Keeping your mind sharp as you get older is always challenging. Nature wants people to slow down, but life just won’t let anyone.
Fortunately, gaming could help. Exercising the brain with puzzles and cryptic problems can be a wonderful way to stay sharp.
This question is something that researchers are actively exploring right now. Over the last ten years, there’s been an explosion of brain training apps designed to improve critical intellectual functions, like memory and reaction times.
However, the need to seek out bespoke apps may not be necessary, according to 24/7 Games. Many classic titles were brain teasers in their own right.
“As a game company, we’ve watched the rise of apps that train the brain. But what we noticed was how similar they were to challenging classic games. While the old approach might not be as focused or grounded in neuroscience, it is interesting that they essentially did the same thing.”
Gamers wanting to train their brains are spoiled for choice these days. Numerous games help this, challenging almost every aspect of cognition.
For instance, solitaire is one of the first games people think of when looking for classic brain teasers. It forces players to think ahead and ensure they stack their cards in the right piles.
This game is challenging because there is a small chance that it is impossible to win with randomly shuffled cards. As such, there isn’t always an optimal path.
Furthermore, players don’t always know if a decision they make now will help or hinder them later. They may see a move that looks good, but executing it could eliminate other possibilities that would lead them down to victory.
As a game, solitaire helps with concentration and memory. Some people might also find it aids decision-making skills, which may explain why CEOs were so fond of it in the 1990s.
Chess is another game famous for improving brain power. However, it is one of those classic chicken-and-egg situations. Does chess make people smart because it is challenging? Or do smart people play it because they like it?
Even so, chess works because it is a game of pure strategy. It forces players to think several steps ahead while anticipating their opponent’s moves.
Computers are now better than humans at chess and have become essentially unbeatable. However, playing against them forces players to think ahead and calculate their next moves. It also requires them to be strategic, making decisions that will help them long-term, even if they could hinder their efforts short term.
“Chess is one of the most fun ancient games because of the sheer number of moves available to each player. Computers got better than people at chess around 1997 when Deep Blue defeated Gary Kasparov, the grandmaster at that time. However, that doesn’t mean that there’s no value in playing the game. It’s still a lot of fun.”
Sudoku is another option. This game, from the Far East, gets players to fill in numbers on 9×9 grids. Players must select numbers that complete rows and columns (i.e. numbers running from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) while also ensuring that they don’t repeat numbers in a 3×3 square.
Sudoku is a game that can improve logical reasoning and spatial awareness. It can take some time to get used to it, but once you get the hang of it, you can see opportunities faster and make fewer mistakes.
“These days, gamers can find dozens of apps online offering Sudoku. These portals allow players to take on the computer and try new Sudoku puzzles every day. Digital versions aren’t limited to the restrictions that apply on paper,” 24/7 Games explains.
Minesweeper is another good example of a brain-training game that’s also a classic. The title is highly technical at higher difficulty levels and requires players to have an exceptional understanding of how it works.
The challenge comes from the predictive element and quick thinking involved. Players have to guess where mines might be located and mark them on the playing board based on numbers on adjacent blocks indicating how many mines are in the immediate vicinity.
Ultimately, the game is algorithmic and always solvable using the rules. However, it has a nasty habit of catching people out, especially with fields littered with more mines, which means it is critical to constantly keep a lookout.
Minesweeper works because it blends logic with fast reaction times. Timed games are fun because they force players to think on their feet and mark the map quickly without going to the effort of working through every square. Players must react more instinctively to win the game before the timer runs out.
Crossword puzzles also fall into this category, although the emphasis is slightly different. These games build vocabulary and general knowledge, helping players generate more connections between ideas and concepts.
“Previously, you had to wait for the weekend newspaper to get a new crossword puzzle,” 24/7 Games explains. “However, that’s no longer the case. Just like so many other games, crossword puzzles are available online.”
In many ways, modern digital crossword puzzles are better than their conventional paper-based counterparts. These are always available and ready to play, with new clues and challenges every time. Gamers like this format because it means they can always enjoy a new round and never burn out. Algorithms randomize the words and the clues from a massive database of options, with some AI versions creating new ones.
Naturally, brain-training games aren’t going to go mainstream anytime soon for regular gamers. However, they have the potential to expand from here, especially if they can offer gamers modifications of the classic brain-teasing formats they love.
Furthermore, as data comes through, science may also show the benefits of brain-training games and this could encourage more people to explore them. Just as reading on the way to work is a common pastime, the same could happen for gaming, with people trying to solve difficult puzzles on the train or bus on their phones.
