We all prioritize physical health and seem keen on achieving peak physical fitness. But in doing so, we often miss out on nurturing our mental abilities. Especially in the era of reels and short-spanned content, spending time on peaking concentration or mental agility seems too demanding.
With our decreasing attention spans and obsessions of so-called entertaining content, we don’t realize how fast our problem-solving and strategic thinking abilities are drained. I’ve been having difficulty concentrating on anything lately and was unsure how to regain my razor-sharp cognition. My passion for gaming sparked my curiosity about seeking brain games for adults that would help elevate my mental agility again.
Fortunately, I came across some online games that are fun to play and fuel creativity and mental sharpness in the best possible way. If you’re also into gaming, these games won’t leave you bored, and you’ll experience their brain-optimizing effects in the long run. So, let’s dive into my curated list of the best brain games for adults.
Entertaining Mind Games For Adults
| Brain Games | Features |
| Crosswords | A classic word-based game that requires brainstorming words and improves vocabulary |
| MPL Win Patti Puzzle | An anticipatory, revamped variant of poker to keep you entertained and make you win real cash! |
| MPL Speed Chess | Timer-based Chess that requires quick strategizing and fast decision-making. |
| Peak | Neuroscientist-curated brain games are available on Peak for better brain functions. |
| CogniFit Brain Fitness | Contains games meant for elevating 23 cognitive skills. |
| MPL Poker | Lets you participate in different types of poker games and tournaments to enhance your poker skills as well as your cognition. |
| Wordle | Another excellent word game that requires guessing five-letter words within six guesses only and challenges your memory and vocabulary. |
| Elevate | Offers an extensive collection of 40+ games that improve your learning abilities and brain functions. |
| Sudoku | Numerical game that improves short-term memory, and overall cognition. |
| Brain Test: Tricky Puzzles | A platform where cognitive enhancement becomes possible with a ton of entertaining yet brainly games. |
Crossword Puzzles
Crossword puzzles are timeless classics in gaming, as they can help you supercharge your memory and overall cognitive abilities like no other game can. Crossword puzzles are based solely on your language skills but also test your knowledge of different domains, ensuring prolonged attention spans. This vintage brain training game, including apps, sites, and newspapers, is available everywhere.
You can just pick a crossword puzzle sheet daily and solve it over a certain period to keep your mind sharp. As crossword puzzles are centered on vocabulary and memory, mastering a language is a must to solve them successfully. Over time, solving these puzzles will add value to your brain training efforts and save you from the drastic effects of cognitive decline.
In addition, crossword puzzles help improve your verbal and written skills in a particular language, which will improve your overall communication skills as well.
Key Features:
- A word game that tests patients and vocabulary at the same time.
- 1 participant is needed to play this game.
- Elevates verbal and written skills in a language.
Also read: Online Games to Play Against Real People
MPL Win Patti Puzzle
MPL Win Patti Puzzle is an entertaining treat for poker fanatics, and the inventive approach of this game makes it one of the best brain games for adults. It’s easy to play the game on the MPL app and participate in this quick-thinking-based poker. After all, who doesn’t like ending as the winner with impressive winning amounts?
The specialty of Patti Puzzle lies in its three-card-based rule, which requires you to achieve the best three-card combination to match the card combination presented on the grid. Once you start playing this game daily, it becomes addictive, and cognitive stimulation just becomes a matter of time. The strategy lies in which card to rule out and which card to keep to win a pot.
Those who’ve played Patti Puzzle reported faster thinking abilities, instant decision-making improvement, and an increase in their brain-processing times. The entire game is based on card anticipation.
Key Features:
- An inventive variant of poker games to strengthen your cognitive power.
- One of the highest-rated games on MPL.
- One player is needed to play every game.
MPL Speed Chess
Want to gear up your strategic thinking and critical decision-making skills? MPL Speed Chess is a no-brainer choice for you then. Chess has been a prominent brain-training game forever, and MPL speed chess goes the extra mile to power up your mind and cognition. Every game in MPL Speed Chess is played within a 2-minute duration, making your brain work at its best to beat your opponent.
Chess is a game of attention, strategy, and planning, and MPL speed chess has further unlocked a new level of challenge by enabling the timer. Within these 2 minutes, you put your entire attention into the game, assess your opponent’s moves, anticipate their upcoming move, and build an attacking or defending strategy based on circumstances. There are ample strategies to select from, so your mind will get diverted during an MPL speed chess game, and that’s where the perk lies.
Naturally, it’s considered one of the best brain games for adults to speed up thinking, elevate overall brain capacity, and strengthen memory. This game is more impactful than other mind games and apps because of its competitive setting, and it has received immense positive responses.
Key Features:
- Every game is played under a 2-minute timer.
- 2 players are required to play this fast game.
- Quick planning and strategy-making skills are polished through this game.
