What Year 4 Children Learn in Maths

Before we dive into the games, it's worth knowing what your Year 4 child is actually learning in their maths lessons. Most UK schools follow the National Curriculum or White Rose Maths, which covers these key topics for 8-year-olds:

The best maths games for Year 4 should cover at least some of these topics. The really good ones align directly with what's being taught in school, so your child is practising skills they're actually using in class.

For more detail on what your child should know by the end of Year 4, see our complete guide to Year 4 maths expectations.

How We Evaluated These Games

I tested each of these games with the same criteria in mind:

The 10 Best Maths Games for Year 4

1. Hit the Button (Topmarks)

Price: Free
Platform: Web browser (mobile-friendly)
Topics covered: Times tables, number bonds, halves, doubles, division facts

Hit the Button is a classic for a reason. It's fast-paced, completely free, and perfect for drilling times tables. Your child has 60 seconds to answer as many questions as possible, which adds just enough pressure to keep it exciting.

Pros: Completely free, no ads, no sign-up required, works on any device
Cons: No progress tracking, quite repetitive, only covers recall (not problem-solving)

Best for: Quick daily times tables practice

2. Times Tables Rock Stars

Price: £15/year (often provided free by schools)
Platform: Web + iOS/Android app
Topics covered: Times tables only

Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) is hugely popular in UK schools. Children answer times tables questions to "perform" in a rock band, earning coins to customise their avatar. Many schools subscribe to it, so your child might already have a login.

Pros: Highly engaging, tracks progress meticulously, competitive leaderboards, often free through school
Cons: Only covers times tables, can feel pressured for anxious children, annual subscription if paying yourself

Best for: Children who love competition and already have school access

3. Mathsframe

Price: Free
Platform: Web browser
Topics covered: Full Year 4 curriculum including fractions, place value, multiplication, measurement

Mathsframe offers dozens of free games organised by year group and topic. The interface is a bit dated, but the games themselves are solid and cover the entire curriculum.

Pros: Completely free, comprehensive topic coverage, organised by National Curriculum objectives
Cons: Old-fashioned graphics, no progress tracking, can feel educational rather than game-like

Best for: Parents who want free, curriculum-aligned practice across all topics

4. IXL Maths

Price: £7.99/month or £59.99/year
Platform: Web + iOS/Android app
Topics covered: Entire UK maths curriculum, Year 1-6

IXL is comprehensive to the point of being overwhelming. It has thousands of questions organised by year group and topic. The adaptive algorithm adjusts difficulty based on your child's answers.

Pros: Exhaustive curriculum coverage, detailed progress reports, aligned to UK curriculum
Cons: Expensive, interface feels like worksheets rather than games, can be demotivating if children make mistakes

Best for: Parents who want detailed tracking and don't mind the worksheet-style format

5. Prodigy Maths

Price: Free (basic) or £9.99/month (premium)
Platform: Web + iOS/Android app
Topics covered: Broad maths topics, but follows US curriculum

Prodigy is a fantasy RPG where children answer maths questions to battle monsters and collect pets. It's genuinely engaging and feels like a real game. The catch? It follows the US curriculum, so topics don't always match what UK children learn in Year 4.

Pros: Highly engaging, feels like a proper game, free version is generous
Cons: Not aligned to UK curriculum, premium membership heavily promoted in-game, some parents find it too game-like

Best for: Children who need motivation and don't mind practising maths skills out of sequence with school

6. DoodleMaths

Price: £9.99/month or £99.99/year
Platform: iOS/Android app only
Topics covered: Full UK curriculum, Year 1-6

DoodleMaths uses an adaptive algorithm to personalise questions to your child's level. It encourages short daily sessions (10-15 minutes) and sends parent reports. The app is well-designed and follows the UK curriculum closely.

Pros: UK curriculum-aligned, excellent parent dashboard, daily streaks encourage consistency
Cons: Expensive, app-only (no web version), graphics are functional rather than exciting

Best for: Parents who want consistent daily practice with detailed progress tracking

7. Mathletics

Price: £5.99/month or £59.99/year
Platform: Web + iOS/Android app
Topics covered: Full UK curriculum with National Curriculum alignment

Mathletics combines curriculum-based exercises with arcade-style games. Children earn points to spend on customising their avatar. It's been around for years and is popular in schools.

Pros: Strong UK curriculum alignment, mix of practice and games, certificates and rewards
Cons: Interface feels a bit dated, can be repetitive, subscription required

Best for: Children who respond well to rewards and certificates

8. SplashLearn

Price: Free (limited) or £6.99/month
Platform: Web + iOS/Android app
Topics covered: Broad maths topics, US curriculum-based

SplashLearn uses bright, cartoon-style graphics and game-based learning. Like Prodigy, it's designed for the US market, so topic coverage doesn't perfectly match UK Year 4.

