Personal finance games and simulations for teens

Three first steps

1. Play a budgeting or credit game first, since those decisions come earliest.
2. After each game, write down one choice you would change and why.
3. Try a stock simulation only after you understand risk and diversification.

The resources

• BUMMER!

  See what happens when insurance does or does not cover a loss.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• Cat Insanity

  See minimum-payment and compound interest consequences.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• Credit Clash

  Learn the credit score consequences of financial decisions.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• Crypto Craze

  Explore speculative asset risk without using real funds.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• Hands on Banking Experience

  Assign fictional household profiles, then make spending decisions across 13 life categories.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulationAccount or sign-up needed

• Influenc’d

  Learn about entrepreneurial income and expenses through an influencer scenario.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• Money Magic

  Make budgeting and saving decisions with a fictional character.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• PAYBACK

  Choose a college, borrowing and lifestyle strategy while balancing costs and student outcomes.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• Shady Sam

  Understand predatory borrowing by playing the role of a lender.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• Shady Sam’s Slick Wheels

  Spot deceptive car finance and dealer sales tactics.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• SPENT

  Make tradeoffs while living paycheck to paycheck.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• STAX / Build your $TAX

  Experience 20 simulated years of investing decisions in about 20 minutes.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• The Uber Game

  Explore the tradeoffs in gig-economy income and costs.

  Hidden gemFreeGame & simulation

  Individual game is selected on publisher Arcade page; URL points to collection.

• CFPB Financial Aid Offer Comparison

  Students select among three fictitious college offers and explain consequences.

  FreeActivity

• Intuit Financial Simulations

  Simulated budgeting, taxes, credit and other financial decisions based on Intuit workflows.

  FreeGame & simulation

• Intuit Prosperity Quest

  Interactive game on credit, saving, borrowing and investments included in curriculum.

  FreeGame & simulation

  Find game within Intuit course page.

• JA Finance Park Virtual

  Choose a career and lifestyle, then allocate income to realistic household costs.

  FreeGame & simulationAccount or sign-up needed

  Requires JA classroom program access.

• NGPF Arcade

  Play free simulations on budgets, loans, investing, insurance, college and more.

  FreeGame & simulation

• SIFMA Stock Market Game

  Manage a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio with classroom investing materials.

  Free / low-costGame & simulationAccount or sign-up needed

  State program registration and pricing may vary.

• SMG InvestQuest

  Short 3-year market scenario activity with levels; no registration required.

  FreeGame & simulation

  Select InvestQuest on publisher landing page.

• Visa Financial Soccer

  Answer financial literacy questions while playing an interactive soccer game.

  FreeGame & simulation

Links go to the original publisher. Check access and cost on each site. Listings are not endorsements.