GCSE Biology Revision Games & Fun Activities

Being honest – revising biology by reading textbooks for hours can be boring. Your brain switches off, you stare at the same page for twenty minutes, and then you’ve forgotten everything five minutes after stopping.

Here's the good news: revision can actually be really fun, if you have the right tools. 

This article is packed with GCSE Biology revision games that will change how you approach revision. Some you can play solo. Some work better with friends. All of them help you remember content better than passive reading could.

Key Takeaways

• Biology revision games boost memory and make learning more active than just reading notes

• You can play most games solo or with friends, using minimal equipment

• Different games work for different topics – use flashcards for definitions, bingo for key terms, and quiz battles for testing knowledge

• Game-based revision should work alongside past papers and note-making for best results

Why Use Games to Revise for GCSE Biology?

Games aren't just more fun than reading textbooks (though, of course that's true). They're also scientifically proven to help you learn better.

Games force active recall

When you play a game, you have to pull information out of your brain. That's called active recall, and it's one of the most effective ways to learn. Way better than just reading the same notes over and over. Our article explains active recall and why it’s so effective.

They break up boring study sessions

Studying for three hours straight kills your concentration. Playing a quick revision game every 30-45 minutes wakes your brain up and keeps you focused. Our article on how to revise GCSEs will give you more structuring ideas. 

They help long-term memory

The more times you recall information (especially in different ways), the stronger the memory becomes. Games give you loads of chances to practise without it feeling like hard work. Our article on the best revision techniques will tell you more. 

They reduce exam stress

Turning revision into a game makes it feel less serious. You're still learning the same content, but the pressure is lower. That helps with anxiety and makes you more likely to start revising.

Solo GCSE Biology Revision Games

Here are brilliant games you can play on your own when you need to revise but don't have anyone to help.

Flashcard Speed Round

Grab a stack of flashcards (either ones you've made or digital ones from revision apps - Save My Exams has plenty of flashcards too). Set a timer for 60 seconds and see how many you can answer correctly.

How to play:

• Put a question or key term on one side, the answer on the other

• Race through as many as possible in one minute

• Keep score and try to beat it each day

Best for: Definitions, key terms, and quick-fire facts like cell organelles, enzyme names, or photosynthesis stages.

Topic Timer Challenge

Pick a biology topic (like respiration or photosynthesis). Set a timer for two minutes and write down everything you remember about it without looking at your notes.

How to play:

• Choose a topic from your specification

• Write as many facts, processes, and key words as you can

• Check your notes afterwards and see what you missed

• Try again in a few days and beat your score

Best for: Testing overall understanding of big topics and spotting gaps in your knowledge.

Memory Grid

Create a 4x4 grid and fill each square with a key fact, diagram label, or definition. Study it for two minutes, cover it up, then recreate as much as you can from memory.

How to play:

• Draw a grid with 16 squares

• Fill it with biology content (e.g. parts of a cell, stages of mitosis, gas exchange structures)

• Study for two minutes

• Cover it and redraw from memory

Best for: Memorising diagrams, sequences, and lists that appear in exam questions.

Biology Buzzer

Read through past paper questions and "buzz in" (tap your desk or say "buzz!") the moment you know the answer. Then answer it properly out loud.

How to play:

• Use past paper questions or your textbook questions

• Read each question and buzz as soon as you know the answer

• Say your answer out loud before checking

• Keep track of how many you get right first time

Best for: Practising exam questions and improving reaction speed for multiple-choice questions.

GCSE Biology Games for Pairs or Groups

These games work brilliantly with friends, study buddies, or in class. They're more fun with other people and add a competitive edge.

Biology Bingo

Create bingo cards filled with biology terms or concepts. One person calls out definitions or clues, everyone else marks off the matching square.

How to play:

• Make 5x5 bingo grids filled with key biology terms (e.g. mitochondria, enzyme, chromosome)

• One person reads definitions without saying the actual word

• First person to get a line or full house wins

Best for: Learning key terminology across all topics and testing definition knowledge.

Quiz Show Face-Off

Turn past paper questions into a game show. Take turns answering questions, award points for correct answers, and keep score.

How to play:

• Collect questions from past papers or revision guides

• Award 1 point for easy questions, 2 for medium, 3 for hard

• Take turns answering

• First to 15 points wins

Best for: Practising all question types and covering multiple topics in one session.

Pass the Question

Write biology questions on cards. Pass them around the group – each person must answer or explain the question they receive.

How to play:

• Write 20+ questions on index cards or Post-Its

• Shuffle and pass them out randomly

• Each person has 30 seconds to answer their question

• Group decides if the answer was correct

Best for: Testing understanding of processes and explanations (great for 4-6 mark questions).

Peer Teaching Challenge

Each person picks a different biology topic. You have five minutes to teach it to the group as clearly as possible.

How to play:

• Split topics between group members (e.g. one person gets osmosis, another gets photosynthesis)

• Prepare for 10 minutes using notes

• Take turns teaching your topic in under five minutes

• The group votes on who explained it best

Best for: Deep understanding of complex processes and practising exam explanations.

Topic Relay Race

Create a list of topics or questions. Race to complete them, passing control to the next person after each correct answer.

