How Video Games are Shaping Our Homeschooling Journey

I’ve been working on something exciting lately—a masterclass on how to create a personalized curriculum for homeschooling. It’s packed with lessons my wife and I have learned over the past five years of homeschooling, starting during COVID like many families. One of the sections I’ve been most excited to complete is all about how we use video games in our homeschool.

Now, I’m a gamer through and through—Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Oculus, even a classic arcade machine with Ms. Pacman—but what surprised me is how much potential video games have for education. What I love about games isn’t just the fun, it’s that they’ve become a safe place to fail, experiment, and explore ideas that aren’t always easily accessible in real life.

Here are a few ways we’ve used video games to enhance learning:

Microsoft Flight Simulator​
This one blew me away. Using real-time satellite imagery and real-world weather effects, this game is a fantastic way to explore geography. My youngest and I even flew from Charlotte airport, following the interstate until we found our own house! It was a memorable, hands-on way to learn about navigation and geography.

Assassin’s Creed Origins: Discovery Tour Mode​
While the regular game isn’t suitable for young kids, the Discovery Tour mode allows players to explore ancient Egypt in a way that’s immersive and educational. You can wander through famous landmarks and learn about ancient culture, architecture, and history—all with expert narration guiding the experience.

Mission ISS on Oculus​
This app lets you experience the International Space Station like never before. You can float around in zero gravity, take a spacewalk, and learn about the real-life experiments and instruments on board. My kids were fascinated with this one—especially the experience of floating through space while seeing Earth below.

Tilt Brush (Google) on Oculus​
Tilt Brush is another favorite, where creativity and art take center stage. It’s a 3D painting app that allows you to create vibrant illustrations in virtual reality. The freedom to play with size, perspective, and colors makes this one a hit with my kids. It’s such a creative outlet, and it challenges their artistic thinking in a new dimension.

The best part about incorporating these games into our homeschool is that they’ve given our kids access to experiences they wouldn’t normally have—like flying a plane or walking in space. And as I’ve been working through the masterclass, I’ve realized how important it is to make learning fun, immersive, and most importantly, relevant to their interests.

If you’ve been looking for ways to engage your kids in new, creative ways or give them hands-on learning experiences without ever leaving home, I encourage you to explore the potential of video games in your homeschool.

Let’s keep making learning as immersive and engaging as possible!

Looking for more homeschooling inspiration or a great community? Future Focus Homeschooling