Summary
Teachersare often a nurturing archetype in a broader story.They are mentorsand guides throughout the hero’s journey. They often have knowledge or wisdom the player needs, or they might be an obstacle to a goal and the player must prove themselves in order to proceed. Then, on some rare occasions, players get to play as a teacher.
As this list demonstrates, often the teacher is a playable character but is also part of an ensemble cast of characters. However, in each case, their status as teacher informs their abilities and the gameplay to some extent. Here are some of thebest games that let you play as a teacher.
There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes at a university, and it would be remiss to omit the chaotic campus simulator that isTwo Point Campus. The player must make crucial decisions that affect the education and welfare of students and teachers alike. Players can intervene in student learning, sit in on classes, and determine the syllabus.
LikeTwo Point Hospital, the results can be absolutely disastrous and hilariously ridiculous. Knight School, for example, is a course that teaches medieval combat, and Egg Hunting is a challenge mode course that seems to consist of “eggscavation” time in the “Rabbit Hole.” However, there isn’t much “character” to the player character here, teacher or not, andTwo Point Campusis much more management sim than teaching sim.
Raineis a younghalf-elfteacher and a player character inTales of Symphonia. She is an optional but highly useful member of the team. She taught in Iselia before departing on the game’s rescue mission, and players get a glimpse into her classroom and her dynamic with the students.
Like many of the teachers on this lists who exist in fantasy worlds with class or unique skill-based fighting, Raine is primarily a defensive and supporting magic character. As an intelligent character, her niche talents are skills that involve high levels of knowledge. She is a healer and provides important enhancements and buffs to other team members.
Shibito Magiredoes not startSpirit Hunter: Death Mark 2as a teacher, but rather goes undercover as a teacher to solve a string of disappearances and murders at a boarding school. While players only get glimpses into his classroom activities, his relationships with the students are a major focus of the game.
He must navigate the ethical obligations of his new role while trying to get closer to students and gain information from them. This becomes increasingly difficult and complex as the story continues. To expand on this more would be to give away important plot points, but this game is one for theJapanese supernatural horrorfans.
Bylethis a mercenary and the protagonist ofFire Emblem: Three Houses.Players can choose whether to play them as male or female. Archbishop Rhea recruits Byleth to become a teacher at the Officers Academy after he rescues students from bandits.
As a stat-heavy game series, the occupations and histories of the characters inform their skill set and what they can offer in combat, and Byleth’s teaching skills factor into his students' fighting style. Hispersonal skillis Professor’s Guidance, which provides a 1.2x experience gain bonus for Byleth and adjacent allies.
Octopath Travelerisa beloved JRPGthat weaves together the stories of eight different characters. One of those characters isCyrus, who is a teacher at the Royal Academy in Atlasdam. He is a Scholar class character and his special talent is Study Foe. Like Raine, he has physical damage output, but as an enthusiastic scholar of magic, he leans on formidable elemental attacks and his resistance to magic damage.
As with many of the games in which the player is a teacher, Cyrus has to navigate his ethical and moral obligations to his students, complicated by Therese’s advances. Luckily for Cyrus, he is blissfully unaware of her feelings.
There must be something about archeology professors that leads them to get into all sorts of trouble.Professor Laytonis an archeology professor at London’s Gressenheller University and is always on some high-stakes adventure, just like another veryfamous archeology professor. He is drawn into mystery and adventure in every game largely due to his renowned puzzle-solving skills.
The classic puzzle adventure game seriesProfessor Laytonsees the eponymous professor serving as aSherlock Holmes-style expert consultant for Scotland Yard. His mentorship of Luke Triton and his exceptional knowledge of history and antiquities are the main ways that players engage with his profession.
