TIGSource Forums

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew of some good math games for high school kids? I just started tutoring in this high school program for at risk kids, and one of the kids I am tutoring REALLY hates math, and is very behind. She is in algebra, but is still having problems with her basic arithmetic, adding, subtracting, multiplying. I think the problem is that she just really doesn't like it, and thinks she can't do it. But if she had a fun way to do math, maybe she could get better.

I remember when I was learning arithmetic, I used to play some math game on my computer that I thought was fun, but I can't remember what it was, I think it might have been an EA or Lucasarts game on DOS. So, I was wondering if anyone had some recommendation for a FUN math game? I found lots of math games online, but none I could imagine anyone finding fun. I figure if anyone knows, they are probably on TIGSource.

It doesn't have to be a game that explicitly teaches math, it could just be one that incidentally teaches math skills.

(PS, an educational game competition might be fun, it would be  a real good challenge to make it both fun and educational. Think of the children!)



EDIT:
I found the games!!! But I can't seem to make some of them work.
I can get math blaster 1 to work on a snes emulator.

I also found treasure mountain and and treasure mathstorm, but I cannot get them to run on my computer. I think its because it is windows 64bit. Any hints?

EDIT:
Scratch that, I found dosbox, what an awesome program! But, any more suggestions for good math games?

Are you particularly looking for very old games? I can ask my wife who is a Maths teacher but hers will probably be be flash.

math rescue :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_Munchers

Super Solvers: Operation Neptune.

I think I may download that to play right now.

http://www.cdosabandonware.com/std_games_details.php?gameid=2166#

Flash is fine, its just that all the flash games I found from google didn't seem like they would be any fun. If your wife knows some good flash games that would be great too.

I suspect there is a tradeoff between fun/speed of learning that ends up being made. I don't know where your sweetspot lies but these are but here's her master list anyway  :shrug2:

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm
http://counton.org/games/
http://www.numbernut.com/
http://www.mathsisfun.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/raw/money/
http://www.coolmath4kids.com/
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/
http://www.primarygames.com/math.htm
http://www.channel4learning.com/sites/puzzlemaths/games_menu.shtml
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Games/educational/maths.html
http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/mathsgames.htm
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/maths/contents04number.htm
http://www.theproblemsite.com/math_games.asp

Some look really dry but some look like a good stab at being more like games, e.g multiplayer math grand prix  :o http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/games/grand_prix/grand_prix.html (more good looking ones at http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/mathsgames.htm )

The Castle of Dr. Brain!  Okay, not much math but still.


Hmm...math games math games... going oldschool like Math Rescue and Number Munchers is pretty silly.  As for modern examples?  I'm not sure what you mean by math skills.  Like *arithmetic*?  Calculus?  Algebra? Probability?

Narrow it down and I think I can probably find something appropriate.

math and word rescue had the weirdest jumping physics, they were still awesome though.

Yes!  I remember that game.  Super fun.

I think educational math games are great.  Not only do they teach math, but they also help to acclimate students to computers in general.  Although, that might not be a problem for kids anymore.

I dunno, I thought this game was kinda fun: http://gamejolt.com/online/games/other/arithmetism/2075/

(press the up arrow key in game to play as guest)

I LOVED this game!!  We had it in our 6th grade classroom (along with Oregon Trail and Carmen Sandiego), and despite the fact that they were all edutainment games, everyone loved them because we only got to play for like 5 minutes each.  I loved the "Greatest Moments in Muncher History" cutscenes, haha :P

@supershigi

Yeah exactly.  I think every kid around here definitely grew up on those three games.  I remember the ONE almanac we had getting passed around.  There was a line-up just to get promoted in Carmen Sandiego.  :giggle:

For more advanced math games, I can't really think of anything.  Of course, there may be games that teach good principle (usually related to resource management), but actual math topics?  Nothing comes to mind.

Of course, there's plenty of math in games like Professor Layton.  ;)