Best Games for 10-Year-Olds: Top Picks for Fun and Learning

Ten-year-olds need constant entertainment and challenge to thrive. However, knowing what games to pick for them as a parent or caregiver is challenging. After all, how are you supposed to know?

Fortunately, this post is here to help. We run through some of the top games for ten-year-olds for learning and fun (to hopefully turn them into little geniuses)!

Chess

Top of the list of fun and educational games for children is chess. It gets kids thinking multi-dimensionally, teaching them the value of strategy, cunning, and bluff.

Yes, the game has quite a steep learning curve compared to most, but once children learn how to play it, it stays with them for life.

Chess’s primary appeal is how simple it is. Sets are inexpensive and kids can use them anywhere. Furthermore, most schools offer extra-curricular chess clubs where kids can hone their skills.

Minecraft

Coming in at number two on our list is Minecraft, one of the most interesting games to emerge in the last fifteen years. The sandbox game gets kids to explore their creativity and problem-solving skills while collaborating with other players in shared environments.

The game looks boxy and pixelated compared to most titles. But for kids, it’s an adventure. Minecraft lets them do pretty much anything they want, like a digital LEGO set. Children can build scenarios, experience unique adventures, and even learn basic coding via the in-game Redstone feature.

Minecraft runs on most consoles and doesn’t require a beefy PC. It also has plenty of support, so if kids get stuck, there’s always someone they can ask for help.

The Game Of Life

The Game of Life is a classic board game that came out in the 1860s (making it far older than many individuals think). It introduces younger players to the various stages they will go through as they grow up.

For example, at the start of the game, kids must choose whether they want a career or to go to college. The former allows them to get around the board faster, while the latter opens up additional opportunities for money-making after graduation. Children can also learn uncommon terms, like “annuity” and “bankruptcy” which they probably wouldn’t come into contact with in ordinary life.

Ultimately, the game teaches children about the value of managing money and planning for life ahead. However, it also shows them that luck plays a role in how life turns out.

Just Dance

Just Dance is another game that combines fun and learning. It teaches kids how to move their bodies while enjoying themselves at the same time. Instead of sitting on the couch, they can dance around the living room and burn off some energy.

Mahjong

Mahjong is a Chinese tabletop game that emerged in the 18th century. Like chess, it’s quite brainy and requires players to form sets of blocks (like dominoes) to win, similar to card games like poker and rummy.

Getting your child a mahjong set is fun by itself because of how beautiful it is. However, it also introduces them to strategy, cunning, and outsmarting their opponents. These elements make the game interesting, as does learning how to play it in the first place. Children can also play mahjong solo, making it an excellent option for entertaining them during the holidays.

Wordscapes

If you want your kids to learn more vocabulary, try them on Wordscapes. The game is like Scrabble, getting children to solve various crosswords with a handful of letters and a few hints.

Yes, it’s a brainteaser and something you could find in any daily newspaper. But the fact that it’s on the computer and has gamified learning elements makes it a perfect choice for kids. Sure, it won’t increase their vocabulary straight away. But it will introduce them to new words they haven’t encountered before and help them recognize them in the classroom.

Portal

Portal is another video game that’s ideal for ten-year-olds. The first version came out in 2012. But because of its art style, it still feels quite fresh today.

The game puts kids in a research facility governed by a narcissistic AI called GLaDOS. Players have to navigate various three-dimensional spaces and solve puzzles using the in-game physics engine.

Portal doesn’t look like it should be an educational experience, but it is. Kids must be rational problem-solvers and develop solutions that work in the in-game environment. It can often take hours of experimentation before they get it right.

Kerbal Space Program

If your kid loves the solar system, then Kerbal Space Program could be right up their street. The game attempts to recreate interplanetary physics, allowing children to generate weird and wacky heavenly arrangements and watch how they evolve.

Children start by launching a working spaceship into orbit or building one themselves on the ground. Realistic physics and aerodynamics simulate how their creation would fly through the air if something similar took off from one of the pads at the real-life Cape Canaveral.

The game was so revolutionary when it came out that it garnered interest from NASA and the B612 Foundation (a non-profit exploring planetary defense). Players could explore the solar system and simulate almost any interplanetary or celestial event.

Azul

Finally, Azul is a board game that teaches ten-year-old kids spatial awareness and pattern recognition. The tile-placement game gets players to compete to produce the most beautiful designs, with the winner being the one that outfoxes everyone else.

Fortunately, Azul also has simple rules – part of its beauty. Children must watch other players to anticipate their moves while planning their own. Correct placement of tiles lets juniors score more points and ultimately, win.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it: our top games for ten-year-olds. Why not try them today and see how your kids get on with them?

DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.