A game where you can learn the multiplication table while playing
The multiplication table is something you have to learn, but memorizing it can be really tough.
Even if children chant it out loud like a magic spell many times every day, there are probably many who still struggle to remember it.
In this article, we’ll introduce games that help kids enjoy learning the multiplication table!
We’ve gathered a variety of games: ones you can play on a computer or smartphone, card games, and games that help you learn the multiplication table while moving your body.
It can be hard to memorize when you think of it as “studying,” but if you approach it as a “game,” you can enjoy learning the multiplication table!
If you find a game that interests you, give it a try!
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A game to learn the multiplication table while playing (11–20)
Practice problems for arithmetic calculationsPC game
How about incorporating practice problems that feel like a game to help kids practice the multiplication tables? Learning the tables in order is fundamental, but this PC game helps you answer even when the order is mixed up! In addition to 1 through 9, some schools teach up to 12, so you can choose from 1 to 12.
If you get an answer wrong, you can’t move on—so do your best to find the correct answer! It also records how long it takes you to get the right answers, so it’s fun to compete for speed, too.
Multiplication Table Sumo
There are many ways to learn the multiplication table in a game-like way even without a smartphone or tablet.
As the title suggests, “Kuku Sumo” has two children face each other like sumo wrestlers, while a teacher or parent plays the role of the referee.
Just like in real sumo, they call out “Hakkeyoi, nokotta!” and at that moment hold up a card—prepared in advance—with a multiplication problem written on it so the children can see it.
It’s simple: the child who answers correctly first wins.
With a bit of creativity, you can make it a tournament or a team competition and turn it into a lively event.
Adults, why not join in and take on the challenge together with the kids?
OCTatakiPC game
OCTataki is a simple yet surprisingly addictive arithmetic game where, instead of moles, you whack cute little octopuses to solve problems—much like Whac-A-Mole.
Since an octopus is called an “octopus” in English, the title makes sense, and it already gives off a charming, hard-to-dislike vibe.
In OCTataki, you can choose not only multiplication tables but also addition and subtraction.
As mentioned, the gameplay is very straightforward: a math problem appears, and you click the number written on the octopus that pops up randomly on the screen with the correct answer.
For multiplication, you can select specific times tables.
There are three modes: clear 10 questions to finish, a time attack to see how many octopuses you can whack in one minute, and an endless mode where you keep solving problems.
Besides boosting calculation speed, it seems like it could train your dynamic visual acuity too!
multiplication times tablesApp
These days, most children are familiar with smartphones and tablets, and using such tools for learning can be considered a valid option.
The app game “Multiplication Tables” is a simple educational game aimed at lower elementary school students, allowing them to learn the times tables in a game format.
It’s a free, lightweight game, supports multiple languages, and is easy to pick up, so it seems useful even for a quick pastime.
Multiplication Table Perfect Game Bookbook
Learning through games on smartphone apps is great, but many parents may feel it’s still a bit early to give a smartphone to a young child.
In those cases, traditional picture books and gamebooks can be really helpful.
This “Kuku Perfect Gamebook” series is a set of gamebooks that goes up to Volume 5, with each book covering specific times tables so children can learn multiplication step by step.
Although it was published in the 1990s and is an older series, the fundamentals of multiplication don’t change, and because it’s a gamebook, kids can enjoy it as a story while they learn.
Your children are sure to love it!
Arithmetic MastersPC game
With a title that sounds like a full-fledged RPG, Arithmetic Masters is a wonderful game that perfectly meets the wishes of kids who want to study while having fun! You pick a charming, appealing character and battle opponents by solving calculation problems—including multiplication tables—in a simple format that’s easy to understand.
That simplicity makes it an excellent way to get started with studying.
There’s also a fun mechanic where “consecutive correct points” accumulate as you keep answering correctly; once you reach 15 points, you trigger a special action like a healing spell or a finishing move, which helps motivate kids to keep going.
The creator of the game vouches that repeated play improved their own calculation accuracy and speed, so be sure to give Arithmetic Masters a try this summer!
In conclusion
We introduced some fun games to help you learn the times tables—did any of them catch your eye? They’re all easy to try, so give them a go with your friends or family! I’m hoping your child will master the times tables perfectly…!