Typically, illustration tools are used in the classroom, but Youngberg (2019) suggests some illustration tools can also be used outside the classroom. Video games can facilitate discussions about economic concepts in the classroom (Ferrarini, 2012).

​

Ferrarini (2012), Ng (2019), and Youngberg (2019) describe the use of and discussions about video games to teach economics and financial literacy. Mateer and O’Roark (2020) provide ten different lesson plans based on the video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Vidal (2020) explains how the video game Civilization VI can be used to illustrate many economic concepts, including human and physical capital, trade, and property rights. Sierra and Rodríguez-Conde (2023) explore how they used three video games to help students learn about and engage with public economics management across local, national, and international levels. Sheehan and Marks (2025) use FIFA 23 to simulate labor market decisions within a fictitious monetary system.  ​​