Educational Video Games: A New Path to Reading Proficiency

What is it?

This article explores how educational video games contribute to the development of reading skills in today’s students. According to a comprehensive literature review by Torres-Toukoumidis et al., integrating video games into classroom practice supports the acquisition of phonological awareness, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and above all, motivation to read.

Why is it important?

The main findings indicate that video games make reading more interactive, meaningful, and enjoyable, especially for students with learning difficulties or low engagement. They offer a multisensory learning environment, blending text with visuals, audio, and decision-making, ideal for modern learners.

How is it applied?

By analyzing game mechanics, narrative design, and readability, educators can select or adapt games that stimulate reading strategies, encourage critical interpretation, and foster collaborative learning.

Three Dimensions of Game-Based Reading Development

1. Purpose-Driven Reading Tasks

• Games embed reading into missions and challenges, encouraging functional reading.

• Literacy becomes a tool for progression and problem-solving, rather than an isolated task.

• Reading is contextual, increasing retention and relevance.

2. Reading as a Strategic Skill

• Tools like readability indexes help evaluate in-game text.

• Games encourage scanning, skimming, and inferential reading as part of gameplay.

• Players develop contextual decoding and adapt reading strategies based on objectives.

3. Inclusive Reading Practices

• Games support diverse learning profiles, especially students with dyslexia or attention difficulties.

• Provide immediate feedback, adaptive pacing, and multiple modes of text presentation.

• Promote reading confidence and intrinsic motivation through achievement systems.

FAQs

Are video games educational enough to replace textbooks?
They are best used as complementary tools, enhancing engagement and providing authentic reading experiences.

What types of games are most effective?
Narrative-driven games, RPGs, and text-rich adventures offer the most benefits for reading development.

How can teachers use games effectively?
By aligning game content with curriculum goals and guiding students in reflective gameplay and text analysis.

Final Thoughts

This article reinforces the idea that educational video games are more than entertainment—they are pedagogical allies in teaching literacy. For a generation raised in digital environments, games offer new ways to experience, practice, and enjoy reading.

As the authors suggest, embracing these tools is key to creating inclusive, future-ready classrooms, where literacy thrives through innovation, engagement, and play.