In June 2024, Classcraft —the reference for the "classroom RPG"— stopped operating after its acquisition by HMH. Overnight, thousands of teachers who had turned their class into an adventure with characters, roles and progression lost their tool. Since then, several platforms have tried to fill that space. This guide maps the landscape, with no hype and giving credit where it's due.
What is a "classroom RPG"?
A classroom RPG (role-playing game for the class) is a platform that turns the course into a persistent adventure: students have characters that progress, earn rewards, take on roles and advance through a story that lasts all year. It differs from a review quiz (momentary) and from a behavior-points system (no game depth) in that it combines sustained motivation with narrative.
The landscape, platform by platform
Alquie
We'll start with ourselves, transparently: Alquie turns the class into a narrative adventure where students are the protagonists, with a broad pool of mechanics (points, attendance, quizzes, arena, co-op raidboss, treasure hunts, clans) and narrative generated with AI in the Pro+ plan. It's available in English and Spanish, has a free plan, and its design rests on neuroscience evidence. It's the lane that best combines the game hook with narrative progression. See all mechanics.
Classcraft (shut down in 2024)
The pioneer and reference for the category. Its RPG ran deep and set the path. It no longer operates, but understanding what made it good helps you choose a replacement. If you're coming from it, we wrote a dedicated guide: Classcraft alternative.
ClassMana and TeachQuest (indies)
Two independent platforms that emerged to fill the Classcraft gap, both with a classroom-RPG approach. They're younger, smaller projects with growing communities. If you're comparing, they're worth a look: the best tool is the one that fits your teaching style, your language and your budget.
ClassDojo (a different lane)
ClassDojo is huge and very good at what it does: behavior points and parent communication. But it isn't an RPG and has no deep narrative. If what you want is messaging with families, it's hard to beat; if you want an adventure for the class, it'll fall short. We compare it in detail here: ClassDojo alternative.
Kahoot, Gimkit, Blooket (game-show quizzes)
Excellent for competitive, in-the-moment review. They hook you in minutes, but they don't accompany the whole course or build belonging across the year. They're a great complement, not a classroom RPG.
How to choose: 5 questions
Before you decide, ask yourself:
1. Do I want to accompany the whole year or just review? If it's all year, you need persistent progression (RPG), not just quizzes.
2. In what language? If you teach in Spanish, a platform native to your language saves friction.
3. How much time do I have to learn it? Look for something you can start in minutes, with no gaming knowledge.
4. What does it say about student privacy? Check compliance (COPPA, FERPA, GDPR) — these are minors.
5. Is there a free plan to try? Trying it with your own class is worth more than any demo.
There's no single right answer: the best platform is the one that fits your classroom. If you want a narrative adventure with varied mechanics, in English or Spanish and with a free plan, you can try Alquie today and see it with your own class. And if you're coming from Classcraft or ClassDojo, we've linked the honest comparisons above.