Games have a long history of being used for instructional purposes. Games can be defined as playful activities, with or without a computer, that have some essential characteristics. Game characteristics can include competition and goals, game rules, challenging activities, choices, and fantasy elements. Games that take advantage of these characteristics have been shown to be a valuable instructional method and strategy for teaching a wide variety of students and content. Creating game-based learning environments or experiences using Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) games is becoming an increasingly tenable, valuable, and popular instructional strategy. COTS games are computer or video games created almost entirely for entertainment purposes, yet some COTS games are not absent of intellectual challenges or content. Teachers working with middle school, high school, or post-secondary students probably will find integrating COTS games most beneficial when the games align with the curriculum and provide intellectual challenges appropriate for their students' abilities. In this article, the author discusses how to integrate COTS video games into school curriculums and presents a list of things that instructors should consider before integrating COTS games.