And Why We’re Choosing More Games and Fewer Workbooks

(This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a very small commission if you use my links and make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. I’m not sharing these games just to sell something. I’m sharing the best games for homeschooling because shifting our education toward more games, connection, and fun learning has genuinely changed our family culture for the better. The laughter around the table, the conversations, the excitement to learn… it’s been such a positive shift for our family, and I simply wanted to pass along the things that have truly worked for us.)

Skip right to the list of games here.
Skip to game chart here

There was a time when I thought a “good homeschool day” meant finishing every workbook page, checking every box, and getting through all the lessons exactly as planned.

But lately?

I’ve been rethinking a lot of that.

Recently I cleaned out and reorganized our homeschool cart…and wow. It had gotten completely out of control. (read about my stress free homeschooling systems here)

Overflowing workbooks.
Half-used curriculum.
Activities I bought with the BEST intentions.

And honestly? A lot of guilt.

Old me would have kept every single workbook because:
“What if we use it someday?”
“I spent money on this.”
“I should make the kids finish it.”

But this version of me is learning something different:

Sometimes it’s more freeing to let go of the things that aren’t serving your family anymore.

So I donated over 10 workbooks that we barely touched.

And you know what I noticed while cleaning everything out?

The games were worn out.
The games were loved.
The games actually got used.

Not because my kids had to do them…
but because they wanted to.

And the more I homeschool, the more I realize:

Games ARE learning.

Honestly, sometimes they teach even more than the worksheets do.

They teach:

• strategy
• critical thinking
• teamwork
• problem solving
• reading
• math
• communication
• creativity
• patience
• how to lose gracefully
• how to think quickly
• how to work together

But maybe most importantly?

They create connection.

And I’m starting to believe that the moments my kids spend laughing around the table together matter just as much as the lessons we checked off earlier that morning.

---

Keep scrolling for my full thoughts on each game, why we love them, and how we use them in our homeschool.

---

Our “Whacky Wednesday” Homeschool Days

Throughout the summer especially, we lean even harder into games and experiences.

We have what we call “Whacky Wednesday” where we do:

• games
• experiments
• hands-on learning
• challenges
• experiences
• family fun

instead of traditional lessons.

Those are some of our favorite homeschool memories.
I used to wonder if these days were “productive enough.”
Now I think they’re incredibly valuable.

Because homeschooling isn’t just about finishing curriculum.
(You can read about my huge curriculum shift at the end of the year here)
It’s about building a family culture.
It’s about learning together.
It’s about creating kids who love learning.

And games have become a HUGE part of that for us.

The Best Games for Homeschooling + Supplementing by Category:

Our Favorite Phonics Game for Early Readers

1. SquishyLand Phonics Learning Game:

This says it’s for younger kids up to around 2nd grade…but my 4th grader still plays it.

That’s one thing I’ve learned about educational games:
kids will practice skills WAY longer when it feels fun. We all play at the same time and I give my kids separate decks so they can work at the level they’re at.

👉Buy Here: SquishyLand Phonics Learning Game

Best Brain Games for Independent Play

2. SmartGames IQ Puzzler

3. Smart Farmer

These are AMAZING for quiet independent brain work.

They’re technically one-player games, but they work so many problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

And …I love them too.

I’ve actually gotten a couple SmartGames for myself for Christmas because they’re weirdly relaxing and addicting.

Perfect for:

• quiet time
• morning baskets
• keeping younger siblings busy
• road trips
• rainy summer days

👉SmartGames IQ Puzzler Pro

👉Buy Here: SmartGames IQ Series Games: Smart Farmer is a family fave over here. It’s not just for kids.

4. Rush Hour!

This was one of my FAVORITE games as a kid.

It’s technically a one-player logic game, but it works so many problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

The goal is to move cars around strategically to free the trapped car — kind of like a puzzle mixed with strategy.

Perfect for:

• quiet time
• independent learning
• rainy afternoons
• keeping younger siblings occupied during lessons

It still holds up as an adult.

👉Buy Here! Rush Hour

Fun Math Games That Don’t Feel Like Math

5. Pop Subtraction & Addition

A simple way to practice math facts without it feeling like drill work.

👉Buy Here! Pop Subtraction & Addition

6. Multiplication Fidget Spinners

My kids LOVE anything fidget-related, so this instantly made multiplication more exciting.

👉Buy Here! Multiplication Fidget Spinners

7. Multiplication SPLAT

Fast-paced and actually fun.

Which says a lot for multiplication practice.

👉Buy Here! Multiplication SPLAT

8. Math War Multiplication Game

Simple.
Easy.
No prep.
And surprisingly effective.

👉Math War Multiplication Game

9. The Fidget Game Squishy Time Rescue

Learn to tell time through playing this game.

