Efficacy and perception of feasibility of structured games for achieving curriculum learning goals in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten low-income classrooms

•Games improved preschool children's problem solving, letter-word recognition and phonological awareness.•No effects were observed on target science vocabulary.•Teachers perceived the games as engaging, easy to play, and aligned with curriculum goals.•Results extend research about games in preschool beyond mathematics.•Results show that structured games are feasible and useful in adverse classroom contexts.