In this article, I will explain the Best Games That Reward You For Solving Real-World Problems—the ones that allow entertainment along with contribution towards science, health, and the environment.
Play can indeed make a meaningful difference, transforming your screen time into purposeful effort.
For example, partaking in brain mapping and spotting hidden wildlife showcase just a fraction of these remarkable games that turn leisure into substantial action.
Key Points & Best Games That Reward You For Solving Real-World Problems List
| Game | Real-World Problem Addressed |
|---|---|
| Foldit | Helps scientists solve protein folding puzzles for drug and vaccine development |
| Eyewire | Contributes to neuroscience by mapping neural pathways in the human brain |
| Sea Hero Quest | Collects spatial navigation data to support dementia research |
| Phylo | Improves multiple sequence alignment to support genetic disease research |
| Zooniverse (various games) | Enables crowdsourced research across astronomy, biology, and climate science |
| Borderlands Science | Helps map the human gut microbiome for medical research |
| Climate Challenge | Teaches climate change policy-making and simulates its global effects |
| A Planet of Mine | Encourages sustainable resource management strategies |
| Citizen Sort | Classifies images of plants and animals for biodiversity and conservation research |
| QuestaGame | Promotes biodiversity by getting players to photograph and identify real wildlife |
10 Best Games That Reward You For Solving Real-World Problems
1.Foldit
Foldit is an innovative puzzle game which enables players to assist in solving real-world scientific issues concerning protein folding. The game, created by University of Washington, challenges players to solve 3D protein puzzles by folding these proteins in an optimal way.
These solutions enhance scientists’ understanding of various diseases and aid in drug development. Players have been able to assist with major discoveries, including participating in solving an HIV-associated enzyme’s intricate structures.
Foldit demonstrates that individuals lacking formal scientific training can still aid science, which makes it one of the best examples of gameplay-based crowdsourced solutions to complex problems.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Puzzle / Science |
| Platform | PC (Windows, macOS) |
| Main Goal | Solve protein folding puzzles to aid medical research |
| Real-World Impact | Help scientists design drugs and understand disease-related proteins |
| Developer | University of Washington |
| Player Contribution | Directly improves protein structure databases through gameplay |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate to High (scientific concepts simplified for public) |
2.Eyewire
Eyewire is an example of a citizen science game where people use their game-playing skills to help trace some of the more complex pathways of neurons in the human brain.
It was developed by researchers at MIT, and to play the game, the players must follow and color different branches of neurons through micro-slices of the brain in 3D.
Every player’s effort enables scientists to comprehend the connectivity of neurons which is vital in the investigation of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
With eyeglasses and an internet connection, science buffs and amateurs from around the world are players and contributors to a non-expert solution and interactive puzzle that is neuroscience.
Eyewire has proven that interactive beautifully-designed games can help advance puzzle games neuroscience.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Puzzle / Neuroscience |
| Platform | Web-based |
| Main Goal | Trace 3D neuron structures from microscope images |
| Real-World Impact | Helps map the human brain and understand neurological disorders |
| Developer | MIT (Seung Lab) |
| Player Contribution | Assists in reconstructing neural connections |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate (visual-spatial skills helpful) |
3.Sea Hero Quest
Sea Hero Quest is a mobile and VR game made to gather data on spatial navigation to aid research on dementia. It is created in collaboration with neuroscientists. The game involves navigating a boat through mazes and waterways which is an arcade way of measuring memory and sense of direction.
The game has over 4 million users and has created a data equivalent to 15,000 years of lab research. This data is crucial in understanding how differently people navigate and why some people with age or cognitive decline in dementia. Sea Hero Quest uses the concept of casual gaming to assist in research of brain health.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Adventure / Navigation |
| Platform | Mobile (iOS, Android), VR |
| Main Goal | Navigate through virtual mazes to track spatial orientation |
| Real-World Impact | Provides data to dementia and Alzheimer’s research |
| Developer | Deutsche Telekom, Alzheimer’s Research UK |
| Player Contribution | Supplies navigational data for cognitive research |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to Moderate |
4.Phylo
Phylo is one of the few scientific puzzle games which assists researchers in refining the alignment of DNA sequences. Players attempt to optimize alignment by solving colorful tile matching puzzles which represent portions of the genetic code.
While computers struggle with intricate patterns within genetic data, the human brain excels at pattern recognition, meaning contributions from players are more accurate.
Phylo, which was designed by researchers from McGill University, transforms bioinformatics into a crowdsourced game allowing the general public to help out in studies of genetic disorders, evolution, and interspecific comparisons.
Through straightforward and entertaining gameplay, scientific understanding is advanced in Phylo, and players derive greater value from the game than mere gratification.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Puzzle / Genetic Research |
| Platform | Web-based |
| Main Goal | Align DNA sequences through tile-matching puzzles |
| Real-World Impact | Improves understanding of genetic mutations linked to diseases |
| Developer | McGill University |
| Player Contribution | Enhances biological sequence alignment data |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to Moderate |
5.Zooniverse (various games)
Zooniverse is the largest online platform for citizen science and offers multiple games and projects where learners can contribute to research in real-time in any field like Astronomy, Ecology, and History.
People can classify galaxies, identify various species of animals, and even transcribe historical texts—all through the internet.
Every little task done by users aids scientists in not-so-simple tasks and in processing datasets that would otherwise take years to work on, owing to the collaboration of many.
With Zooniverse’s platform, science is available to the public, and people of any age can volunteer and make meaningful contributions.
