Parents' Guide to

SimCityEDU: Pollution Challenge!

By John Sooja, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Environmental-issues sim teaches real-world solutions.

Game Mac, Windows 2013
SimCityEDU: Pollution Challenge! Poster Image

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Our review:
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SimCityEDU: Pollution Challenge! is a fantastic platform for kids who love simulation and city-management games and especially for those who have a passion for environmental issues. Kids can practice problem solving, systems thinking, and managing informational diagrams. Even better, they get to see how various forms of pollution affect the real world. Kids face increasingly difficult challenges (packaged in missions) that require them to create flow charts, solve environmental problems via textual evidence, and manage a town from a top-down perspective. The interface elegantly displays the overall pollution level, population happiness level, electricity coverage, and business traffic, helping kids make decisions and plan their cities.

Game Details

  • Platforms: Mac, Windows
  • Subjects: Language & Reading: reading comprehension, text analysis, using supporting evidence, Social Studies: global awareness
  • Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: analyzing evidence, problem solving, thinking critically, Responsibility & Ethics: learning from consequences, making wise decisions, respect for others
  • Pricing structure: Free to try, Paid, Free (Free for individuals; $25 to $1750 for class/school license packs)
  • Available online?: Available online
  • Publisher: GlassLab
  • Release date: November 7, 2013
  • Genre: Educational
  • Topics: Science and Nature
  • ESRB rating: NR for No Rating
  • Last updated: September 10, 2021

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