One of the most promising goals for games is to foster problem-solving skills. Problem solving is considered a critical 21st skill by many groups, including the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2004), which claims that the capacity to
problem-solve separates students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments from those who are not.
Problem solving is also supported by research conducted by Levy and Murnane (2004), who, after conducting a content analysis of emerging work skills, concluded that the nation’s challenge was to prepare youth for the high-wage/high-skilled jobs that involve expert problem-solving skills and complex communication.