Even though most people have finished education by the time they’re in their mid-twenties, you never really stop learning. Life is all about discovering new things and continually improving your mental capacity. If you don’t challenge yourself in adulthood and keep training your mind, then your brain starts to suffer. Thankfully, there are plenty of great games out there which are designed to keep everything working up there.
Chess
It’s an oldie but a goodie. There’s no denying that chess certainly does a lot of good for the brain because it requires you to think a lot about what you’re doing. The further you move through the game, the more important each move becomes, thus making tactics essential. You have to try and consider every alternative as quickly as possible without letting your opponent get the upper hand. Chess can be quite stressful to play at times, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling if you manage to come out on top.
Best brain training games
Brain Age
Nintendo knew what they were doing when they released Brain Age on the DS. They wanted to prove that anyone could use their handheld consoles, no matter their age, so they brought out a game designed around brain training. This title utilizes sudoku puzzles, mathematical questions, and Stroop tests to calculate a player’s mental age and help them strengthen their mind. It’s a great thing to pick up when you’ve got a few minutes to spare and want to keep your brain engaged.
Risk
Risk is a board game that’s been around since the ’50s, and it’s still popular with many players today. The point of the game is to try and claim the most territories while eliminating everyone else, something that is much harder than it sounds. The usual playtime for Risk is a couple of hours because so much thought goes into each move you make. Everything you do has a potential consequence, so weighing up your options and being strategic is the best way to succeed. Of course, doing that for several hours is excellent training for your brain.
Scattergories
This game might not seem like it’s designed to train your brain, but knowledge is at the root of Scattergories. Each round requires you to name everything you have on your list, with the limitation that each answer has to start with the same predetermined letter. You might think it’s easy to name something that flies or something you find in the refrigerator, but it’s trickier than it seems. Plus, you don’t get any points if you match with another player, so you have to try and find as obscure an answer as possible. That really puts your brain to the test.
Best brain training games
Professor Layton
There have been numerous Professor Layton games released on Nintendo consoles, and each one has been packed with hundreds of intriguing puzzles. Some are easy to work out, others are incredibly challenging, but they’re all fun to try and solve. The games cover a wide range of puzzles, from riddles and mazes to complicated equations, and they rarely ever disappoint. You’ll definitely feel smarter after playing one of these titles, even if you had to use a few hint coin along the way. Plus, the stories of the games are pretty compelling too.
Who said that playing games wasn’t good for you? Spending a few hours on each of these games would do wonders for your brain.
