Which Math Games Boost Skills?
*We may earn commission from qualifying purchases or activity made through affiliate links below.
Never miss a blog.
Please check your email to complete signup.
Have a great day!
Math is everywhere, and it’s one of the most important subjects we must learn.
But…sometimes learning it can feel like a chore. Sometimes even basic math can feel like a big, complex problem.
When kids play math games, they are encouraged to tackle these complex problems with curiosity and play.
Math games can help them learn skills like counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, algebraic thinking, patterns, logic, money, fractions, order of operations, geometry, place value, etc.
22 Math Game Ideas
Arctic Riders (highlighted below)
- Ages: 7+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Addition and Subtraction, Decision Making
- Ages: 3+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Counting
- Ages: 3+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Counting, Fine Motor Skills
- Ages: 4+
- Players: 1-4
- Skills Practiced: Patterns
- Ages: 5+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Cooperation, Addition/Subtraction 0-9, Comparing, Odds/Evens
- Ages: 5+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Adding/Subtracting to 10
- Ages: 6+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Place Value (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands), Addition/Subtraction
- Ages: 6+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Odds/Evens
- Ages: 7+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Measurements
- Ages: 7+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Division
- Ages: 8+
- Players: 2-6
- Skills Practiced: Order of Operations, Factors, Algebra
- Ages: 8+
- Players: 2-6
- Skills Practiced: Fractions
- Ages: 8+
- Players: 1-4
- Skills Practiced: Money, Decision Making
- Ages: 8+
- Players: 1-5
- Skills Practiced: Algebraic Thinking, Quick Thinking, Spatial Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning
- Ages: 10+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Patterns, Strategy
- Ages: 10+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Operations, Problem Solving
- Ages: 10+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Geometry
Pet Me
- Ages: 5+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Multiplication/Division
Money Bags
- Ages: 7+
- Players: 2-4
- Skills Practiced: Money Skills
Decimal War
- Ages: 8+
- Players: 2
- Skills Practiced: Decimals
Adsumudi Math Game
- Ages: 9+
- Players: 2-8
- Skills Practiced: Fractions, Decimals, Money, Big Numbers, Mental Math
Proof!
- Ages: 9+
- Players: 2-6
- Skills Practiced: Addition/Subtraction, Multiplication/Division, Square Roots, Fast-Paced Mental Math
Arctic Riders
Arctic Riders combines one-digit and two-digit addition/subtraction with a journey through the Arctic Circle!
Subject: Math
Ages: 7+
Number of Players: 2-4
Skills Practiced: Addition and Subtraction, Decision Making
Game Components:
- The gameboard is a large, sturdy 3-piece puzzle
- Wooden, chunky narwhals
- All game components are thick, sturdy cardboard
- The cards are colorful and fun
Gameplay
Step 1: Match one of your animal cards to a vehicle card
- Choose one of your animal cards and match it with either an addition or subtraction vehicle card.
- Solve the equation.
- Try to choose cards where the answer will be in the path of one of the narwhals.
Step 2: Check your answer
- Check your answer by placing the backs of the two cards together.
- If you were correct, place TWO treats on that number on the board.
- If you were incorrect, place ONE treat on that number on the board.
Step 3: Move the narwhals
- Roll the dice.
- Move one narwhal for each die.
- One narwhal travels from 0 to 100, the other travels from 100 to 0.
Step 4: Collect your treats
- When a narwhal lands on (or passes) your treat color, collect the treats for points.
- The more treats you get on the board, and into the paths of the narwhals, the more points you’ll collect.
- The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
You can find more modifications for special needs and autism on the game description page.
Why we love this game:
There are several addition/subtraction opportunities available each turn, so the kids must strategize, plan, and choose which equation will allow them to put treats in a narwhal’s path, to be collected later.
See Arctic Riders in Action:
Looking for a simpler math game? Try Math Room.
Educational Bonus
The game comes with a booklet about the Arctic Circle and contains facts about the animals found on the cards and on the gameboard.
Read: Jesper B. Mosbacher, a scientist and Arctic ecologist in Norway, shares his insight on wildlife in the Arctic as he helped SimplyFun design Arctic Riders.
Where to Find It
You can find Arctic Riders here!
Gameschooling Tips for Math
Math can be a difficult subject to teach, and it often requires a lot of extra practice.
Games offer a break from regular lessons, or they can even replace some lessons.
Our Advice:
- Be patient with mistakes.
- Sometimes kids struggle with doing mental math - let them use paper.
- Stick with it - the more you play the games, the better they’ll understand the concepts.
- Modify the rules as needed.
- Offer encouragement.
- Model a positive attitude towards math.
- If your child has trouble focusing, keep gameplay short.
Fun Extras
