Financial literacy is an essential skill in today's fast-paced world. Even so, teaching financial concepts (and keeping up with a tumultuous market) can seem daunting. Schools and other learning and development institutions can create programs to help students–both young and old–better understand the basics of financial management.
Whether you're an instructor, an HR professional, or a business leader, incorporating engaging and interactive financial training methods can help students understand how to approach realistic financial scenarios that could impact them for decades.
To help you maximize your financial literacy training, we’ve rounded up 12 of the best financial games for all types of learners this year.
12 Financial literacy games to jumpstart learning
Games designed for financial literacy provide students of all ages with a fun and practical way to learn about financial health and stability. (Not to mention, gamification makes any money-related concept more memorable!)
In this roundup, we’ve divided our categories into financial literacy games for adults and younger K-12 or high school students. If you’re an instructor serving one group or the other, this list will help you choose a platform that caters to your specific audience.
Financial literacy games for adults
Financial literacy games for adults and older students introduce essential financial concepts. They can also encourage adults to make important lifestyle changes to pave the way for healthier, more sustainable financial futures. Market Watch reports that only 57% of Americans are financially literate, highlighting the importance of financial education for adults.
If you work with adult learners or simply want to test out a new program yourself, check out these financial game options.
1. FDIC Money Smart
FDIC Money Smart is a financial education program designed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Money Smart has many resources for educators and students to learn about finances through hands-on activities, including quizzes and games to gauge financial awareness.
In this program, students learn about borrowing, earning, protecting and saving money for retirement. Learners can also use assessments to answer the top question: “How Money Smart Are You?” There are also resources for teaching, guiding children to financial literacy, and joining the FDIC’s Money Smart Alliance.
2. Financial Football
Financial Football is an engaging and competitive game developed by Visa. This interactive experience uses the excitement of football to teach players about financial concepts.
Players answer financial questions to advance down the field and score important “financial” touchdowns. It's an excellent tool for adults who want to brush up on their financial knowledge in a fun and interactive way (with plenty of sports metaphors to make it fun).
3. Time for Payback
Time for Payback is a game that simulates the financial decisions students must make to manage college life and beyond.
Players have a chance to make choices about student loans, part-time jobs, and living expenses, all while trying to graduate without excessive debt. This is an ideal game for young adults preparing to navigate post-college life.
4. SPENT
SPENT is a powerful online game that puts players in the scenario of living paycheck-to-paycheck. The game presents realistic scenarios that require tough financial decisions, highlighting the struggles many individuals face as they juggle responsibilities and lower incomes. SPENT provides an eye-opening experience that fosters empathy and financial awareness, encouraging adults to make more guided decisions on the path to financial wellness.
5. Charge!
Charge! is an interactive game that teaches players about credit cards and managing debt. Players must make decisions about new purchases, expected payments, and interest rates to maintain a good credit score. Even though it’s simple to open a new line of credit, managing it responsibly is a different process entirely.
As a result, Charge! acts as a valuable tool for understanding the complexities of credit management well into adulthood.
Financial literacy games for high schoolers (K-12)
With increasing economic complexities, understanding financial principles from a young age can set the foundation for future success. That’s why more civic organizations, including the United Way, are advocating for youth financial programs as early as elementary school.
6. Banzai
Banzai is an interactive, online platform that offers practical financial scenarios to high school students. It helps learners understand budgeting, saving, and managing unexpected expenses through engaging simulations.
In activities designed for three different age groups, students learn how to manage their money and test their decision-making skills when it comes to spending. With Banzai, educators also receive free printed workbooks that align with each financial literacy course.
7. EverFi
EverFi provides a comprehensive suite of digital courses that cover various financial topics. From basic budgeting to investing, this game uses videos, animations, and interactive activities to encourage student engagement.
EverFi also includes self-paced courses for elementary, middle, or high school students. At each level, there is a specific focus related to age and concept mastery. It’s an effective, engaging way to move students from simple to complex financial topics based on their age and maturity.
