Free Coding Game for Middle School | Build Logic & Problem-Solving Skills

Although Star Stuff has nearly 100% ‘Very Positive’ reviews on Steam, it's not reaching enough students. To change this, we launched the Star Stuff Edu Project—a free, browser-based version of the full game. Star Stuff Edu is a set of 70 curated levels that promotes the same problem-solving mindset we set out to nurture with Star Stuff, and seeks to build a community of educators dedicated to embracing game-based, playful learning.

Animo Games, a small California-based game studio, who crafts lovable puzzle adventures.

The studio was established in 2021 and is led by Sylvia Aguiñaga, a game and learning designer passionate about video games as learning tools.

Yes! The Star Stuff Edu web game and accompanying educator materials will remain forever free thanks to people who believe in our mission to make playful problem-solving experiences accessible to everyone.

• Internet access is required. We recommend using Chrome for your browser.

• The game has been tested and optimized for most computers, particularly Chromebooks, laptops, and desktops.

• It is not compatible with iPads or mobile phones.

• No student accounts or passwords are needed, and game progress is not saved if computers are shared. However, all levels remain unlocked and accessible.

While enjoyable for both adults and young adults, Star Stuff Edu is designed to focus on middle school students.

The difficulty curve is carefully balanced. Some puzzles may be solved instantly by certain students, while others may require more time and perseverance, with players grappling for an entire session. This reflects the true nature of puzzle games, where the learning journey unfolds through the process of problem-solving.

• The game aligns well with STEM, Math, and Computer Science curricula.

• It effectively introduces foundational coding concepts like sequencing, loops, and conditionals, making it valuable for beginner coders.

• Star Stuff Edu can also be used to reinforce computational thinking practices, aligning with courses like APCSP.

From pedagogy to solution videos, our educator materials have everything you need to get started. We are in the early stages of introducing Star Stuff Edu to the world so resources will only grow from here.

Provided:

• Educator guide

• Lesson plan 1-pagers for educators

• 1-page reference sheets for students (can replace Lesson slides)

• Lesson slides - Coming soon

• Student Certificate template

• Parent play guide - Coming soon

• Classroom posters

Required (not provided):

• Computers

• Internet connection

Star Stuff Edu consists of 11 sessions, each containing 6-7 levels, with puzzles that can take anywhere from 2 to 20+ minutes to solve, depending on the puzzle and the player!

While our guide offers a suggested experience, Star Stuff Edu is designed to be highly flexible. You can use it to engage students for a quick 15-minute activity at the end of class or build an immersive, hour-long session centered around playful problem-solving.

• We emphasize the educator's role in facilitating playful problem-solving, introducing strategies, and providing guidance.

• An embedded hint system is available within the game.

• The game promotes a "growth mindset" by encouraging experimentation and normalizing the iterative nature of problem-solving.

• It fosters the development of computational thinking practices like algorithmic development and code analysis, that are transferable to other areas of learning.

• Star Stuff Edu aims to create a low-stakes learning environment where students can take risks and learn from their mistakes.

The full release of Star Stuff is available for commercial licensing on our Steam page. Note: Educators must be familiar and able to integrate Steam PC Cafe in their learning spaces. Also note that the full game has a much higher set of minimum technical requirements and will not work on Chromebooks.

If you are seeking support in navigating Steam PC Cafe or would like to explore alternatives for purchasing the full game for educational purposes, please fill out the inquiry form below.

We love hearing from you! Please contact us via the inquiry form at the bottom of this site. Thank you!