Games That Offer An Amazing Learning Experience For Real Life

The gaming industry has spawned countless titles now that we’re in 2024, considering that the domain traces its initial beginnings as far back as the 1950s. With that being said, the purpose of video games has mostly been sheer “entertainment,” but with some iterations, the motive has been more than what comes on the label. 

Over the course of the past years, I’ve gone through games that are genuinely amazing at teaching you different things in real life. If you’d like to entertain yourself but also be educational about it, keep on reading to find out what my curated suggestions look like. 

Who Said Video Games Were A Waste Of Time?

Make sure to read until the very end for favorable results, and while you’re at it, do leave a comment down below if you feel like another title could be added to the list. 

1. Car Mechanic Simulator 

Since the name is pretty self-explanatory and you probably have a basic idea of what this game is going to be about, it’s worth mentioning that Car Mechanic Simulator can be genuinely useful for those who are absolute beginners with cars. People wanting to learn more about the automotive industry and understand what car parts go where will find this game to be a godsend, no questions asked.  

And I say this because the claim comes from personal experience. After sinking in a couple hundred hours into Car Mechanic Sim, I didn’t stand clueless as my nearby car serviceman blabbered on about different car parts as he worked on my vehicle. Heck, I was able to understand most of that jargon, all thanks to this game and the praiseworthy approach that it offers to beginners. 

Fortuitously, the sim is currently a cool 60% off on Steam, which reduces its $8.49 MSRP to merely $3.39. This is fantastic pricing for a game that you could learn so much from. 

2. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice 

I’m of the opinion that the essence of FromSoftware as a developer does not get talked about enough. Not only does it uphold its values in the sense that the company head Hidetaka Miyazaki does not let layoffs happen, but it also creates flat-out fantastic games that are just teeming with value on multiple levels.

What you really get from playing these FromSoft-made games is the lesson of patience, and how giving up is nothing but impossible in the face of those who oppose you. It deliberately makes hard games, thus the super popular running joke around the community “Git Gud,” so you’ll train yourself to actually get better at the game and improve your skills. 

I’ve taken Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the 2019-released action masterpiece, as the prime example here, because this one is arguably the hardest game FromSoftware ever had the privilege of making. 

Above all, the single most valuable lesson Sekiro taught me is to love a challenge even if it defeats you.” 

3. Farming Simulator 22

If you’re an enthusiast for sim-based games, the next title I recommend after Car Mechanic Simulator is Farming Simulator 22, a visuals-focused title that really digs deep into the hyperrealistic world of farming and teaches you the ins and outs of the craft accordingly. Everything ranging from the fundamentals of modern farming to the machinery required to put things into motion is focused on in the game. 

It may start off slow, but trust me, once the game picks up its pace, it’s going to be the only title you play among other entries in your backlog. Besides, a sequel to Farming Simulator is real and coming, being a bigger, better rendition of the series than ever before. 

4. Oxygen Not Included

A space colony sim by heart, Oxygen Not Included is an exceptional game that puts heavy emphasis on the discipline of science and physics and the laws and fundamentals surrounding them. It truly takes players on a trip down memory lane, making them pay attention to what they already should have in school.

The game is popular on Steam, with more than 100,000 reviews with the majority of them being positive, and is considered a must-play for anyone looking to derive value from their gameplay experiences. 

5. Kerbal Space Program

The final spot on the list belongs to the gem that is Kerbal Space Program. This is a strictly science-based title that has you overlooking space programs, and honing science to your benefit in order to conduct new experiments that are as innovative as they come. A pity that the sequel couldn’t be as good as the first release, but hey, you’ve still got the original bursting at the seams with quality. 

This game is a phenomenal way to learn about how rocketry and spaceflight actually work. I’ve sunk some serious hours into it,” says one Orion0224 on Steam.