The overwhelming amount of contributions with the varied talents and skills of the public has led to groundbreaking publications and discoveries—truly, many people and eyes does make much work simple.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Various (Astronomy, Ecology, History, etc.) |
| Platform | Web-based |
| Main Goal | Assist in real research by labeling images, transcribing, or identifying data |
| Real-World Impact | Supports projects across space, wildlife, and historical sciences |
| Developer | Citizen Science Alliance |
| Player Contribution | Crowd-sourced data labeling and classification |
| Difficulty Level | Easy (task complexity varies by project) |
6.Borderlands Science
Borderlands Science is a mini-game in Borderlands 3 which enables players to contribute to real-life biomedical research while playing video games.
It is based on a collaboration with scientists from McGill University and The Microsetta Initiative, which features colorful tile-matching puzzles based on human gut microbiome DNA sequences.
By solving these puzzles, players help refine algorithms analyzing genetic information, thus advancing research in gut health, associated diseases, and nutrition.
Borderlands Science marries entertainment with citizen science, transforming a widely played shooter game into an instrument for medical research. It illustrates that even fast-paced gaming can help advance serious scientific work.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Puzzle Mini-Game within Shooter |
| Platform | Borderlands 3 (PC, Console) |
| Main Goal | Solve DNA sequence puzzles |
| Real-World Impact | Helps researchers map the human gut microbiome |
| Developer | Gearbox Software, McGill University |
| Player Contribution | Improves machine learning models for biomedical research |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to Moderate |
7.Climate Challenge
BBC has developed a strategy game called Climate Challenge in which a player assumes the role of a European leader dealing with climate change issues.
They need to make important decisions regarding energy, agriculture, industry, and international relations while maintaining the economy and ensuring the public is satisfied.
It trains users on the multifaceted issues in climate policy and the decisions’ impacts over time. Though Climate Change Challenge is not a data collection tool, it does serve the purpose of raising awareness and simulating real-life environmental issues through strategy games and encourages long-term sustainable decisions.
BBC Climate Change Challenge fully utilizes the game mechanics to explain climate science and the need for united international efforts.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Strategy / Simulation |
| Platform | Web-based |
| Main Goal | Manage a country’s resources and policies to combat climate change |
| Real-World Impact | Raises awareness of climate science and policy challenges |
| Developer | BBC |
| Player Contribution | Not data-driven, but educational and advocacy focused |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
8.A Planet of Mine
A Planet of Mine is a mobile strategy and resource management game that subtly teaches players about sustainability and ecological balance. Players must balance resource management and civilization advancement on a continuously evolving planet.
While not a scientific research tool, the game motivates players to thoughtfully manage resources, energy, and population—mirroring real-world sustainability challenges.
A Planet of Mine captivates users with its mechanics and instills a sense of responsibility with its undertones, raising awareness about global sustainability.
The game promotes the understanding of prudent resource use in a manner that is engaging and entertaining. such resource management in a light-hearted, approachable manner.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Strategy / Simulation |
| Platform | Mobile (iOS, Android) |
| Main Goal | Manage ecosystems and civilizations with limited resources |
| Real-World Impact | Promotes awareness of sustainable development and ecology |
| Developer | Tuesday Quest |
| Player Contribution | Educational, encourages environmental thinking |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to Moderate |
9.Citizen Sort
Citizen Sort is an example of a citizen science project that leverages citizen engagement through game-based science, where players help assess images of organisms to aid biodiversity and conservation science.
Developed by researchers from Syracuse University, the games—Happy Match and Forgotten Island, for example—turn scientific image classification into an enjoyable game.
Through the game, players help machine learning and cloud based algorithms to analyze huge ecological datasets by labeling and coordinating visual data.
Non-specialists are empowered to help track species and monitor ecosystem changes, strengthening environmental science. As such, there is an increasing ability to engage with and positively contribute through play to actual wildlife and conservation science.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Puzzle / Citizen Science |
| Platform | Web-based |
| Main Goal | Classify images of plants, animals, and insects |
| Real-World Impact | Assists ecological research and machine learning model training |
| Developer | Syracuse University |
| Player Contribution | Helps sort and label biodiversity data |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
10.QuestaGame
QuestaGame is a mobile game that facilitates exploration while helping in biodiversity research. Players go outside and take pictures of plants, animals, and even fungi and submit them for identification.
The examined and validated data is then uploaded to global research repositories such as the Atlas of Living Australia, enabling scientists to monitor species, track biodiversity loss, and manage conservational efforts.
With the help of mobile technology and gaming, nature observation is transformed into a game which becomes a hobby for players to spend time outdoors and help in scientific research at the same time.
This is a great example of mobile gaming at its best as it turns ordinary outings into significant and purposeful ecological research and action for the global nature conservation.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Outdoor Exploration / Biodiversity |
| Platform | Mobile (iOS, Android) |
| Main Goal | Photograph and identify real-world wildlife |
| Real-World Impact | Contributes to biodiversity databases used in conservation |
| Developer | QuestaGame (Australia) |
| Player Contribution | Provides verified wildlife sightings to researchers |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to Moderate (requires real-world exploration) |
Conclusion
In conclusion These games demonstrate that science and entertainment can indeed go together. Through meaningful gameplay and research—like decoding DNA and examining ecosystem
These games transform a player’s experience into a significant research, education, and awareness undertaking. From nature exploration to puzzle solving, engaging gameplay in these games allows a player to positively impact the world.