Edugames, a blend of 'educational' and 'games', are designed to provide an engaging and interactive way for players to learn new concepts, skills, or information. Unlike traditional educational methods, these games offer a dynamic learning environment that can cater to a variety of learning styles. They are particularly popular in school settings and for at-home learning, offering a balance between educational content and entertaining gameplay.
So, What makes a good Educational Game?
It is important to remember your target audience at all times. Edugames can be made for little kids learning math for the first time, middle-schoolers learning chemistry fundamentals, college students learning about theoretical physics, or even corporate executives learning about a new topic in their company such as cyber security.
The Game's mechanics and complexity should reflect the target audience, little kids won't have the physical dexterity to press buttons and perform logical operations in a small amount of time. At the same time, a 12-year-old gamer that plays games like Fortnite might get bored if the game isn't challenging enough. The difficulty and dexterity curve comes down again for corporate executives as many of them do not play video games on a daily or even weekly basis, sometimes not even on their phones. Making complex games might become a challenge for this audience so make sure you think about what games might cater to the specific target audience before you write any code.
Make sure that the game itself isn't just a bunch of text pasted into a UI element as well. The game must be engaging. There is however a balance as a game that is only about the fun, might not be about the learning.
Here are 5 different Educational Games
The best way to understand what these games are all about is by showing it, so here are 5 edugames developed by Yellow Panda Games.
Fungus Magus
This is a game made for professionals of the health industry as well as the students of Dr. André Leal, a Full Professor at the Faculdade de Saúde de Petrolina Soberana with to promote academic information about fungi, especially the ones with medical interest.
Magna's Magnets
Learning about magnets has never been easier! Magna's Magnets was made and published in partnership with Legends of Learning, a distribution platform for children-oriented educational games. This is a sequential/story-driven game where players help Dr. Magna assemble and test a fully functional magnet.
Space Lab
How about learning about chemical reactions? This is why Space Lab was made. developed and published in partnership with Legends of Learning, this is a story-based game that shows players the different reactions that a variety of chemical compounds have when mixed. It also teaches them about the scientific method and observational methods.
Poikilingo
Poikilingo was born from the desire of expat moms to pass their native language to their children. They aim to democratize access to fun & engaging learning apps for all kids. Poikilingo is a mobile app that hosts several educational games which talk about the first day of school, going to the toilet, getting dressed, and several other great topics!
Agrinho MS 2021
Agrinho MS is part of an annual event hosted by SENAR MS. The web-based game portal taught children about the different aspects of the day to day farm life.
How much does an educational game cost to make?
So now that we know what an edugame is, let's talk about how much it costs to make one. Every game is unique and these values should not be used as more than a general idea, but here are a few examples:
Mini Games can range from 4.000 to 6.000 USD. These are small, replayable games with very simple mechanics, usually contained inside another app, and don't contain special monetization methods. These are usually Pacmans, Pongs, and Fruit Ninjas.
Simple Games can range from 8.000 to 12.000 USD. These are more complex games and can be longer story-driven games. These games may contain more complex mechanics such as powerups, multiple game modes, In App Purchases, and an in-game store. Examples include a runner like Knowa Slide or even Magna's Magnets
Medium Games can range from 17.000 to 22.000 USD and offer much more depth, may include more complex dialog systems, quest systems, rewards, a more in-depth monetization model, unlockables, collectibles, a bigger story, and even achievements. Games like Cyber Fighters and Speed Box fit this category.
Big Games can range from 25.000 to 35.000 USD. These are on the complex spectrum usually utilizing more high-end graphics, complex narratives, voice over, and complex animations. These games offer bigger playtime and much more value.
It is however important to note that while we are generally able to classify games into categories like this, each game is unique, and therefore each game is quoted differently. Different providers may give you different quotes for the same game as well. Make sure you get a professional quote before making any important decisions. We can help you get started, send us an email at comercial@yellowpanda.games.
On Which Platforms should i publish my game?
This is a difficult yet important decision to make. Each platform has its ups and downs. First of all, make sure that your end goal does not require a specific platform. For example, when working with platforms such as Legends of Learning, games must be made for web browsers. Additionally, here is a list of the most common platforms for edugames:
Web browsers offer the most shareability. Anyone can just merely copy and paste the URL into a chat with their friends and they are now instantly playing your game. Web games also retain players for less time as they get distracted by other activities and end up closing the game more easily. While more accessible, web games are not able to fully utilize the whole processing power of the devices, resulting in smaller and simpler games. You must also take into consideration the download size as players won't want to spend several minutes while the game is loading. If you would like to know more about this platform, here is an article that covers it.
Mobile is the biggest market there is. Almost everyone owns a smartphone nowadays and is able to install games on it. Mobile games retain players for longer periods as the game remains installed and an icon populates the user's device screen until uninstalled. They are also able to leverage extra features such as in-depth analytics software, push notifications, in-app purchases, and ad monetization. App stores such as the Google Play Store and Apple App Store are able to help you reach larger audiences due to discoverability and app store optimizations.
Steam is where you go if you are aiming at gamers. While mobile and web can reach regular and casual users, Steam can help you reach heavier gamers who are willing to pay upfront to have a great experience. Much like the mobile app stores, this store gives you a generous amount of monthly visitors to your game's page. This platform also indicates that your game will be available on Desktop devices, therefore being capable of offering higher-quality visuals and gameplay elements.
Virtual and Mixed Reality can be used if immersion is what you seek. Since the user is completely inside your game, they are also unable to look away from it. Using this technology, we can capture the user's attention for far longer, however, experiences must be very polished and engaging. We recommend a standalone device such as the Meta Quest 3. These can also be used in real-life situations such as a classroom.
Augmented Reality, usually done via a handheld phone can be useful to illustrate a variety of topics for students to further learn. Imagine a textbook that shows an illustration of a heart, by pointing the camera towards the book, a 3D animated beating heart appears on top of it, showing how the organ works and even offering a narrator that explains the given topic.
What engine is the best one for educational games?
This is a widely discussed topic in the game development industry. Each game has its own requirements and you should ideally discuss this with your chosen development team. Web games for instance should ideally be made in engines such as Construct or Phaser to leverage better performance and smaller build sizes for mobile devices. If you are looking for a 3D mobile game, Unity might be the best option. A Super realistic PC and Console game might be more suited for Unreal Engine. Each project requires a specific engine.
Final Words
Educational games can be a great way to engage students who are normally uninterested in the old ways of teaching. The newer generations are accustomed to multi-tasking and rapidly switching to new interactive content. This means that idly sitting in a classroom for an hour might be difficult for them as their minds wander off into the distance. Edugames can remedy this issue by presenting them with interactive and engaging content that will keep their focus while filling their minds with useful knowledge.
At Yellow Panda Games, we can help you build your own custom educational games. Learn more about our studio here.
FAQ
What are Educational Games?
Educational Games or Edugames are games made with the primary goal of teaching people about a specific skill or knowledge.
WHO are Educational Games for?
These games are not only for children and teenagers. Many adults can utilize these games, especially in a corporate setting where they must learn a new topic.
How long does it take to make an Edugame?
It depends on the complexity of the game. It usually takes between 2 weeks and 6 months.
How much does it cost to make an Edugame?
To make an Edugame it may cost between 4.000 to 35.000 USD. It really depends on what you are looking for as the more complex the project is, the more expensive it will get.
