ESL games are games for students who are learning English as a second language. These games are considered edutainment because they entertain and educate students. The level of entertainment associated with the games enable the students to learn while they are having fun. ESL games also help the students to practice what they have learned in an engaging scenario.

Board Games
Custom board games can help students practice speaking and reading skills. When they land on a square, they must correctly read the square out loud. The games become exciting, because students can land on squares that ask them to go back to start or skip a turn.

Computerized Games
Games that simulate television shows, such as "Jeopardy" and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," teach by asking interactive questions that the students must answer. These games are effective for reviewing lessons, because students can practice what they have learned while obtaining instant feedback. Computerized games are often used to review vocabulary. ESL teachers can create PowerPoint versions of these games with questions that relate directly to their lesson. The conventional versions of these games may not work well with ESL students due to cultural differences.

Active Games
Scavenger hunts, in which students are required to find objects using their English names, get students moving around a building. Rhythm games, in which students must clap, stomp and speak in a rhythm help the students with pronunciation in a nonthreatening environment. They move and speak without fear of making an error in front of the class.

An example of an active game requires students to run to the whiteboard and identify pictures that a teacher reads in English. The class is divided into two teams. Several pictures are attached to the board and two students, one from each team, stand in front of the board, waiting for the teacher to choose a word or phrase, representing one of the pictures. When the teacher says the word, the students quickly search the board and point to the correct picture. The first student who points to the correct picture, earns a point for his or her team. This game helps with listening comprehension skills. Students can be asked name the picture out loud to practice verbal skills.

Adapting Traditional Games for ESL
Bingo and tic-tac-toe can be modified to suit ESL students by using pictures and words on the playing boards. Students who win the games should repeat the items out loud on their winning card in order to earn a prize.

Speed Games
Games that used speed help to build fluency, because students must be able to think and speak quickly. A simple games that that uses speed requires the teacher to set a timer for one minute. Divide the class into two groups (or more). One student from each group must name as many pictures as possible within the minute deadline. The group that can name the most pictures will win the game.

For older students, or more advanced students, the teacher can show the students flash cards with words written in their native language, that they must then verbally translate into English within a minute.