Games to strengthen math literacy
Games and Models
Games are interactive stories.
"The story a game tells is called a narrative. The narrative consists of the setting, plot, characters, and themes within the game with the game player as the hero or protagonist." — Wendy Despain, Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing
Try one of Kevin's games below. Scroll down for a list of systems-based games.
My Dog Chaos
Text Adventure Game: Your dog has slipped by you through the door. He is running wild through the neighbourhood. You need to find him and bring him home before the school bus comes.
Kevin’s Math Room
Phase III (2027-Math Literacy): Learning to See Systems
The Math Room is about learning to see the systems.
Every day, we interact with systems — money, materials, machines, time, energy. Even if we cannot name the formulas behind them, our choices affect outcomes. Small changes can ripple outward.
Not everyone needs to be a mathematician, but everyone benefits from learning about systems. Games let you experiment with smaller models to strengthen your system thinking. These are the kinds of experiences we had in mind when searching for games:
- Experience calculus by building 3D structures.
- Design a logic circuit and discover how computers work.
- Manage variables in a simulation to optimize outcomes.
We are still in an evalutation phase for this topic. What we can offer now is a list of external game resources
to explore. (We have not reviewed each game.)
Games that Teach Combinatorics and Optimization
- Set – Play Online (card game of combinations and patterns)
- Mini Metro – Official Site (optimize subway networks under pressure)
- Opus Magnum – Zachtronics (optimize machines for efficiency and cost)
- Factorio – Official Site (factory building and resource optimization)
Games that Teach Circuitry and Logic Gates
- Turing Tumble – Official Site (mechanical computer teaching logic gates)
- Human Resource Machine – Tomorrow Corporation (puzzle game teaching programming logic)
- Baba Is You – Official Site (logic through shifting rules)
- Shenzhen I/O – Zachtronics (design and program electronic circuits)
- Minecraft: Redstone – Redstone Circuits Wiki (build working circuits in Minecraft)
Games for 3D Structures
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Physics & Engineering Simulations
- Poly Bridge 3 – Focuses on structural load, tension, and compression in bridge building.
- Kerbal Space Program – Teaches 3D aerospace engineering and structural integrity.
- SimplePhysics – A blueprint-based simulator for testing designs against physics.
- Besiege – Medieval machine building focused on mechanical joints and bracing.
- Space Engineers – Complex 3D logistics and functional ship/station construction.
- Townscaper – An accessible tool for exploring architectural geometry and aesthetics.
- Pocket World 3D – Assembly-based puzzles for visualizing how 3D parts fit together.
- Piko’s Blocks – Exercises specifically designed to develop 3D geometric thinking.
- 3D Builder – A browser-based game for mental rotation and perspective shifting.
- Monument Valley – An artistic puzzle game centered on non-Euclidean 3D architecture.
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Minecraft – The classic 3D block-building sandbox with logic-based engineering (Redstone).