What Are the Best Educational Games for Children with Dyslexia?

When Games Become a Bridge to Learning

Parents of children with dyslexia often carry a quiet, heavy burden. Not because their child is less capable, but because the path to learning is often littered with false starts, frustration, and comparisons that crush confidence. If you're reading this, you're likely not only trying to help with spelling or reading—you’re trying to help your child believe they can learn at all.

One parent I spoke to, Marie, told me she reached her breaking point after yet another night of tears over a single page of text. Her son, Lucas, couldn’t get through his homework without shutting down completely. It wasn't until she saw him laughing and focused while playing a word-based game on a tablet that something clicked: learning doesn’t have to look traditional to be effective.

Games, especially educational ones designed with learning differences in mind, can offer children with dyslexia a space where failure isn’t final—it’s part of the game. When used with intention, they not only make learning accessible, but even joyful.

Why the Right Games Matter for Dyslexic Learners

Dyslexia impacts how the brain processes written language. This doesn’t mean a child is less intelligent—it just means their brain is wired differently. Traditional instruction, heavily reliant on visual symbols (letters and words), can leave dyslexic children feeling overwhelmed.

But when learning is delivered through multiple senses—sound, movement, visuals, and interaction—the brain finds new pathways. Games often do this intuitively. Whether it’s hearing words out loud, matching sounds with letters, or manipulating tiles to form words, multisensory engagement can unlock understanding.

Still, not every game will be a fit. Some can be too fast-paced. Others might overwhelm the senses or rely too heavily on reading without support. So, what should you look for?

Characteristics of Dyslexia-Friendly Educational Games

Marie began looking for games that prioritize inclusion. Here's what she found mattered most:

• Audio reinforcement: Games that speak instructions or read out questions help bypass some decoding challenges.
• Custom pacing: The ability to slow things down or replay instructions helps reduce stress.
• A positive feedback loop: Immediate, encouraging feedback motivates rather than discourages after mistakes.
• Low reading load: Games that use visual cues, storytelling, or audio in place of large text blocks are more accessible.

One surprising trick? Let your child try games that make them the hero—narratives where their name is included or they control the story help with immersion and memory retention.

Game Ideas That Actually Work

Not all games come wrapped in a box or code. Sometimes, the most effective tools are right in your daily life. Think of educational games not as "school work in disguise" but as playful experiences that naturally reinforce reading and learning skills.

Some families start with simple word puzzles like Bananagrams or Story Cubes—these can be adapted for all levels and done at the dinner table. Apps like Word Wizard allow children to build words using a phonics-based approach with spoken feedback.

For children who struggle with attention as well, interactive learning games can offer a surprising level of focus. In this article about dyslexia and attention, we explore how movement-based learning helps re-engage the brain.

Finding the Right Balance Between Learning and Play

It’s tempting, especially when anxiety about school sets in, to want every moment to be "productive." But the beauty of learning via games is that they often take the pressure off. Your child isn’t just working on spelling—they’re solving mysteries, building new worlds, defending castles, or caring for magical creatures.

If your child loves stories, consider turning their school lessons into a narrative experience. Some learning tools now allow you to upload a worksheet or photo of a lesson and transform it into a customizable audio adventure. One such app lets you make your child the hero of the story, even inserting their name into the adventure. This approach helps with memory, focus, and emotional connection to the material—all proven to support children with dyslexia.

We explore more about this kind of tech in our guide on how technology can support children with dyslexia.

When Games Spark Confidence

Lucas, Marie’s son, still struggles with phonics sometimes. But what’s different now is his attitude. Certain activities—like a quiz game that emerged from a photo of his science lesson—make him feel capable. He answers questions, hears instant feedback, and gets to track his score. And during long car rides, he can listen to a narrated version of his reading homework, freeing him from the stress of decoding under pressure.

Simple shifts like this can be transformative. And sometimes, they simply begin with reimagining what counts as "learning." If you’re in the thick of it, if the evenings feel long and progress slow, consider this: every joyful game, every giggle during a spelling activity, every story they star in—is another step closer to confidence and literacy.

For more tailored reading strategies, you might find our guides on making reading easier for dyslexic learners and targeted reading exercises helpful.

And if you're still unsure whether your child is just struggling or might have a form of dyslexia, this article on signs of dyslexia offers a clear, compassionate starting point.

Final Thoughts

You’re not trying to make your child fit the mold—you’re helping them shape a new one. Educational games aren’t a shortcut; they’re a meaningful way to meet children where their strengths lie. Whether it’s letters, logic, or adventure, the right kind of play can light the way forward.