Social-emotional learning (aka SEL) has been a hot topic in education for a while now, and for good reason. SEL is all about helping students develop the skills they need to manage their emotions, set goals, build empathy, create strong relationships, and make smart choices. While these skills are essential for success in school and beyond, teaching them can be a challenge. That’s where video games come in!
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some amazing video games that are great for promoting social-emotional learning. These games cover a wide range of topics and use different mechanics to teach skills like empathy, perspective-taking, problem-solving, and resilience.
via Tenor
When designed with a specific purpose in mind, games can create immersive experiences that encourage social-emotional growth in ways that traditional teaching methods might not. By putting players in different roles, presenting them with complex social situations, and giving them challenges that require emotional control and decision-making, video games provide a safe environment to practice and develop these skills.
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Signs of the Sojourner is a unique narrative card game that explores the complexities of human relationships and the art of connection. In this game, players step into the shoes of a character who inherits their mother’s store after her passing. To keep the shop running, players must journey to various locations, seeking rare goods and engaging with a diverse cast of characters along the way.
What sets Signs of the Sojourner apart is its innovative approach to conversations and decision-making. The game’s card-based mechanics serve as a reflection of the player’s character, with each card representing their experiences, perspectives, and relationships. As players engage in conversations with other characters, they must choose whether to play cards that match their partner’s tone and perspective, or prioritize their own point of view. These choices have consequences that shape the player’s deck, influencing future conversations and ultimately leading to a variety of possible endings.
Throughout the game, players will encounter heartwarming stories, compassionate characters, and surprises in a world where travel is challenging, and climate change has taken its toll. The game explores themes of personal growth, friendship, and the meaning of home as players navigate the difficulties of maintaining childhood friendships while forging new connections on the road.
Interested in a multiplayer game that promotes social-emotional learning? In Sky: Children of the Light, players are invited to rediscover their sense of wonder and go on an adventure of self-discovery and healing. Set in the Realms of Sky, a world plagued by Darkness, players must use their inner Light to restore balance and help trapped ancestral Spirits return to their celestial home.
This game offers an expansive, open world filled with endless adventures, quests, and puzzles. Players can explore the ruins of an ancient civilization, take flight, attend concerts, and even throw parties in their in-game homes. The deep, expansive lore of Sky: Children of the Light is revealed through environmental storytelling, as players discover relics, decipher murals, and uncover the history of the world and their place within it.
Through exploration, puzzle-solving, and social interaction, Sky: Children of the Light encourages players to connect with others and express their individuality in a welcoming, inclusive community. With an ever-expanding catalog of cosmetics and beautifully animated emotes, players can showcase their style and forge meaningful connections with other players. The game’s emphasis on cooperation, empathy, and self-expression makes it an excellent tool for promoting social-emotional learning, as players navigate a world filled with both challenges and beauty, learning to understand and support one another along the way.
Developed by a team of graduate students at Carnegie Mellon University, Prism is a digital game designed to help neurotypical children aged 8 to 10 develop empathy and understanding towards their peers on the autism spectrum. The game combines engaging gameplay with a comprehensive discussion framework for instructors, guiding children through the game and its real-life applications.
By addressing the critical need for increased awareness and understanding of autism, Prism serves as a technological solution to a pressing societal issue. Moreover, Prism‘s potential extends beyond its current target age group, with the possibility of expanding its reach to include parents of autistic children, educators, and the broader community. By promoting empathy, understanding, and inclusivity, Prism has the power to create a more compassionate and accepting society, where individuals on the autism spectrum are valued and supported.
Dive into the depths of loneliness and self-discovery in Sea of Solitude, a poignant action-adventure game that explores the human condition. Players see the world through the eyes of Kay, a young woman navigating a flooded city and confronting her inner demons.
Sea of Solitude creates a metaphorical world where Kay’s environment reflects her state of mind, with water levels rising and falling, and light and color shifting as she progresses. By exploring this transformative landscape, players encounter fantastical creatures and monsters, each with their own stories of loneliness to share. Through solving puzzles and ridding the world of tainted memories, players help Kay confront her struggles and gain a deeper understanding of herself and what it means to be human.
By tackling the complex theme of loneliness and its impact on mental health, the game promotes social-emotional learning, encouraging players to empathize with others, recognize their own emotions, and seek connection in the face of adversity. Sea of Solitude ultimately delivers a moving tale of darkness and light, reminding us of the importance of self-reflection and the strength found in vulnerability.
In Spiritfarer, players assume the role of Stella, a ferrymaster tasked with guiding deceased spirits to the afterlife. This cozy management game combines a heartwarming narrative with engaging gameplay mechanics, inviting players to build and customize their boat, explore a mystical world, and forge deep connections with a cast of unforgettable characters.
Throughout the game, players engage in a variety of activities, such as farming, mining, fishing, cooking, and crafting, as they navigate the seas and help their spirit passengers find peace. The Spiritfarer Farewell Edition, the definitive version of the game, includes the base game and all additional content released to date, offering over 50 hours of gameplay for those seeking to fully immerse themselves in this enchanting world.
Spiritfarer encourages social-emotional learning through its poignant exploration of life, death, and the importance of cherishing the moments we have with our loved ones. As players care for their spirit passengers and create lasting memories, they learn valuable lessons about empathy, compassion, and the bittersweet nature of saying goodbye. With its stunning hand-drawn art, moving emotional stories, and a co-op mode, Spiritfarer offers a unique and unforgettable gaming experience that will resonate with players long after the final farewell.
By immersing players in rich, narrative-driven worlds and presenting them with thought-provoking challenges, these games encourage players to practice critical social-emotional skills like empathy, communication, problem-solving, and self-awareness. Whether players are navigating the depths of their own emotions in Sea of Solitude or learning to cherish and let go of loved ones in Spiritfarer, these games offer powerful opportunities for growth and reflection.
Interested in leveraging the power of video games to support social-emotional learning in your classroom or organization? Contact us! In the past, we’ve created social-emotional learning games for high school students, cancer patients, and healthcare professionals. With over 17 years of experience designing and developing educational games, we’re passionate about creating impactful learning experiences that engage and inspire learners of all ages.
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