Last Updated on: 8th July 2025, 04:26 pm
As a parent, I’m always on the lookout for ways to sneak a little learning into screen time – especially when it doesn’t feel like boring schoolwork. My kids are big into gaming but tend to stick to Minecraft and Roblox so it’s unusual to get them interested in something outside of their comfort zone. Recently however, I came across something that ticked all the boxes: it was fun, free, educational, and (miracle of miracles) both my kids actually liked it.
It all started when I was browsing MortgageCalculator.org for something completely grown-up and finance-related. Then I spotted their Money Games section – which I didn’t even know existed. Out of curiosity, I clicked over… and the rest of the afternoon kind of disappeared.
There are dozens of browser-based games in there, and while they’re all loosely themed around money, business, or budgeting, they actually feel more like mini strategy or puzzle games. The site has zero ads, which was a huge bonus for me (no potentially risky pop-ups), and it works well on tablets, which is key when you’ve got two kids like mine, Lewis (8) and Lauren (9), ready to “test” whatever I find.
Our First Pick: Sushi Bar
We kicked things off with Sushi Bar, a fast-paced restaurant simulation game where you prepare food to order, collect payments and manage stock control. It was instantly a hit. As big a sushi fan in real life, Lauren got straight into it.
What I loved was how naturally the game introduced the idea of managing time, keeping customers happy and paying attention to detail. It led to a deeper discussion about the ins and outs of running a business and balancing money in vs money out. It’s a very simple game and a great place to get started.
The Crowd Favourite: Tap Supermarket
Next up was Tap Supermarket, which both kids LOVED. You’re running a grocery store: restocking shelves, upgrading your shop, and keeping customers happy by having fully stocked shelves and getting them through the checkout in a timely manner. It’s simple to start, but it gets busier and more strategic the longer you play and the more upgrades you invest in.
Lauren ended up taking the lead on this one – she’s got a bit of a managerial streak – while Lewis handled the “urgent shelf-stocking” part like a pro, with his eagle-eyed monitoring of the stock situation. They even started working together (“quick, get ready to restock the freezer”) which, as any parent knows, is a small miracle. It was fun to hear them chat about what areas of the business they wanted to reinvest their profits in – Lauren was in favour of launching an extensive fashion section whilst Lewis wanted a huge technology department.
Why I’ll Keep Coming Back to These
What really struck me was how naturally the games sparked conversations – about change, saving, investing, profit, customer service, and generally what it means to run a business. And not because I was trying to go out of my way to teach them anything. The questions just came up as they played.
It’s rare to find games that are both entertaining and sneak in real-world skills, but these do exactly that. They’re great for a rainy afternoon, or even just a few minutes of downtime after homework.
Plus, because the games are all browser-based and free, there’s nothing to download, no login required, and nothing to accidentally buy. It’s just a really clean, safe place for kids to play and learn.
So if you’re looking for a low-stress way to help your kids learn more about money – without making it feel like a maths lesson – I can genuinely recommend checking out a few games from MortgageCalculator.org.
