Gaming serves more purposes than just entertainment. With games proven to improve your cognition and reasoning, it only makes sense for gamers to engage themselves in games that serve an ulterior purpose, self-improvement!
With that said, we’ve compiled a list of the best mind games to help train your brain alongside reasons as to why you should play them. We’ve also listed down the best free applications or websites for that game so you can quickly get in the groove.
Sudoku
For those interested in a true test of logic and focus, Sudoku is an absolute classic. The basic premise is simple: fill in a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and 3×3 sub-grid contains every digit from 1 to 9. However, the challenge ramps up considerably as the puzzles become more complex, requiring a dedicated and observant mind to solve them.
Sudoku apps abound, often with customizable difficulties, daily puzzles, and features like hints to help you if you get stuck. Sudoku is a great way to exercise your brain and improve your pattern recognition and strategic thinking.
Poker
Poker is a thrilling game of deception, strategy, and calculated risk. Whether you prefer fixed limit Texas Holdem, Omaha, or other variations, mobile apps offer a convenient and accessible way to experience the excitement of the poker table.
While luck plays a role, skilled poker players hone their ability to read opponents, assess probabilities, and make bold decisions under pressure. Nowadays, you’ll be able to play an entire suite of card games within a single Poker app or website online.
Chess
Chess is a battle of wits that has been captivating players for centuries. As a turn-based strategy game played on a checkered board, chess requires foresight, planning, and adaptability. Players take turns moving pieces that represent different military units, with the goal being to capture your opponent’s king.
Chess is excellent for exercising critical thinking, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning skills. With countless mobile chess apps and websites offering a range of opponent difficulties (from new players to AI grandmasters), it’s a game you can play and improve at throughout your life.
Scrabble
The classic word game Scrabble remains a beloved choice for those seeking a stimulating battle of vocabulary and strategic thinking. The goal is simple: build words on a grid, crossword-style, to accumulate the highest point total. But the real challenge lies in maximizing scores with letter placement, utilizing bonus tiles, and potentially even blocking your opponent’s moves.
Scrabble is a fantastic way to expand your vocabulary, improve your spelling, and enhance your spatial reasoning skills.
Tetris
Tetris is a timeless puzzle game that has a simple concept but is deceptively challenging. Rotate and drop falling geometric shapes, called tetrominoes, to form complete horizontal lines that disappear. As the speed increases, players need lightning-fast reflexes and spatial awareness to plan their moves and prevent the stack from reaching the top.
Tetris is a fantastic way to boost spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, and problem-solving skills.