How to play:

• Make a list of 15-20 questions covering different topics

• Set a timer for 10 minutes

• First person answers question 1, then passes to the next person for question 2

• See how many the group completes before time runs out

Best for: Fast recall, covering lots of content quickly, and team revision sessions.

Online GCSE Biology Revision Games

Digital tools can make revision interactive and track your progress automatically.

Use flashcard apps smartly

Apps like Anki (opens in a new tab) or Quizlet (opens in a new tab) let you create digital flashcards with images, diagrams, and text. The best ones use spaced repetition, showing you cards you struggle with more often. Save My Exams also have plenty of flashcards.

Create separate decks for each biology topic (Cell Biology, Organisation, Infection and Response, etc.). Add diagrams by screenshotting from your textbook or drawing them yourself.

Turn past papers into online quizzes

Save My Exams has extensive collections of exam questions written by teachers and examiners with accompanying answers, as well as past papers. Use these to test yourself topic-by-topic. Track which questions you get wrong and redo those specific ones.

Use biology simulation games

Some websites offer interactive simulations where you can play with biological processes. PhET (opens in a new tab) is one example. Try:

• Cell structure builders (build and label cells)

• Enzyme activity simulators (change pH and temperature to see effects)

• Genetics calculators (practise Punnett squares and inheritance)

These help visual learners understand processes by seeing them in action.

Create your own Kahoot quizzes

Kahoot (opens in a new tab) lets you make custom multiple-choice quizzes that feel like game shows. Create a quiz on your weakest biology topic and challenge friends to beat your score.

Match Games to Topics

Different games work better for different biology topics. Here's a quick guide to help you choose.

Cell Biology (cells, diffusion, osmosis, mitosis)

• Memory Grid for labelling cell diagrams

• Flashcard Speed Round for organelle functions

• Peer Teaching for explaining processes like mitosis

Organisation (digestive system, heart, blood vessels)

• Biology Bingo for organ and tissue names

• Topic Timer Challenge for explaining the circulatory system

• Memory Grid for labelling heart diagrams

Infection and Response (pathogens, immune system, antibiotics)

• Flashcard Speed Round for disease names and symptoms

• Quiz Show Face-Off using past paper questions about vaccination

• Pass the Question for explaining how the immune system works

Bioenergetics (photosynthesis, respiration)

• Peer Teaching Challenge for explaining respiration stages

• Memory Grid for word equations and reactants/products

• Topic Timer Challenge for listing everything about photosynthesis

Homeostasis and Response (nervous system, hormones)

• Biology Bingo for hormone names and functions

• Flashcard Speed Round for reflex arc components

• Quiz Show Face-Off for hormone regulation questions

Inheritance, Variation and Evolution (DNA, genetics, natural selection)

• Pass the Question for Punnett square problems

• Peer Teaching for explaining natural selection

• Topic Timer Challenge for writing everything about genetic inheritance

Ecology (food chains, carbon cycle, biodiversity)

• Biology Bingo for ecological terms

• Memory Grid for carbon and water cycles

• Topic Relay Race covering different ecosystem questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best game for revising GCSE Biology definitions?

Flashcard Speed Round and Biology Bingo are both brilliant for definitions.

Flashcards work best solo – you can race through loads of terms quickly and focus on the ones you keep forgetting. Biology Bingo is better in groups because it's more fun and adds a competitive element.

For maximum effectiveness, combine both. Use flashcards throughout the week, then play Biology Bingo with friends on the weekend to test what stuck.

Can I revise for exams using only games?

Not really. Games are brilliant for testing recall and making revision less boring. But they shouldn't be your only revision method.

You also need to:

• Practise past papers under timed conditions (games don't teach exam technique)

• Read your textbook and notes (games test knowledge you already have)

• Write full-length answers (games usually focus on short-answer recall)

Think of games as the fun, effective part of a balanced revision plan. Use them alongside other methods for best results.

How can I make revision games with past paper questions?

Past paper questions work brilliantly in games. Here's how:

• For Quiz Show Face-Off: Print or write out past paper questions on cards. Assign point values (1 mark questions = 1 point, etc.). Take turns answering and keep score.

• For Topic Relay Race: List 15-20 past paper questions. Work through them as a team, passing control after each correct answer.

• For Biology Buzzer (solo): Read past paper questions and buzz when you know the answer. This trains quick recall and helps with multiple-choice questions.

Always check your answers against the mark scheme afterwards. That's where you learn exam technique and see exactly what examiners want.

Final Thoughts

Biology revision doesn't have to mean sitting at a desk reading the same notes until your eyes glaze over.

Games make learning active, memorable, and way less boring. They help information stick in your brain longer. And honestly? They just make revision something you might actually want to do.

Pick a few games from this list and try them out. Mix solo games with group activities. Use flashcards one day and Biology Bingo the next.

Find what works for you, make it fun, and watch your biology knowledge improve. You'll remember more, feel more confident, and even enjoy revision.

References

• Anki (opens in a new tab) 

• Quizlet (opens in a new tab) 

• PhET (opens in a new tab)

• Kahoot (opens in a new tab)