Are there good games to teach teenagers about government and elections?

By Mert Yerekapan, maker of Midterms 2026 · Updated 2026-10-28

Yes. iCivics offers free civics games made for classrooms, and Midterms 2026 is an iPhone election strategy game that teens can try on their own time. It uses fictional parties and characters, so it works without taking sides.

What a good civics game should do

I think a good one gets teens to ask "why does it work like that?" and doesn't just quiz them on facts. A game can show that a House seat is won district by district, that money runs out, and that rivals respond.

It should also be neutral. Teens (and teachers) are rightly wary of games that push a view, so I think a game for school or home should let players make their own choices.

Places to start

iCivics. A nonprofit that offers free games and lesson plans about government, built for classrooms
Democracy 4. A policy sim that's deep but mature, with mostly reading and numbers. It might suit older teens who like systems
The Political Machine. A presidential campaign game that shows the Electoral College in action
Midterms 2026. A short campaign for Congress on iPhone

About Midterms 2026

I made Midterms 2026 as a free iPhone game. Players found their own party by choosing a name, logo, colors and leader, then answer press questions about ideology and top issues. They have 20 turns, each a week, to open state offices, go on TV, hold rallies and meet citizens.

Along the way they learn real structure. There are 435 House seats and 218 makes a majority. The Senate has 100 members and about a third are up every two years. A new party that wins a handful of seats can still decide who governs.

All parties, characters and events are fictional and no real politicians appear. There's no account to create, so no personal details to hand over, and the game works offline. A campaign takes well under an hour, which fits a lesson period or an evening.

Tips for parents and teachers

Play a round yourself first and ask the student what they chose and why
Pair a game with a real source, like a state election office website
Ask them to explain a rule back to you, such as how a majority works
Keep it voluntary, because a game that feels like homework loses its point

A short game won't replace a civics class, but it can make the class easier to care about.

If a teen likes the game, the next step is easy. Ask which choice they'd change and why, then look at how that same question plays out in real elections. Curiosity is the goal, and a game is a pretty good way to start it.