Money isn’t a game — except when it is.
Learning about money can be, well, pretty boring. Budgets? Piggy banks? Lame.
But there’s good news: Financial literacy can be fun — at any age.
Online personal finance platforms offer gamified instruction to anyone, anywhere. They’re entertaining. They’re interactive. And, most importantly, they’re educational.
Ready to get started? Here are 21 online financial literacy games for learners of all ages — from kids to adults.
Games for kids
No. 1: Cash Puzzler
Ages: 3-6
Cash Puzzler is a memory puzzle that draws on visualization cues. Your job is to put scrambled pieces of a puzzle back together to form a complete bill. Choose between different denominations of bills — from $1 to $100 — and learn fun facts about the presidents whose faces are printed on our money.
No. 2: Counting with Coins
Ages: 5-10
The U.S. Mint website offers several educational games, including Counting with Coins. The goal is to teach kids about effective money management. This game takes place in a grocery store. Players must do some quick addition and subtraction to determine the cost of groceries.
No. 3: Making Change
Ages: 5-10
Making Change is another educational game from the U.S. Mint. This one focuses on why U.S. currency looks the way it does. Players will learn all about coin shapes, materials used to make coins — including copper and gold -- the faces on coins, and more.
No. 4: Peter Pig's Money Counter
Ages: 5-8
Let Peter Pig teach you about U.S. currency. In this interactive game, students will learn how to identify, count, and save up money. Buy accessories within budget to dress up Peter Pig in the virtual store. And then watch fun scenes with your earnings.
No. 5: Wise Pockets
Ages: 5-10
Wise Pockets is an interactive money game targeted at kids, parents, and teachers. It covers the essential topics of income, spending, saving, and credit. Explore different rooms in the treehouse to learn more.
Games for high school students
No. 1: Balance Your Checking Account
Ages: 14-18
Have you ever balanced a checkbook or a checking account? Now is the time with this fun, informative simulation game. Fill in a blank register while following along to the prompts. Record your new balance after each entry. The correct balance will appear once you’ve correctly calculated the expenses. One wrong calculation will send you back to the start. Practice makes perfect.
No. 2: Credit Clash
Ages: 14-18
A perfect credit score is the ultimate achievement. With Credit Clash, kids will see just how hard it is to obtain one. They’ll battle their way to the perfect score while learning which actions help or hurt your credit. Scenarios include taking out multiple loans, negotiating a lower interest rate, and paying back debts.
No. 3: Financial Football
Ages: 11-18
Here’s an interactive football game that requires players to answer personal finance questions.
No. 4: Hit the Road: A Financial Adventure
Ages: 14-18
This interactive game focuses on spending and saving. Players will go on a virtual cross-country road trip and make decisions about how to manage their money. Create a budget, spend responsibly, and manage debt. Hit the Road has straightforward instructions, making it easy to play.
No. 5: Money Magic
Ages: 14-18
Money Magic teaches the basic principles of budgeting. Players control the main character, Enzo, who tends toward short-term gratification. Kids will have to make tough choices when balancing short-term wants with long-term needs.
No. 6: Payback
Ages: 14-18
Say goodbye to student loans -- virtually, at least. Payback encourages college hopefuls to think about student loan debt. It’s possible to earn a degree without taking on excessive amounts of student debt. This game will show you how. As a bonus, players can compete to earn $125,000 in scholarship money from Next Gen Personal Finance. The game is offered in English and Spanish.
No. 7: The Payoff
Ages: 14-18
The Payoff is an immersive experience that requires players to guide their video blogger character through life. Manage unexpected events and reap the rewards. The game interface looks like a mobile phone, allowing players to check their account balance and open fake websites.
No. 8: Plan’it Prom
Ages: 14-18
Did you know the average teen spends $1,000 on prom? To keep costs down, Visa’s free app Plan’it Prom helps teens and parents budget for prom expenses.
No. 9: Plan Your Dream Prom
Ages: 14-18
Can you plan your dream prom on a budget? Fill out a few pieces of information, including the prom date and money available to spend. Then choose your outfit, transportation, and more.
No. 10: Spent
Ages: 14-18
Can you meet financial obligations on a low income? Spent challenges players to understand the difficult decisions that families face when living paycheck to paycheck. Students will learn about making financial sacrifices when it comes to needs versus wants.
No. 11: STAX
Ages: 14-18
STAX is an investment game that allows players to build and grow wealth. This engaging, interactive game packs 20 years of investing into a few minutes. Trade during turbulent times and make bank during profitable periods. Players can compete against the computer or each other.
No. 12: Stock Market Game
Ages: 11-18
The Stock Market Game is a simulation of a global capital market. Students will learn about the fundamentals of economics, investing, and personal. They’ll also experience real-world applications of other subjects, like math and English.
No. 13: The Uber Game
Ages: 14-18
Can you survive the gig economy? The Uber Game lets players take on the role of a full-time Uber driver with two kids. Created by the Financial Times, this game challenges students to successfully pay their mortgage in a gig economy. And it’s not as easy as it seems!
Games for adults
No. 1: Charge!
Ages: 14-24
Credit is a convenient and useful financial tool, but it has risks. Mismanaged credit can rack up interest and fees. So what is the real cost of credit? Play Charge! and find out. The game demonstrates how the interest rate, payment period, and paying the minimum amount can affect the cost of credit in the long run.
No. 2: Check It Out!
Ages: 14-24
Do you have what it takes to manage your own finances? Graduating school. Living alone. Earning a paycheck. These are huge financial milestones — but financial responsibility takes hard work. In Check It Out! you must answer financial questions correctly to advance further in the game.
No. 3: Money Talks
Ages: 14-24
Money Talks is an interactive, online program suitable for teens and young adults. It includes comprehensive guides and resources for every stage of life — from the first job to living independently. The program is available in English and Spanish.
Bottom line
Mastering financial literacy is important for future success. Online financial literacy games provide a fun and educational option to do so — for all ages.
