Popular Online Games with a Math Twist

Practicing math is usually pretty low on an average student’s list of priorities. Playing online games effortlessly makes it to the top of the list. Parents and educators quickly put two and two together to conclude that the simplest way to get students to practice math is to sneak it into a fun online game. Catching on, game developers began to create engaging and addictive cool math games that disguised math practice as entertainment. This tactic is not very different from those macaroni and cheese meals with hidden vegetables that parents serve their fussy eaters. Unsurprisingly, it works equally well. 

Math is used in a wide variety of situations and ways in real life. The cool math games online reflect this diversity, sneaking math into every type of online game popular with kids. A quick look at the top cool math games for kids reveals how ingeniously learning and fun can be combined. In some cases, previously existing online games were tweaked to add an element of math to the game play. In others, a popular game format was replicated to create a new game with a math twist to it. Here are some of the most popular ones online: 

Cool Math Racing Game - Crazy Taxi 

Racing games are all about speed, rides and control of the vehicle. Very popular with young boys, there are hundreds of free racing games online. The online game ‘Crazy Taxi’ has always been a big hit with the public. In the game, players drive a taxi with the simple goal of driving as fast as possible. Cars that get in the way are simply jumped over. The success of the online game led to a cool math game on similar lines – the cars in the game each have a number across the back of the vehicle. The taxi driver’s goal is to get to the finish line while bumping into all cars that are multiples of a given number, and avoiding the others. 

Cool Math Strategy Game – Fireboy and Watergirl 

Strategy games are another type of immensely popular online game for kids. By their very nature, strategy games help kids develop problem solving, logical and critical thinking skills. These skills play an important role in solving math problems. Therefore strategy games are a perfect example of cool math games for kids. Fireboy and Watergirl is a fun strategy game online. Players control two avatars made of fire and water respectively. While both characters must work together to win each level, they cannot come in contact with each other or they risk losing their lives. 

Cool Math Simulation Game – Coffee Shop 

Simulation games are games that replicate real life situations to give players experiences that they otherwise could not have. For example, there are simulation games where players manage a sports team, run a farm, build a city or even live life as a different persona. In simulation games, the player’s actions shape the development and progress of the game. Coffee Shop is a cool math game that works the same way. Players run their own coffee stand, buying material to make coffee, fixing the recipe and setting the price of a cup of coffee at the start of each day. Customers’ reactions vary accordingly, forming the reputation of the hotel. Players use each day’s earnings and the business lessons learnt to buy material for the next day. Games like this require players to use their math skills in realistic, life-like situations. Coffee shop involves calculating how much ingredients can be bought each day, calculating the profit on each cup of coffee, reading graphs about customer experience, etc. Additionally, players make important decisions based on the mathematical information available to them. 

These are just a few of the many types of cool math games available for kids to play. If you are looking for a great math game for your children, you can do a little research to find out what kind of online game they like best, and then look for fun online math games in those categories. With a little patience and effort, you’re sure to find great math games that get your kids eager to practice math – err.. play online!