Classical Education | Video Game Scope and Sequence

We all wish to give our children a well-rounded education. In our house this means exposure to Beethoven, Aesop's Fables, the Bible, history, manners, phonics, cursive, reading all manner of classics, learning foreign language at a young age, singing, basics of piano, music theory and video games too.

 

Which games are worth pulling out of storage and which are better left in the eighties?

I grew up right along with the Nintendo. My grandmother gave us the Nintendo Entertainment System for Christmas when I was in kindergarten and the Super Nintendo came along when I was eight. The Nintendo 64 came along just in time for high school with the GameCube accompanying my college days.
My son's birth fell within months of the premiere of the Wii, ushering in a second generation of console gamers. When kids are increasingly comfortable with Minecraft, surfing Netflix via the PS4 and unlocking the old iPad to play a few rounds of educational apps (Teach Me! is their current favorite) is there any reason to pull out the retro games?
I'm going to argue that behind the catchy tunes and brightly colored pixelated graphics, lurk lessons in problem solving, mastering a steep learning curve with good old fashioned grit. For 7 Reasons Why Your Kids Should Play Video Games, visit Babble.

A few of our favorites (all rated E for everyone or the game rating equivalent to rated G):

Donkey Kong, Tetris & Pac-Man
These arcade classics require problem solving, planning and immediate attention. Each is a good starting point as the goal and game mechanics are easily understood, even by small children. If you no longer have a working NES, select from the plethora of app versions of these games. For bonus points, try out Fix It Felix Jr. then enjoy Wreck-It Ralph for a family movie night.
No reading required.
To round out the arcade experience, assign independent study with a few rounds of Space Invaders, Ms. Pac-Man, Asteroids and Pong.

Super Mario Bros.
A wonderful introduction to the wide world of platform gaming and arguably the best video game of all time. This game opens up the gaming experience with the process of learning and memorizing increasingly difficult maps.
No reading required.
Independent Study Assignment: Investigate Super Mario Bros. 3 without a game FAQ. Discover at least two warp whistles.
Bonus points if a parent or a sibling play alongside as Luigi.

The Legend of Zelda
"It is dangerous to go alone! Take this." Without further ado, Link sets off to rescue Zelda from the clutches of the evil Ganon.

I'll take "Swords" for $400, Alex. 

As the first in a long line of action adventure sagas, this game offers opportunities to wander and explore in a more open ended fashion than the previous video games. With far more extensive maps than the previous games on this list, we do a fair amount of instruction on cardinal directions and handedness. (Use the candle on the third bush in the northeast corner of the map.
Minimal reading.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
This well-balanced game frequently ranks number one game offered on the Super Nintendo Entertainment system. (This 1991 offering still comes in ranked highly in lists of the best video games of all time over twenty years after it's initial release.) Taking Link on more challenging adventures thorough subterranean dungeons, puzzles and mazes and setting up many of the standards for future Legend of Zelda games. This single player adventure can by found on SNES, Gameboy and digital download on the Wii.
Light reading.
Summer reading assignment: The Legend of Zelda Box Set by Akira Himekawa

Myst
A graphic puzzle video game based more on powers of observation, inference and curiosity rather than reflexes. This is a game entirely stripped of physical violence or attack. You will not die or even know where to go as you figure out by exploring and patiently collecting clues. Although it is possible to reach a "bad" end to the game, this is for the most part a beautiful puzzle.
Heavy reading.

Myst involves varying scenes of dazzling beautiful scenery and fascinating involved puzzles.

There is a library of books on the main island and in order to understand the backstory, plot and many of the puzzling book worlds, a cursory ability to read the books is necessary. Some of the books are in a calligraphic handwriting.

Civilization II
Build your very own epic civilization complete with wonders of the world, colonizing, exploring and defending your fledgling empire. While you can go the historical route, who says the Egyptians can't be the first to discover America? This is a fun game for any kid with a general sense of world history and the will to engage in diplomacy and aggressive negotiations with equal enthusiasm.
Frequent reading necessary to understand gameplay.
If you are using the PC version, basic PC skills (mousing, keyboarding) also necessary.
Bonus Points: Come out of the game not only with a better understanding of history but also how each technological advance builds on others.

Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
This block platformer (in 3D) let's you select your characters to play through the first six episodes of the Star Wars saga.
In hilarious brick format naturally.
Warning, if you play this as a multiplayer cooperative game, expect your child (or wife or mom or sister or pet unicorn) to accidentally shoot you to death. You will likely explode into a dozen legos more than once. Thankfully you rebuild on the spot and proceed with no consequences.

 

Bonus points: Playing as a team of two renders the youngling to enjoy playing with the Master Jedi in the house as each helps the other through this colorful, fun romp through a classic franchise.
Minimal reading in game menus. Frankly, there is hardly any speaking, let alone reading.
Stretch assignment: write your own ideas for what happens after Episode VI is over. Older kids might enjoy reading Timothy Zahn's classic Star Wars: The Thrawn trilogy beginning with "Heir to the Empire." My very young padawans enjoyed reading the "Star Wars: Jedi Academy" series by Jeffery Brown.

Wii Sports / Dance Dance Revolution / Just Dance
Consider these PE for those days during monsoon season when you just can't leave your home. If you can get your entire family in on any of these flailing jumpy games, it creates enough good cheer to get you through the nastiest thunderstorm.
Extra credit: also counts as PE if you stand up, jump around and embrace the spirit of the games.
Minimal reading.

Kingdom Hearts
(E 10+ due to Fantasy Violence)
Take the platforming honed in Mario and Star Wars and the puzzle solving mastered in Myst and the Zelda franchise and throw in a dash of the lightning relexes from Wii Sports and Zelda and you will be ready to tackle a truly fun and fairly modern adventure series.

 

Kingdom Hearts introduces the Square/Enix epic storyline in a fun candy colored environment chock-filled with friends and foes from your favorite Disney movies and cartoons.
Medium reading necessary to understand plot.
Reading assignment: to delve further into the complex plot of this (currently seven game) plot arc, try reading the Kingdom Heart comic books.
Further games: Upon completing Kingdom Hearts (and possibly it's sequels) enjoy trying out some other classic Square Enix games. (Final Fantasy VII is a must for any gamer.)

What games did you grow up playing?
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Supplemental reading list:
Got Game: How the Gamer Generation Is Reshaping Business Forever by John C. Beck
Consumer Reports did a list of 5 Top Video Games for Kids if you want some modern games to add to the mix.
For parents looking for a screen free option, Patch blogged Five Games Every Kid Should Know How to Play.