Learning games

11 resources. Free options are listed first.

• FreeAges 2–8

  PBS KIDS Games

  Free browser games from the US public broadcaster featuring characters from its children's shows, grouped by topic such as maths, science and pre-K skills. Some content reflects US contexts.

  Visit pbskids.org ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• FreeAges 8–16

  Scratch

  A free block-based programming environment from the MIT Media Lab where children make their own games, stories and animations and can share them with an online community. A verified email is needed before projects can be shared publicly.

  Visit scratch.mit.edu ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• FreeAges 5–18

  Code.org

  A non-profit offering free self-paced computer science and AI courses, including short Hour of Code activities and longer courses for primary and secondary students. The organisation now also uses the name CodeAI.

  Visit code.org ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• FreeAges 3–18

  NRICH

  A University of Cambridge maths enrichment site with free open-ended problems, games and interactive tasks, plus notes for adults explaining how to use each task.

  Visit nrich.maths.org ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• FreeAges 4–9

  Toy Theater

  Free online games for early primary learners covering counting, operations, telling time, letter recognition and spelling, along with simple art, music and logic games.

  Visit toytheater.com ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• FreeAges 8–13

  Code Club Aotearoa

  A network of free, volunteer-run coding clubs held at schools, libraries and community venues, where children make games, animations and websites with tools such as Scratch and Python. Families find a nearby club on the site's map and enrol through the club leader.

  Visit codeclub.nz ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• FreeAges 5–16

  Te Papa at home

  Online jigsaw puzzles made from museum objects, quizzes on New Zealand birds and places, videos and whānau challenges from Te Papa's collections. Everything can be used from home without booking.

  Visit tepapa.govt.nz ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• Free + paid optionsAges 6–14

  Prodigy Math

  A fantasy-style game in which children answer maths questions to progress, with a free parent account for tracking progress. The maths content is free; an optional paid membership adds in-game extras and reports.

  Visit prodigygame.com ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• Free + paid optionsAges 8+

  Duolingo

  A game-style app and website for learning languages, with additional maths and music courses. All courses can be used free with ads; paid subscriptions remove ads and add extra features.

  Visit duolingo.com ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• Free + paid optionsAges 5–18

  Code Avengers

  Online coding and digital skills courses developed in New Zealand, with a game-style junior library for younger learners and a separate library for teens. Some lessons are free to start; full access needs a subscription.

  Visit codeavengers.com ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• PaidAges 5–18

  MathsBuddy

  A New Zealand online maths programme combining video lessons, interactive questions and worksheets, with a family subscription that covers all year levels. Parents can switch on weekly progress reports.

  Visit mathsbuddy.co.nz ↗ (opens in a new tab)