8. Nearpod
Nearpod is an interactive learning platform that combines lessons with real-time assessments and interactive learning experiences. The platform’s financial literacy options help educators cover essential topics like credit, taxes, and budgeting, making it ideal for high school learners.
Nearpod’s learning platform is also set up to deliver open-ended responses, quizzes, polls, and videos with retroactive questions.
9. Money Magic
Money Magic is a fun, interactive game that teaches students about earning, saving, and spending money wisely. The game's engaging graphics and scenarios help illustrate the consequences of financial decisions.
This game has a character named Enzo who must manage his spending to get to Las Vegas and perform as a magician. It’s interactive and very visually engaging for students to use as they learn to make decisions about spending and look at the impact of these decisions on their “pretend” budget.
10. Practical Money Skills
Developed by Visa, Practical Money Skills offers a range of games and resources designed to teach financial literacy. Games like "Financial Football" and "Financial Soccer" make learning about money management fun and competitive for younger learners.
Some games, including Cash Puzzler, Peter the Pig’s Money Counter, the Payoff, cater to learners as young as five years old. The site also offers lesson plans and videos for students in grades pre-K through high school, college and for special needs. Popular topics include budgeting, managing debt, dealing with identity theft, and setting up a savings account.
11. Quizizz
Quizizz provides customizable quizzes on various financial topics. Teachers can create their own quizzes or use pre-made ones to test students’ knowledge in a fun and interactive way.
This game-based learning platform includes ready-to-use games for teachers to use when testing students on new financial literacy concepts. Teachers can search the library to find a quiz or pre-made lesson, or customize it based on need.
12. Hit the Road
Hit the Road is an interactive adventure game where students learn about budgeting, saving, and making smart financial choices. Players must manage a budget while traveling, facing unexpected costs and making spending decisions.
This is an officially sponsored website of the U.S. government, and it incorporates important information about credit unions and their economic impact.
Discover the best ways to teach financial literacy to students
Teaching financial literacy effectively requires a blend of theory and practical application. Games offer an immersive way for students to apply what they've learned in real-world scenarios, but it’s important to consider the age group, learning objectives, and overall relevance.
Many schools across the United States are starting to include personal finance courses as part of high school graduation requirements. As of 2022, 35 states have introduced legislation to bring personal finance into the required high school curriculum.
From elementary school to higher education, there are a growing number of resources to help students learn how to manage their finances and make long-term plans.
FAQs
What is a good example of financial literacy education?
A good example of financial literacy education is a curriculum that combines traditional lessons with interactive tools like financial literacy games. This approach ensures that students not only understand theoretical concepts but also know how to apply them in real life.
Many important tasks related to financial literacy are part of our everyday financial lives. This includes planning a family budget, applying for a personal or business loan, preparing taxes, and purchasing a home.
In some schools, students are required to take basic life skills courses that cover financial topics like goal-setting, spending, budgeting, and using banking services. Some financial literacy content goes a step further, helping students understand wages and deductions, credit card and personal loan management, identity theft, investment essentials, and career planning.
How can teachers encourage financial literacy?
Because not all schools have specific financial programs, teachers can look to traditional tools like board games and digital resources to help generate excitement in age-appropriate ways.
For instance, financial literacy board games like Life, Monopoly, or Payday have been used for decades to teach money management concepts.
Additionally, educators can create learning experiences related to entrepreneurship and have students work together to design a product or create a solution to a problem. In this way, students get hands-on experience with planning, funding, budgeting, and many more real-world tasks that directly connect to class curriculum.
Why is it important to make financial literacy fun for students?
Students need the knowledge and the skills to make financial decisions, manage their money, and plan for a stable future. It is imperative that schools create a space for students to learn what good habits are when it comes to money and investing, learning how to pay for things, and avoiding unnecessary debt.
Financial literacy is an essential skill for everyone. The more fun it is for students, the more quickly they can assimilate and retain information that could have a tangible impact on their future.
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