Before a kid learns to type if/then statements in Python, they need to understand logic. Coding is just a series of "if this happens, then do that" instructions. These games don't use real code, but they teach the mental architecture required to be a developer.

This game is brilliant and occasionally infuriating. In Baba Is You, the rules of the game are physical blocks you can move. If the blocks say "Wall Is Stop," you can't walk through walls. But if you move the blocks so they say "Wall Is You," you suddenly become the wall. It teaches syntax and logic manipulation in a way that feels like a puzzle, not a lesson.

This is essentially "Parallel Programming: The Game." You give a group of office workers instructions to solve tasks. It looks like a quirky office simulator, but it’s teaching complex automation and how to optimize code. It’s the sequel to Human Resource Machine, which is also excellent for teaching assembly-level logic.

You can't talk about kids and tech without Minecraft and Roblox. But there is a huge difference between playing them and programming in them.

Most kids play the "Bedrock" or "Java" versions of Minecraft. If you want them to code, steer them toward the Minecraft Education features. It allows kids to use a "Code Builder" (using blocks or Python) to automate building. Instead of spending five hours manually building a castle, they can write a script to build it in five seconds. That’s the "Aha!" moment where coding becomes a superpower.

Let’s be real: Roblox can be a toxic, money-draining mess if left unchecked. But Roblox Studio—the engine used to make the games—is a legitimate professional development tool. It uses a language called Lua. If your kid is obsessed with Blox Fruits or Adopt Me!, tell them they can make their own "obby" (obstacle course).

Read our full guide on whether Roblox is actually good for your kid

These are the platforms that bridge the gap between "dragging blocks around" and "typing actual code."

If your kid likes RPGs or dungeon crawlers, this is the winner. To move your character or attack an ogre, you have to type actual Python or JavaScript code. hero.moveRight() is a lot more fun to learn when it's the only way to save your character from a dragon. It feels like a real game, and the progression is paced perfectly for middle schoolers.

If you are an Apple household, this is a must-download. It’s a beautiful app that teaches Swift, the language used to build actual iPhone apps. It’s very "hand-holdy" at first, which is great for building confidence, but it eventually scales up to letting kids build and publish actual apps to the App Store.

We have to mention Scratch. Created by MIT, it’s the gateway drug for almost every modern programmer. It uses block-based coding, so there’s no "syntax error" frustration because a kid forgot a semicolon. They can make animations, games, and music. It’s also a social network, so they can "remix" other people's projects.

Coding is like a language; if you start too hard, they’ll quit. If you start too easy, they’ll get bored.

Check out our guide on finding the best coding camps and online classes

We often push coding because "software engineers make a lot of money." Sure, that’s true. But the real reason to encourage these games is agency.

Most of our kids' lives are spent interacting with algorithms designed to keep them scrolling. When a kid learns to code—even just a simple "Hello World" or a Scratch animation—the "magic" of the screen disappears. They realize that the digital world is something that can be manipulated, built, and critiqued, not just something they are a victim of. That is digital wellness in its purest form.

Coding is 10% creating and 90% "Why isn't this working?"

Your kid will get frustrated. They will hit a wall where their code doesn't run and they want to throw the iPad across the room. This is actually the most important part of the learning process. It’s called debugging.

When they come to you complaining that their Minecraft mod is broken, don't try to fix it (unless you're a dev, and even then, maybe don't). Ask them: "What did you expect to happen, and what happened instead?" That’s the core of engineering.

Instead of: "Are you playing games again?" Try: "What are you building today? Can you show me how the logic for that character works?"

If they are playing Roblox, ask: "Do you think you could make a level like this in the Studio?"

If they are into YouTube, point them toward creators like The Coding Train or Sebastian Lague, who make the process look like the creative art form it actually is.

Not every kid needs to be a computer scientist, but every kid should understand that software is written by people, not handed down by gods.

If you want to transition from "brain rot" to "brain growth," start with Scratch for the young ones and CodeCombat or Roblox Studio for the older ones. It turns the screen from a passive window into a workbench.

Ask our chatbot for more game recommendations based on your kid's specific personality