How to Create Interactive Review Games in PowerPoint

Before creating review games in PowerPoint, it’s important to understand what you want to accomplish with the game. Decide on the subject matter you wish to review. Then, select a game format that suits your content and audience. For example, a quiz format can include multiple-choice questions or true/false statements. Gather all the questions and answers you intend to use. Organizing your content early on makes the following steps smoother.

Open PowerPoint & Setup

To start, open Microsoft PowerPoint. You can do this by searching for PowerPoint in your computer’s search bar or locating it in your applications folder. Once open, create a new presentation by selecting “Blank Presentation” or choose from the available templates if you prefer a pre-designed look. Each slide in PowerPoint serves as a canvas for your content, and you can navigate between slides using the pane on the left.

Create a Title Slide

Your first slide should be the title slide. This introduces the game and can be made appealing with visuals or animations. To add a title, click on the placeholder text box that says “Click to add title” and type your game’s name. To insert images, go to the “Insert” tab, choose “Pictures,” and select an image from your computer or online sources. You can adjust the image size by dragging its corners.

Add Question Slides

For each question in your game, create a new slide. Click on “New Slide” under the “Home” tab for each new question. On each slide, type the question in a large, readable font at the top. Below the question, provide answer choices. To do this, you can use text boxes (found in the “Insert” tab) or shapes for a more graphical option (also in the “Insert” tab under “Shapes”). Label each shape or text box with an answer.

Make the Game Interactive

To add interactivity, you’ll turn the answer choices into clickable links that lead to feedback slides. Click on the answer choice, then go to “Insert” > “Link” > “Place in This Document.” You can then select the slide you want to link to—this will either be a slide confirming the answer is correct or indicating it is incorrect.

Create Feedback Slides

After each question slide, add a feedback slide. This tells players if they got the answer right or wrong. Use a simple text box to say “Correct” or “Incorrect.” If the answer was incorrect, it’s helpful to provide the correct answer and perhaps a short explanation. This helps reinforce learning.

Navigation and Controls

Consider adding a way for players to navigate through the game easily. At the bottom or top of each slide, you might add “Next” and “Back” buttons. Create these using shapes, and then link them to the respective slides, similar to how you linked the answer choices.

Test the Game

Once all slides are created, review your game from start to finish. Click on “Slide Show” at the top and then “From Beginning” to see how your game plays. This is your chance to catch any errors and ensure that all links lead to the correct slides.

Prepare for Classroom Use

After your game is complete and tested, save the file. When it’s time to present in class, ensure the classroom equipment, like projectors and speakers, is compatible with your PowerPoint game. Before starting, test the setup to avoid technical issues during the review session.