👉Buy Here! The Fidget Game Squishy Time Rescue

Geography + History Games We Love

10. The World Game

This is SUCH a fun way to learn geography naturally.

And again…
the kids don’t even really realize they’re learning while playing.

👉Buy Here! The World Game

11. Ticket to Ride

This one mixes geography, strategy, planning, and even bits of history together in such a fun way.

And one of my favorite things about it is that there are SO many versions.

You can explore:

• Europe
• Asia
• different countries
• different maps
• different difficulty levels

So it keeps things interesting as kids grow.

This feels like one of those games that becomes part of your family culture over time.

👉Buy Here! Ticket to Ride

Best Games that secretly teach reading and spelling

12. My First Bananagrams

My husband and I love regular Bananagrams, and our kids always wanted to join in, but they weren’t quite ready for the original version yet.

I was SO excited when I found the kids version.

So much better than another spelling test, am I right?

👉Buy Here! My First Bananagrams

13. Boggle

Another childhood favorite of mine.

This one is SO good for spelling, word recognition, quick thinking, and vocabulary practice.

And because it feels fast-paced and competitive, kids usually don’t even realize how much reading practice they’re getting while playing.

Definitely one of those “learning without realizing it” games.

👉Buy Here! Boggle

Learning Music Through Games

14. Simply Piano

Okay technically this isn’t a board game…

…but it FEELS like a game.

My kids and I have all been learning music through this app, and turning music into something interactive and fun has made a huge difference.

Yes, it’s around $180/year…
BUT you can create multiple profiles for the whole family.

And if I put myself and three of my kids into private lessons, we’d easily spend over $120 PER WEEK for short lessons.

There’s also Simply Guitar included depending on your subscription.

Learning music through gamified lessons?
Absolutely yes.

👉Check Out Simply Piano Here!

Classic Games That Secretly Teach Math

15. Farkle

Dice math.
Mental math.
Quick thinking.

And the kids don’t even notice they’re practicing.

👉Buy Here! Farkle

16. Monopoly

This one teaches SO much math naturally.

And if your child isn’t ready to be banker yet?
Still make them do the math.

Also:
we almost never finish Monopoly all the way through.

We usually play until everyone starts getting bored and whoever has the most money wins.

You do NOT have to play every game “the official way” to still get the benefits.
There are also expansion packs that spice this game up! so much fun!

👉Buy Here! Monopoly

17. Uzzle Game

This isn’t technically math but it’s one that works well for visual processing, critical thinking, problem solving, and spatial reasoning skills — all while feeling fast-paced and fun.

Players race to recreate patterns as quickly as possible, which makes it great for:

• brain training
• visual learning
• focus
• logic skills
• quick thinking

👉Buy Here! The Uzzle Game

Classic Strategy Games That Still Teach SO Much

18 & 19. Chess & Chinese Checkers Set

Some games stick around for generations for a reason.

Chess teaches:

• strategy
• planning ahead
• patience
• critical thinking
• problem solving

And Chinese Checkers is SUCH a great way to work logic and strategy skills in a simpler, more approachable way for younger kids.

It’s one of those games that feels simple at first but gets surprisingly challenging.
Adults end up getting competitive with this one too.

I also love that these are:

• screen free
• inexpensive
• timeless
• easy to pull out anytime

I think there’s a lot of value in slower two-player games too.
Not every learning game has to be loud, flashy, or fast-paced to still teach really important skills.

👉Buy Here! Chess & Chinese Checkers Set

Best Game for Graphing Skills

20. Battleship

Graphing practice without worksheets?

Yes please.

Coordinate grids suddenly become a lot more exciting when someone’s trying to sink your battleship.

👉Buy Here! Battleship

The Shift We’re Making in Our Homeschool

The older my kids get, the more I’m realizing this:

Not everything valuable looks academic.

Sometimes learning looks like:

• family game nights
• laughter around the table
• strategy games
• experiments
• conversations
• hands-on experiences
• curiosity

I think my kids are going to remember these moments far longer than another workbook page.

So this summer we’re leaning into it more.

More games.
More connection.
More experiences.
Less pressure.
Less guilt.
Less holding onto things that aren’t actually serving our family anymore.

And for us?

That feels like a really good shift.

What Are YOUR Favorite Educational Games?

One of my favorite things about homeschooling is hearing what works for other families.

So now I want to hear from you:

What are your favorite games for learning?

Whether it’s:

• educational games
• classic board games
• strategy games
• card games
• apps
• hands-on activities

…I’m always looking for more ideas to add into our homeschool days.

Leave your favorites in the comments because I have a feeling other families would love more ideas too. 😊

💌 Want simple systems that actually work for real life? Get gentle routines, tiny wins, and realistic tips for busy days — sent to your inbox weekly(ish). ⬇️⬇️⬇️