Examination of Educational Digital Video Games on the STEAM Game Distribution Platform

STEM education is an interdisciplinary approach that integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, aiming to enhance students' problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Digital games are considered effective tools for STEM education due to the interactive and engaging environments they provide. Specifically, simulation and problem-solving-focused digital games enable students to combine theoretical knowledge with practical applications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the educational potential of digital game distribution platforms in the context of STEM education and to provide recommendations for integrating educational games into teaching processes. The research focuses on popular digital game distribution platforms such as STEAM, EPIC Games, and GOG, and analyzes the educational games available on these platforms using content analysis. The analysis includes details about the developers of the educational games, age ratings, prices, number of reviews, and percentage of positive reviews. The findings indicate that digital games can be effectively utilized as educational tools to support problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Furthermore, the affordability and accessibility of the games available on these platforms present significant opportunities for equitable access to education. This study highlights the potential of digital games to support interdisciplinary learning within STEM education and aims to provide practical recommendations for their effective use in educational contexts