore gamers also like what the game has to offer. What’s more, we think Minecraft is one of the best Xbox games for couples due to its cooperative nature.

Portal 2

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Genre:Puzzle, 3D Platformer, First Person
Developers:Valve
Release Date:April 17, 2011
Find at:Microsoft Store and Amazon
Multiplayer:N/A
Average Playtime:8 hours

Both of the Portal games in the main series have received critical acclaim for their well-designed levels, story, and general gameplay.

However, most agree that Portal 2 is the overall better game. This is mainly due to the additional mechanics introduced into the game and the higher visual fidelity. Regardless of which game you think is better, it is obvious that both of the games have a very high educational value.

Portal is a puzzle game where you have the ability to create portals and teleport from one place to the other. This will be very important for solving the puzzles, some of which are extremely difficult to complete.

We wouldn’t recommend Portal for extremely young children due to the difficulty of the game. However, this is a great game for kids in their pre and early teens to test and expand their cognitive abilities.

Jump, Step, Step

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Genre:Education, PLatformer, Puzzle
Developers:Thang and Dung Phung Dinh
Release Date:August 10, 2017
Find at:Microsoft Store
Multiplayer:N/A
Average Playtime:30 minutes

Jump, Step, Step is the next game on our list of the best Xbox educational games. At its core, it is a platformer with hilarious dialogue that any kid is sure to love. However, there is an added element of strategy to the game.

The player gets to control a robot called Bob. They need to guide him as he collects his limbs, rebuilds his spaceship, and tries to find out what happened to him. The twist is that Bob must be given a sequence of commands that he executes altogether.

What this means is that the player will not be controlling the robot directly. Instead, they will have to dish out a sequence of commands that gets Bob to the next checkpoint. This requires a lot of thinking and planning, valuable lessons for anyone to learn.

Kerbal Space Program

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Genre:Simulation, Strategy
Developers:Squad and BlitWorks
Release Date:January 15, 2018
Find at:Microsoft Store and Amazon
Multiplayer:N/A
Average Playtime:116 hours

Kerbal Space Program is a great game to play regardless of your age. The game requires you to control the space program of a faraway race known as the Kerbals.

As you are in charge, you will be responsible for exploring the universe, setting up bases on other planets, and bringing new resources back home to advance your civilization. The tools at your disposal are quite small and shabby at the beginning, but you can upgrade them as you move outward.

Kerbal Space Program is a great game for teaching resource management, patience, and decision-making. A lot of times, players will need to sacrifice one part of their program for another or explore risk-reward options. Definitely, a great thing for kids to learn at an early age.

We would also recommend that grown-ups give the game a try. It is quite fun to play and was on our list of the best space games for Xbox.

Stardew Valley

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Genre:Card Game
Developers:ConcernedApe
Release Date:December 13, 2016
Find at:Microsoft Store and Amazon
Multiplayer:Online co-op (2-4)
Average Playtime:52 hours

Stardew Valley is the last game on our list of the best educational games for box Series X / S. Those who have played it will know that the game primarily revolves around farming in a small village. That is not the reason why we have included it on our list.

Instead, the reason Stardew Valley makes this list is because of its social aspect. The town is alive with characters of all sorts, and it is possible to have long and engaging conversations with them.

Considering how much wisdom there is to be found amongst some of the older characters, we think Stardew Valley is a great educational game. Of course, it will have an additional positive impact if you and your family live on a farm.