15 video games that teach kids about money

Video games can be great tools for teaching kids financial literacy while they’re having fun. From managing budgets to making smart investment choices, these games help kids learn a variety of money skills. Here are 15 of the best finance-focused games to help your child develop money smarts.

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Best for: Budgeting and saving 

This beloved Nintendo game teaches kids about earning, spending, and saving money as they develop their own island paradise. Players take on a mortgage they must repay, teaching them the importance of managing debt responsibly and planning for long-term financial commitments. By earning in-game currency (Bells) through various activities like fishing and selling items, kids learn how to budget for expenses, make smart purchases, and save for larger financial goals. 

2. The Sims 4

Best for: Budgeting and life expenses 

The Sims 4 puts players in a position to manage a household, including overseeing the budget, paying bills, maintaining a career, and making discretionary spending choices. Kids can quickly learn that overspending on luxury items may leave their Sims unable to pay rent or buy essentials, reinforcing the importance of financial planning and living within one’s means.

3. Roblox: Retail Tycoon 2

Best for: Business and entrepreneurship 

In this Roblox game, players build and manage their own store. Kids can learn the ins and outs of running a business, from keeping shelves stocked to figuring out what customers actually want. They have to decide how much to charge, when to restock inventory, and how to attract more shoppers — all while making sure their store stays profitable. This hands-on approach can provide valuable insights into how real businesses work.

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4. Stardew Valley

Best for: Earning and investing 

This farming simulation game teaches kids the basics of running a business. Players earn income by growing crops, raising animals, and selling products at a profit. They must also reinvest in equipment, infrastructure, and seeds to sustain long-term growth. The game can teach patience, strategic planning, and the importance of reinvesting profits wisely.

5. RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic

Best for: Business management and investments 

This classic game gives kids an inside look at what it might take to run a theme park. Players learn to set admission prices, manage park expenses, and invest in new attractions to increase revenue. It can reinforce financial trade-offs by showing how overspending in one area can lead to a loss in profits elsewhere.

6. Planet Zoo

Best for: Managing a budget and investments 

Kids may be drawn in by the idea of taking care of adorable animals, but Planet Zoo also explores the business aspects of running a zoo. Players have to set ticket prices, budget for animal care, and decide when to expand their zoo. Overspending on new exhibits without proper planning may lead to financial trouble, while smart investments and reinvesting profits may lead to long-term success.

7. Monopoly Plus

Best for: Investing and asset management 

Monopoly Plus turns the classic board game into an interactive learning experience, teaching kids how to build wealth through real estate investments, rent collection, and strategic financial planning. As they buy properties, negotiate deals, and manage mortgages, they can gain an understanding of risk assessment and long-term financial decision-making.

8. Minecraft (Marketplace and Economy Mode)

Best for: Entrepreneurship and trading 

Minecraft’s Marketplace and trading system can give kids hands-on experience with the concept of supply and demand. Players can make and sell goods, barter with villagers, and run their own in-game businesses. As kids set prices and respond to market changes, they can develop an understanding of a variety of critical thinking and entrepreneurial skills.

9. Virtonomics

Best for: Economics and entrepreneurship 

Virtonomics is a deep-dive into the mechanics of running a real business. Players take on the role of CEOs, managing companies, analyzing market trends, and making data-driven financial decisions. Unlike many games, this one doesn’t rely on quick wins — it forces kids to think critically about long-term strategy, competition, and economic sustainability, making it a great tool for teaching business fundamentals.

10. SimCity BuildIt

Best for: Budgeting and resource management 

SimCity BuildIt puts kids in charge of running an entire city, balancing budgets, managing public services, and investing in the city's growth. As the city expands, players must allocate resources wisely, collect taxes, and reinvest in infrastructure while avoiding financial pitfalls. This game can help kids grasp the importance of planning, budgeting, and strategic spending in a way that mirrors real-world financial challenges.

11. AdVenture Capitalist

Best for: Passive income and investing 

AdVenture Capitalist makes the idea of passive income easy to grasp by letting kids build businesses that keep making money even when they're not playing. It teaches the power of smart investments, showing that putting money in the right places can lead to long-term financial growth. Through trial and error, kids can learn why reinvesting profits is a key to growing wealth over time.

12. Tropico 6

Best for: Economics and financial planning 

Tropico 6 challenges players to run a nation by making critical financial decisions on taxation, trade, and infrastructure. Kids can quickly see how setting tax rates impacts citizens’ happiness, how trade policies affect national revenue, and how poor financial planning can lead to economic collapse. It’s a dynamic way to learn about macroeconomics and the power of strategic governance.

13. Cities: Skylines

Best for: Budgeting and municipal economics 

Cities: Skylines puts kids in the mayor’s seat, where every financial decision affects their growing metropolis. They’ll learn to balance city budgets, adjust taxes, and invest in infrastructure — all while keeping citizens happy. This hands-on experience can help them grasp the real-world impact of smart financial planning and resource management.

14. Farming Simulator 22

Best for: Business strategy and resource management 

Farming Simulator 22 turns agriculture into a hands-on financial lesson. Kids must carefully budget for equipment, track fluctuating market prices, and decide when to sell for the best return. By carefully budgeting for equipment and tracking market prices, kids see firsthand how strategic investments can lead to higher profits. 

15. Capitalism Lab

Best for: Advanced business and economic strategy 

Capitalism Lab immerses kids in the complexities of running a business, from managing supply chains to making investment decisions. They can learn how competition, market trends, and financial planning impact success. It challenges kids to think like CEOs, making data-driven decisions and adapting to market shifts, giving them a real-world understanding of business strategy and economic principles.

Leveling up financial skills through play

By choosing the right video games, parents can help their children build essential financial skills like budgeting, investing, and strategic decision-making while having fun. These games provide a safe space for kids to experiment with financial choices and see the consequences, helping them develop habits that will serve them well in real life.

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