As educators we have to be VERY clear about the connections between the "games"/activities and course material. I find this to be one of the more challenging this with social studies, history in particular. For example, part of the ancient Rome unit is to compare & contrast the Roman Empire with the modern United States. Throughout the unit the students will make comments like "oh Rome was just like us!" or "we do that today!" But then we get to the lessons where we look at the big picture of overall, whether or not the U.S. like the Roman Empire and the kids just can't seem to get it. The vast majority of them will say "no, the US and Rome are nothing alike" and then the basis of their argument is that the time periods are too far apart. So yes, I do think that games and "fun" activities obviously hold value, but the value isn't really there if the students don't make the connections. If they are simply having fun and not improving on a skill or understanding, then really the activity has lost its purpose.