Pros: Engaging graphics, game-like feel, reasonable price
Cons: Not UK curriculum-aligned, free version is very limited

Best for: Younger Year 4 children who need confidence-building rather than curriculum precision

9. BBC Bitesize Daily Lessons

Price: Free
Platform: Web browser
Topics covered: Full UK curriculum with video lessons and practice activities

BBC Bitesize isn't a game in the traditional sense, but it offers free video lessons and interactive activities organised by year group. It's perfect for revision or if your child missed a topic at school.

Pros: Completely free, trustworthy source, excellent for learning new concepts
Cons: Not game-like, no progress tracking, requires parental guidance to navigate

Best for: Parents who want free, reliable teaching resources rather than pure games

10. MathCraft

Price: Free during beta
Platform: Web (mobile-optimised)
Topics covered: White Rose Maths Year 4-7, adaptive progression

MathCraft wraps maths practice in a Tamagotchi-style game where children raise a creature companion and build an island. Each quest presents maths questions aligned to White Rose Maths. The adaptive engine selects topics based on what the child needs to practise, using spaced repetition.

Pros: White Rose-aligned, genuinely game-like (not just quizzes with graphics), no ads or upselling, focuses on daily consistency
Cons: Still in beta, smaller question bank than established platforms, limited parent dashboard

Best for: Children who want a proper game experience and parents who follow White Rose Maths

Curriculum Tip: If your child's school uses White Rose Maths, look for games that explicitly mention it. This ensures the sequence and language match what they're learning in class.

Which Topics Do These Games Cover?

Not all games cover all topics. Here's a quick reference for what each game focuses on:

Game Times Tables Fractions Place Value Decimals Geometry
Hit the Button ✓ — — — —
Times Tables Rock Stars ✓ — — — —
Mathsframe ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
IXL Maths ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Prodigy ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
DoodleMaths ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Mathletics ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
SplashLearn ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Partial
BBC Bitesize ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
MathCraft ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Free vs Paid: What's Actually Worth Paying For?

Let's be honest: there are excellent free options. Hit the Button, Mathsframe, and BBC Bitesize won't cost you a penny, and they're perfectly good for targeted practice.

You might consider paying for a subscription if you want:

If your child is already motivated and you're happy to manually track what topics they need to practise, the free options are genuinely sufficient.

What About Children Who Struggle With Times Tables?

Times tables are a huge focus in Year 4. By the end of the year, children should know all tables up to 12×12. If your child is finding them tricky, focus on games that make times tables less painful.

Hit the Button and Times Tables Rock Stars are both excellent for building speed and confidence. Just keep sessions short — 5-10 minutes daily is far more effective than a 30-minute cram session.

For more strategies and games specifically for times tables, see our guide to multiplication games for 9-year-olds.

How to Choose the Right Game for Your Child

Every child is different. Here's how to narrow it down:

If your child loves competition and leaderboards: Times Tables Rock Stars or Mathletics
If your child needs comprehensive curriculum coverage: DoodleMaths or IXL
If you want something free and simple: Hit the Button or Mathsframe
If your child needs a proper game experience: Prodigy or MathCraft
If you follow White Rose Maths at home: MathCraft or Mathsframe

The best game is the one your child will actually use. Don't be afraid to try a few options and see what sticks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What maths should a Year 4 child know?

By the end of Year 4, children should know all times tables up to 12×12, be able to add and subtract using column methods, understand equivalent fractions, recognise tenths and hundredths as decimals, and work with numbers up to 10,000. They should also be able to convert between metric units and identify acute, right, and obtuse angles.

Are maths games good for learning?

Yes, when used as part of a balanced approach. Maths games are excellent for building fluency, confidence, and motivation. They're particularly effective for practising skills your child has already been taught at school. However, games work best alongside proper teaching — they're not a replacement for learning new concepts from a teacher or parent.

What are the best free maths games for kids?

The best completely free options are Hit the Button (for times tables), Mathsframe (for comprehensive curriculum coverage), and BBC Bitesize (for video lessons and activities). All three are created by UK organisations and align with the National Curriculum. They don't require sign-ups, have no ads, and cover the topics your child is learning at school.

How many times tables should a Year 4 child know?

By the end of Year 4, children are expected to know all times tables up to 12×12. This includes the trickier ones like 7×8 and 9×6. They take the Multiplication Tables Check in June, which tests recall of tables facts in under 6 seconds per question. Regular, short practice sessions (5-10 minutes daily) are much more effective than occasional longer sessions.

Should I choose a game that follows White Rose Maths?

If your child's school uses White Rose Maths, it's worth choosing a game that aligns with it. White Rose uses specific terminology, visual models (like bar models and part-whole diagrams), and teaches topics in a particular sequence. Games that follow White Rose will reinforce what your child is learning in class using the same language and methods.

Want to Try a Maths Game That Follows White Rose?

MathCraft combines daily maths practice with a creature-raising adventure game. Your child builds an island, raises a companion, and masters Year 4-7 maths through quests aligned to White Rose topics. It's free during beta.

Try MathCraft Free No card required. Free during beta.