Carmen

This is an excellent game! I played all of the Carmen games growing up in the 80s and they taught me so much about history and present. My geography skills were greatly increased and I learned about the US, World, Europe, and about history (time). They were fun, and yet educational! I will never forget the hours I spent playing these games. My parents didn't mind either (too much!) because I was learning so much.
In the games, you play the detective, Carmen, who is trying to find a criminal - each time there is a different crime/story and corresponding set of clues.

With each clue, you have a variety of places and ways to try to find the criminal. Almost each time you choose correctly, it lets you know by telling you are getting closer to the suspects. So, if you guess wrong, you can go back to where you were and try again. Time is important, and if you don't catch the criminal within the designated time period, you lose that time around. Each time you solve a case, you begin working your way up in your skill as a detective, gaining new titles each time, but I forget the order of them.
This program teaches you about cultures and facts for specific places and tests your ability to connect different clues together. I played this game for hours, along with Oregon Trail and a few other mindless games, but the ones that are educational are actually the ones that I remember! I would start with “Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego” if you've not ever played until you get the hand of it, then start trying other ones. Europe was always hard for me since I've not spent much time in Europe, but it would be a fun challenge now!
I'm glad to find this website to find all my games from childhood! The new ones are so complex and not as much fun! Plus I can relive my childhood on the weekends now!