Systems and methods for playing games and using other educational tools are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, entertaining and educational game systems are provided for increasing players' global awareness. In other embodiments, players can experience life challenges faced by denizens of emerging markets and/or countries. In one embodiment, a game system for playing games includes a playing surface having an image of a representative geographical location and a plurality of spaced-apart player movement spaces for positioning player tokens. The system further includes a plurality of vocation indicia for communicating vocation based information. The vocation based information can include a vocation description (e.g., describing a possible vocation of a denizen of the representative geographical location) assumable by a player. The system can also include a plurality of instructional play indicia for communicating a possible life experience that the denizen may experience.