Modulo

Stack the States

Recommended Ages

3rd–6th grades

U.S. geography often gets squeezed into quick review before tests, leaving kids with shaky map skills. Stack the States turns learning state shapes, capitals, and key facts into a Tetris-style puzzle game where kids must correctly answer questions to “stack” states and clear each level. From the same developer behind Stack the Countries, this app has become a go-to recommendation for homeschool families looking to make civics and geography more interactive. We love how it reinforces visual recognition of state outlines while gently repeating facts until they stick. It’s ideal for elementary and middle-grade learners who already know basic U.S. geography and are ready to deepen and speed up recall. Younger kids may need some initial scaffolding for reading questions and understanding game mechanics, but that collaboration can actually boost learning. Pro tip: pair Stack the States with a blank outline map and have kids color in or label each state they “master” in the game.

Ideal for elementary kids who enjoy quick‑play games and already know their letters, especially visual and kinesthetic learners who benefit from repeatedly seeing and manipulating state shapes on the map.

Pros

Transforms U.S. geography into an addictive stacking game where kids learn state shapes, locations, capitals, and facts while manipulating the pieces on screen; no ads and support for multiple players make it homeschool‑friendly; widely recommended in secular homeschool forums as a surprisingly effective way to memorize states and capitals. 

Cons

Focuses mostly on trivia (shapes, capitals, abbreviations, basic facts) rather than deeper historical or civic context; reading is required to answer the questions, so younger kids may need support; app visuals feel a bit dated compared to newer games; available only for U.S. geography.

As a low‑cost paid app, Stack the States is usually purchased directly in app stores; some charters or ESAs will reimburse it under “educational apps” or “social studies supplies,” but policies vary widely by program.

Families can expect to spend $309 the first year and then an additional $90-100 every subsequent year or level. (The complete set of materials for all levels costs $209 and the textbooks for each individual level costs $90-100). E-books are an additional $10.

Get it
Share
Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest
Stack the States
$90.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
View all collections
Geography
Geography
Civics
Civics

Stack the States Mission

Stack the States is designed to make U.S. geography unforgettable by turning state facts into a physics‑based puzzle game. As kids match states with their capitals, shapes, flags, and locations to build a wobbly tower past the finish line, they repeatedly review key information in a way that feels more like play than study.

Stack the States Story

Independent developer Dan Russell‑Pinson created Stack the States after noticing that both kids and adults struggled to remember where states are and what makes each one unique. Drawing on his experience building casual games, he wrapped a full set of digital “flash cards” and map challenges in an arcade‑style stacking mechanic that rewards persistence and experimentation. Over time the app has grown to include multiple mini‑games and even a sequel, becoming a go‑to tool for families brushing up on geography together.

About Modular Learning

FAQ: Additional Details about Stack the States

During a typical session, your child starts a round, answers a question, then drags a cartoon state into place as jaunty music plays and the stack wobbles. They’ll cheer when the pile reaches the checkered line and groan (in a fun way) when a badly balanced state tips the tower—then quickly hit “Play again” for another round.

Stack the States is a one‑time‑purchase geography app where kids answer multiple‑choice questions about U.S. states (capitals, shapes, locations, nicknames, and more) to “win” states they then drop into a physics‑based stacking game. As learners progress, they unlock bonus games and maps, making it easy to turn 10–20 minutes of play into spaced review of U.S. geography. 

Parents often introduce the app after a unit on U.S. geography and then use it as independent review, occasionally sitting in to ask follow‑up questions or challenge siblings to friendly competitions.

Kids should be able to read simple multiple‑choice questions or have a reader nearby; basic familiarity with the idea of states and a U.S. map helps but isn’t required.

Stack the States uses a similar format for U.S. geography, with puzzle‑like stacking that many autistic and ADHD kids enjoy. As with Stack the Countries, adult support with reading and time limits can keep it fun rather than frustrating.

Stack the States uses the same visual, game-based format as Stack the Countries, letting kids learn U.S. geography by stacking animated state shapes while answering quick questions. This light-text, high-interaction design works well for dyslexic learners who benefit from visual memory and repetition instead of long written passages.

Stack the States uses the same visual, game-based format as Stack the Countries, letting kids learn U.S. geography by stacking animated state shapes while answering quick questions. This light-text, high-interaction design works well for dyslexic learners who benefit from visual memory and repetition instead of long written passages.

Refunds follow the policies of the platform where you buy it (Apple, Google Play, Amazon, etc.), which generally offer short‑term windows for requesting refunds on apps; the independent developer does not offer a separate direct‑refund system. 

Not a stand‑alone U.S. history or civics program; may not be engaging for teens who already know the basics or for kids who dislike time‑pressured quiz games.

Pair or alternate with Scrambled States of America (board game), Seterra or Sheppard Software online geography games, or a more narrative U.S. history spine like Curiosity Chronicles or the ReVisioning History series for deeper context. 

The original app has been joined by Stack the States 2, which adds new question types, 3D graphics, interactive maps, landmarks, and a voice mode to support emerging readers, giving families more mileage as kids grow. 

Let kids play in short bursts throughout the week and keep a blank U.S. map handy so they can color in states as they “win” them in the game—this bridges on‑screen learning to paper‑and‑pencil geography.

Contact form

Meet Dan

Dan Russell‑Pinson is an American mobile game developer, musician, and artist, and the president of his one‑person studio Freecloud Design, Inc. He is best known for creating a suite of educational titles—including Stack the States, Stack the Countries, Presidents vs. Aliens, Monster Physics, and Tower Math—that combine approachable gameplay with solid academic content.