Franklin’s Fortune: Learning History, Economics, and Virtue Through Play

I'm excited to share something a little different with you today!

If you've followed Homeschooling with Period Dramas for any length of time, you know that I'm always looking for fun ways to bring history to life. While movies and books are some of my favorite ways to do that, I'm excited to begin adding educational games to the mix as well!

Today, I'm introducing you to Franklin's Fortune, a game based on the life and teachings of Benjamin Franklin. The game focuses on virtue, persistence, overcoming obstacles, and making wise decisions - and I thought it sounded like such an interesting concept that I wanted to learn more about the person who created it.

The creator of the game, Shane Newell, was kind enough to send me a complimentary copy of the game so that I could review it, and he also agreed to answer some questions about how Franklin's Fortune came to be.

So, let's get to know the game - and the story behind it!

What inspired you to create Franklin’s Fortune?

Shane: The inspiration came many years ago while playing Monopoly with my children. Watching my twelve-year-old daughter go bankrupt in tears made me realize that the game depends upon friends and family bankrupting one another in order to win.

I began wondering if there might be a better way to teach economics and life skills - one that taught that lasting prosperity grows from industry, virtue, persistence, education, and wise decisions.

Why did you choose Benjamin Franklin?

Shane: Despite having only about two years of formal schooling, Franklin became one of history's greatest examples of self-education, entrepreneurship, public service, and lifelong learning.

I often describe the mission of the game this way:

“I didn't invent Franklin's Fortune to teach children about Benjamin Franklin. I invented it to teach them that character is life's greatest fortune.”

What age group would you recommend the game for?

Shane: The game is generally best suited for ages 14 through adult, although many families enjoy playing together with younger children.

Is Franklin’s Fortune your first educational game?

Shane: Yes. It is my first educational game and has been a true labor of love over many years.

Did you grow up homeschooling, or do you homeschool your own children?

Shane: Although our family wasn't part of the homeschooling community, I've long admired its commitment to cultivating curiosity, character, and a genuine love of learning.

Those values seem wonderfully aligned with Franklin's own example, and they are exactly the values I hoped Franklin's Fortune would encourage.

My Thoughts on Franklin’s Fortune

After watching the tutorial on YouTube a couple times and reading the instructions provided in the box, we began setting up the game. I was immediately impressed by the Colonial-style design of the cards, and the setup instructions were very easy to understand.

Learning new games is almost never easy sailing for me personally (my mind generally goes blank, lol), so I was pleased to discover that I had very little difficulty grasping the rules or understanding how to play!

I enlisted a game-loving member of my family (age 17), and we sat down to give it a try. We both really enjoyed the game, and I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly we got into the rhythm of playing. I especially enjoyed the combination of strategy and historical themes woven throughout the game.

The game lasted about 40 minutes, although I think we'll probably play much faster next time now that we've learned the ropes. And as for the final score… I was beaten by just 5 points!

Overall, Franklin’s Fortune was much easier to learn than I expected, and it was genuinely fun to play. I can definitely see this being a great addition to a family game night with older children and teens!

I especially loved all of Benjamin Franklin’s quotes included on the Virtue and Obstacle cards. A few of my favorites are: “Avoid dishonest gain; no price can recompense the pangs of vice,” “Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty,” “Search others for their virtues, and thyself for thy vices,” and “Be not disturbed at trifles or at accidents common or unavoidable.”

Want to Learn More?

Franklin’s Fortune is available to purchase here on The History Listwebsite.

I would like to give a big THANK YOU to Shane for taking the time to answer my questions and for providing me with a complimentary copy of Franklin's Fortune for this review. I loved getting to hear the story behind the game, and I'm excited to share it with my readers!

Have you played this game before with your family? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please comment below and share what you love about Franklin’s Fortune.

I received a complimentary copy of Franklin’s Fortune for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions regarding my experience with the game are my own, while statements from Shane Newell reflect his own thoughts and opinions.