Playing games on the Internet has become a prevalent pastime for people of all ages, and neuroscientists tell us that if we exercise our brain, we will be able to age without losing function and even become smarter. From games that involve numbers like a bingo game or sudoku to those with letters like Scrabble and crosswords, there is a massive choice, so there is bound to be something for everyone. Here are 15 games that might make you smarter just by playing them.
1. Brain Training Games
There are plenty of brain training games available, specifically designed to work different parts of your brain. They tend to have a recommended daily amount of use, and you can see statistics to show how you are improving and becoming quicker and sharper.
2. Crossword Puzzles
From newspapers to magazines and now even apps, there are plenty of different ways to do the crossword. The good thing is that there are plenty of difficulty levels so if you are a fan of crosswords and want something a little more cryptic that is entirely possible whereas if you are a beginner you can start with something that is designed to be a little simpler.
3. Mahjong
Mahjong is a matching game that requires players to pair up different symbols from a pile of stacked tiles. The only way to release the tiles at the bottom is to match those above blocking their path. Studies into people’s cognitive performance with dementia and mahjong seem to show slowing down the disease and even offering some forward progress.
4. Sudoku
Sudoku is a number game where every square on the board must contain each number from 1 to 9, never more than once and never repeated in the overall grid on any straight line or top to bottom. Depending on the level of difficulty chosen, some of the squares will already be filled in for you, and it is up to you to use your powers of deduction to work out the rest.
5. Scrabble
Of course, online gaming means that you no longer need to have a teammate or other players for games that generally require more than one person. Scrabble is a great way to increase your vocabulary and improve your word knowledge with plenty of levels of difficulty available online.
6. Escape Room Games
Another popular genre is room escape games. There tend to be two main versions, firstly in a smaller app, you can play against yourself to figure out clues or collect items to unlock the door. Secondly, they have become popular team games that pre lockdown were actual rooms you would visit but now have a virtual equivalent that you can play with a team of friends.
7. Chess
Chess is a game based purely on strategy and the ability to think critically. It also requires someone to play against, and many people will find it quite dull and not want to be included. This is why online chess is the perfect alternative for playing against the computer or other players and slowly improving your performance.
8. Murder Mysteries
The once board game Cluedo is now available online in many different formats. Murder mysteries have become popular team-building exercises, whether in personal online. Again, you need to exercise your critical thinking and deduction powers to establish who is innocent and who may be the murderer.
9. Poker
Poker is a game of strategy and Bluff and requires a sharp mind. You will need to try and outwit the other players because if the cards are not dealt in your favour, you will need to use your deception powers to convince them that you hold a winning hand and there is no point playing against you.
10. Bingo
Bingo has always been a popular game among the older generation, and they may inadvertently have been keeping their minds slightly sharper than those who didn’t play. It is quite a fast-paced game, and you need to quickly identify whether you have the number drawn by the caller on your card and mark it off.
11. Matching Games
While these might seem like games for children, matching symbols from face down cards is a great way to test your memory.
12. Solitaire
Solitaire and other card games also make you think more about your next move, and you need to be focused on what is coming to crack the game.
13. Word Games
Another popular word game involves being shown a group of nine random letters and making as many words possible from those in a restricted time.
14. Jigsaw Puzzles
There’s now a great range of jigsaw puzzle apps available that enable you to do a wide range of pictures and puzzle piece numbers from the comfort of your computer or phone.
15. Spot the Difference
Finally, how about a bit of good old-fashioned spot the difference, this game works your brain as you must identify the differences between 2 pictures shown side by side.
