Way to America
Way to America is a story-driven strategy and exploration game that invites students to experience the migration and cultural evolution of early Indigenous peoples in North America. Beginning in Beringia during the last Ice Age, players help a group survive harsh climates, settle new lands, and develop unique ways of life.
Through gameplay, students build dwellings, manage resources like food and wood, and unlock cultural advancements such as farming, storytelling, and irrigation. Along the way, they’ll discover how geography and environment shaped customs, beliefs, and technologies in different regions—from the Arctic to the plains.
With a mix of historical narrative, interactive challenges, and region-based progression, Way to America encourages critical thinking about human adaptation, collaboration, and cultural diversity.
Start your journey across the ancient Americas—and help build the foundations of a civilization!
Video
Game ETA
20-30 min
Learning Objective Standards (US)
| Main Concept | Covered |
|---|---|
| Explain how early peoples migrated to the Americas and adapted to diverse environments. | ✓ |
| Describe how Indigenous peoples used natural resources for food, shelter, clothing, and tools. | ✓ |
| Identify and compare the geographic and cultural characteristics of major Indigenous cultural regions in North America. | ✓ |
| Analyze how Indigenous peoples viewed their relationship with the environment differently from European colonizers. | ✓ |
| Describe the rise and decline of Mississippian cities like Cahokia and their influence on later Indigenous cultures. | ✓ |
| Evaluate how agriculture led to the development of permanent settlements and complex societies. | ✓ |
| Compare the architectural innovations of groups like the Ancient Puebloans and Inuit. | ✓ |
| Discuss how specific Indigenous tribes (e.g., Chinook, Haudenosaunee, Hopi) adapted to and shaped their environments. | ✓ |
| Analyze oral traditions such as the Abenaki and Natchez origin stories to understand how Indigenous groups viewed their history and environment. | ✓ |
| Evaluate archaeological evidence from sites like Cahokia to draw conclusions about social structure and urban life. | ✓ |
Instructions
In Way to America, students take on the role of guiding an Indigenous group from the last Ice Age through the settlement and cultural development of North America. The game begins in Beringia, where players must help their group survive by managing resources like food and wood. As the group migrates and settles new regions, students construct dwellings to expand their population, unlock technologies such as farming and irrigation, and complete historically inspired objectives. Progression is structured around cultural milestones, encouraging players to think critically about adaptation, cooperation, and environmental challenges. The game blends historical storytelling with interactive strategy, making it intuitive for students while supporting key learning goals around geography, culture, and early civilizations.
Screenshots
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