Quick answer: To help a dyslexic child, the best educational games rely on the multisensory method and dynamic syllabification. These tools help strengthen phonological awareness by associating sounds with letters through visual and auditory stimuli. The game DysGame by Nimori, for example, uses real-time colored segmentation of syllables to facilitate decoding without cognitive fatigue.

Table of Contents

Understanding dyslexia: why play is essential
How to choose a good educational game for a DYS child?
Focus: The Nimori dynamic reading game
Comparison of the best digital solutions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Understanding dyslexia: why play is essential

Dyslexia affects about 8% of children in France. Contrary to popular belief, it has no link to intelligence quotient (IQ). It is a neurodevelopmental disorder of often hereditary origin, impacting the areas of the brain dedicated to language processing. For a dyslexic child, "decoding" a word requires an exhausting effort, because the correspondence between the written sign (grapheme) and the sound (phoneme) does not automate naturally.

This is where educational games for dyslexic children come into play. Gaming allows to:

Reduce anxiety related to academic failure.
Maintain motivation through the reward system (gamification).
Work on brain plasticity through playful repetition, which is essential for anchoring reading mechanisms.

How to choose a good educational game for a DYS child?

Not all so-called "educational" games are suitable. To be effective, a tool must respect certain neuroscientific pillars of remediation:

The multisensory approach: The game must engage sight (colors), hearing (text-to-speech), and sometimes touch.
Syllabic segmentation: Visualizing syllables through alternating colors helps prevent confusing mirror letters (b/d, p/q).
Adaptability: The level must be progressive to avoid cognitive overload.

Feature Impact on the DYS child
Alternating colors	Facilitates the splitting of complex words.
Integrated text-to-speech	Allows self-correction and relieves decoding effort.
Adapted fonts (OpenDys)	Prevents the sensation of "moving" letters.
Rewards (Toad slime, trophies)	Boosts dopamine and long-term engagement.

Nimori offers several free exercises for dyslexic children

Exercises targeting DYS children are displayed with the Dys logo

LetterClic: Automating keyboard typing

This game asks the child to type on their keyboard the letters falling on the screen before they reach the bottom. For dyslexic children, who are often prone to dysgraphia, switching to computer tools is an essential compensation, but searching for keys represents a significant mental load. By offering several difficulty levels (easy, medium, hard) and a life system, LetterClic gamifies keyboard learning. It helps the child spatially memorize the location of letters and automate their typing, thus reducing the cognitive effort related to writing production.

The educational game is accessible here: LetterClic

Easy Reading (DysGame & DysText): Visual and auditory decoding

The easy reading game for dyslexic children checks all the boxes of a modern compensation tool. This game uses a dynamic syllabification algorithm that processes text in real-time to make it readable.

Why does it work? The game integrates a text-to-speech function with a slowed-down pace (0.85x), ideal for children with slower auditory processing. Moreover, it intelligently handles French language exceptions, thus avoiding splitting complex sounds (like "ch", "ou", or "gn").

✅ Advantages

Automatic colorization of syllables (prevents confusion).
Integrated text-to-speech for total autonomy.
Multi-language (French, English, Spanish, etc.).

❌ Disadvantages

Requires a screen (limit exposure time).
Does not replace follow-up with a speech therapist.

PhonoDrop: Multisensory phonological discrimination

Confusion between similar sounds (such as B/P, T/D, or F/V) is a strong marker of dyslexia. PhonoDrop targets this specific difficulty by asking the user to sort words and drag-and-drop them into the corresponding phoneme category. The interface allows switching between reading the word and simply listening to it associated with an image. This multisensory approach forces the brain to focus on the precise identification of the heard sound, thus strengthening phonological awareness through targeted and interactive training.

The educational game is accessible here: PhonoDrop

Comparison of the best digital solutions

Besides pure reading solutions, other tools help compensate for associated disorders (dysorthographia, dysgraphia):

Glaaster: A platform that adapts homework using AI and neuroscience.
LireCouleur: A perfect extension for parents who want to adapt texts themselves in Word or LibreOffice.
GraphoGame: Very effective for intensive training in decoding letters and simple sounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can we start games for dyslexics?

You can start as early as the final year of kindergarten (5.5 - 6 years old). Early detection is key: a diagnosis can be made with 95% accuracy at this age.

Can a game replace a speech therapist?

No. Educational games are compensation and training tools, but fundamental remediation must be supervised by a healthcare professional (speech therapist).

Why do colors help with reading?

Colors allow visual segmentation of the word. This helps the brain identify meaning units (syllables) without having to make the mental effort of splitting them, thus reducing cognitive fatigue.

Does dyslexia disappear with age?

No, it is a lifelong disorder. However, with the right tools and training, a child learns workaround strategies that allow them to have a brilliant academic and professional career (like Albert Einstein or Steven Spielberg).

Which fonts should be prioritized?

Fonts like OpenDyslexic or sans-serif fonts like Arial or Verdana are recommended because they limit visual confusion between letters.