September 1, 2023 kicks off with an early space-age splash. While deluxe editions launch their cosmic journeys and the general release waits until September 6, the conversation returns to something grounded: games about school life.
For many players, school can feel like a grind, yet there are moments when the urge to revisit that carefree era where the biggest worry was a diary mishap returns. School life as a theme still livens up video games, but it isn’t about dull math and chemistry quests. Instead, it offers adventures with rowdy students or pupils at magical academies. Here is a look at standout titles where the setting stays true to the educational environment.
1 bully 2006
- Genre: Action Adventure
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, iOS, Android (backwards compatible PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Xbox series)
- Developer: Rockstar Vancouver
- Publisher: Rockstar Games
Rockstar crafts a satire of the schooling system that moves beyond the crime dramas of GTA and Manhunt. The hooligan Jimmy Hopkins ends up in one of America’s roughest schools, where survival relies on fists and quick thinking within a social food chain. The storyline follows the seasons, offering glimpses of school life through holidays and everyday moments.
It showcases classes that test attendance, and skipping can lead to consequences. The open world, though smaller than GTA, feels cozy with a busy crowd of named NPCs who each carry a distinct personality. Bully endures as a defining throwback to late school years.
2 skool daze 1985
- Genre: Action Adventure
- Platforms: PC, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64
- Developer: Microsphere
- Publisher: Microsphere
p
The school game pioneers this genre. Players take on the role of a schoolyard bully who must steal his report from the institution. To do this, they break defenses with the school’s own tools and pry password letters from a safe. Protagonist Eric is watched by teachers and rivals alike.
Early gameplay captured a lively school rhythm with lessons, breaks, and students wandering with small ambitions. Random events added replay value, and every character could be given a name. A re-release titled Reskooled refreshed the experience with updated graphics and extra content, extending its appeal for new generations of players.
How was your school days?
3 Obs Healing 2004
- Genre: Survival Horror
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Original, PlayStation 2
- Developer: Hydravision Entertainment
- Publisher: DreamCatcher Interactive
- Co-op: yes (local)
p>Occasionally a school setting becomes a survival arena. ObsCure mines that vein, echoing classic Resident Evil vibes. Puzzles, clues, and frantic encounters with mutants push players through a chilling atmosphere that tightens under pressure.
It shines as a local two-player experience with five students eager to uncover hidden truths about their school. Beneath the building lie tunnels and labs where experiments strike at the heart of the campus. A sequel deepens the premise, cementing this as a cult favorite among survival horror fans.
4 Detention 2017
- Genre: point and click survival horror
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Red Candle Games
- Publisher: Red Candle Games
p>Detention continues the spine-tingling trend of school bound horror. Crafted by Taiwanese developers as an art-forward project, the game leans on a minimalist interface but modern mechanics. Players switch between two protagonists who find themselves in an abandoned school with a haunting mood and a restrained pace.
Notable is the absence of combat in favor of evasion. The surrounding audio and visuals fuse into a distinctive atmosphere that heightens tension as players navigate the corridors and learn what lurks in the hallways.
5 Lollipop Chainsaw 2012
- Genre: action, hack and slash
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
p>James Gunn, known for his film work, helped shape Lollipop Chainsaw. The game follows a cheerleader who becomes a zombie hunter, racing to save classmates, locate a mentor figure, and halt a zombie apocalypse. A bright, energetic take on school life that blends cheeky humor with fast-paced action.
The protagonist’s friend’s severed head serves as a satirical yet endearing companion, while a variety of weapons and costumes unlock through play. The lighthearted narration invites players to unwind and enjoy the ride. A remake was anticipated in 2023, keeping the cheerful mood alive for fans.
6 School Mogul 2004
- Genre: simulation, strategy
- Platforms: PC
- Developer: Cat Daddy Games
- Publisher: Global Star Software
p>For those curious about the other side of administration, School Mogul invites players into the role of a school principal tasked with boosting credibility and education quality. Before classes start, one must align hiring, facilities, and conditions that shape student life.
The game lets players choose where to build and how to invest budgets, balancing requirements to influence outcomes. While it sits among typical tycoon titles, its unusual school-centric theme offers a distinctive flavor that stands out from the crowd.
The city of dreams becomes a cafe instead of a canteen, and a central hub with slot machines signals a playful departure from the standard campus layout.
7 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 2004
- Genre: Action Adventure
- Platforms: PC
- Developer: KnowWander
- Publisher: EA Games
p>Is this really a school setting? Hogwarts has become a familiar magical analogue, and the era has not faded from memory. Hogwarts Legacy remains a modern milestone, yet the adventures within the walls of Hogwarts and its environs offer students a chance to attend magical lessons and complete exams in a familiar school environment. Prisoner of Azkaban revisits the same world with its own charm, even as visuals age.
Players can assume the roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, each bearing unique spells and sometimes needing to combine talents for bigger feats. If Hogwarts Legacy has whetted the appetite for wizarding education, this earlier title still provides a cozy and engaging school-based journey.
8 Fire Emblem: Three Houses 2019
- Genre: Tactical RPG
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Intelligent Systems, Koei Tecmo
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Co-op: yes (local)
p>The core appeal lies in the house system. A richly imagined world unfolds with a strong fantasy flavor, and the starting path shapes future events. Some players may be put off by the anime aesthetic and the niche genre, yet the game draws players in with its depth and storytelling.
The early phase centers on school life and social interactions. Skirmishes are minor at first, but the game evolves into a war-torn conflict where outcomes hinge on the player’s decisions and the abilities chosen at key moments.
Fire Emblem’s blend of strategy, character relationships, and tactical combat makes it a standout for fans of school themed adventures with a long tail of content.
9 Persona 5 Royal 2019
- Genre: RPG
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Atlas
- Publisher: SEGA
p>Persona 5 Royal expands on the base game with added chapters and new content. It follows students who juggle ordinary daily life with nightly journeys into a world that embodies human souls. The blend between school and other realms creates a layered experience where youth and fantasy intersect.
The dual lives are well balanced: daytime routines, social interactions, and nighttime escapades that fuse dungeon crawling, turn-based battles, platforming, and puzzle-solving. Daytime events shape the possibilities of the other realm, enriching both strands of the narrative.
The game earns praise for weaving social life and fantasy into a cohesive whole. Some players may find the pacing uneven if they expect a purely linear progression. Still, the mood and character depth leave a lasting impression on those who enjoy personal journeys through school time and beyond.
Life in school remains a timeless topic in games. It offers a chance to relive youth with unique mechanics and stories. Which school themed titles do you recall The question invites readers to share favorites in comments.
What is the best way to represent daily school life in games?