Peak
Peak has earned recognition as one of the best brain-training applications due to its inventive brain-training games and tasks. It’s one of my favorite picks because I’ve tried most of the brain games available on the app, and they’re super effective in reformatting cognitive patterns and yielding exceptional cognitive boosts.
Every time you participate in a brain training game on Peak, your brain learns something, and certain cognitive pathways get unlocked. Peak games are much more usual brain games as they’re brainstormed and designed by professional neuroscientists. Each game is curated based on neurological and cognitive enhancement theories to improve your overall thinking and problem-solving skills.
The best part of the brain games for adults on Peak is there are various difficulty levels to accomplish. As you keep on unlocking new levels, your brain functions keep on upgrading, and you reach a different level of intelligence over time.
Peak presents around 40+ games to keep your mind sharp, and you can select your preferred one. You’ll barely find an app with such an extensive collection of professionally curated brain games for adults.
Key Features:
- The availability of 40 games makes it very special.
- All the brain training games consist of multiple levels and difficulty layers to keep excitement intact.
- The required number of participants varies from game to game.
CogniFit Brain Fitness
Unlike other brain games for adults, CogniFit ensures customized brain training sessions based on your cognitive level and the inputs you enter when registering with the app. I can vouch for the practical and professionally designed mind games on CogniFit because I have maximized my mental performance by playing them.
CogniFit promises to polish your 23 cognitive skills and improve your brain’s overall activity. CogniFit utilizes its patented methodology to detect the best-fitted brain training games for you. Personalization is the USP of CogniFit, and that’s the secret behind its widespread popularity in gaming. With some of the best brain games for adults included in the application, CogniFit stands out for quick and sustained results. Also, it’s very popular among older adults who are facing cognitive decline or on their way to recovery from neurological complications. CogniFit is highly rated by its existing users due to its proficiency in boosting brain power and intelligence through tried and tested methods.
Key Features:
- Supercharges 23 cognitive skills through the games.
- The platform recommends games based on personalized requirements.
- You can play the games yourself or with other players based on the game type.
MPL Poker
When picking the best brain games for adults, the list will remain incomplete without adding MPL Poker. Though not a conventional brain training game, MPL Poker requires in-depth knowledge of card games along with strong anticipation skills. It’s one of the most trending mind games for adults on the MPL platform, and its popularity is surging because it is innovative and interesting.
While playing MPL Poker, you will face opponents with different skill sets. MPL Poker has won the hearts of poker lovers because it offers multiple variants of poker games. On top of that, you’ll be able to participate in poker tournaments on the platform and win big as you progress as a poker player. While participating in various games of different levels, you’ll acquire in-depth knowledge of the poker game and expertise in playing your magic with cards. Even newbies won’t face many difficulties while getting started with MPL Poker because of the easy setup and interface.
Most players who played MPL Poker over extended periods reported an increase in their anticipation, strategizing, analytical, and decision-making skills. Just like any other poker game, MPL Poker is easy to participate in, but it’s not easy to win because you’re going to face poker experts on the platform who’ll throw tough challenges at you.
Key Features:
- A fast-paced version of poker to expand your overall cognitive strength.
- Different variants of poker games are available.
- Needs one participant to start the game.
Wordle
Just like crossword puzzles, Wordle has also become a recognized name among word games worldwide. Wordle is more accessible than other games, and it can be played on mobiles and laptops, as well as on your web browser. Players are supposed to guess five-letter words in a maximum of six guesses to continue playing this game. Not many brain games are vocabulary-focused, and Wordle’s ability to amplify your vocabulary makes it a go-to choice for every word game lover. Its easy-to-play interface and convenient features make it a high-rated premium option.
Key Features:
- Comes with an easy interface that anyone can navigate.
- Empowers better memory and vocabulary.
- One player can participate in a game.
Elevate
Very few brain training games for adults have made a mark like Elevate. Unlike other mind games, Elevate boldly claims that individuals who play the mind games available on the Elevate app at least three days per week will definitely see progress in their mental sharpness and cognitive skills. The platform has launched more than 40+ mind games for adults to keep players engaged and improving.
While registering with the app, you are supposed to set improvement goals before participating in the brain games for adults. Based on your preset improvement goals, you receive personalized training to navigate the mental games to improve yourself and your cognitive skills.
As you continue playing the ready-to-play games, you can track your performance and cognitive improvement based on the application’s metrics. Your overall mental processing speed goes up, and your productivity also gradually improves.
Key Features:
- The platform claims assured cognitive enhancement for regular participants.
- One or more people can play the mind games on Elevate.
- It features goal-based cognitive training.
Sudoku
If you’re a big fan of puzzle games, Sudoku is one of the best brain games for adults to optimize your logical thinking skills and concentration. Playing Sudoku requires optimal short-term memory. This number-oriented game also challenges your strategic skills and planning abilities as you need to fill the numbers in blocking, keeping in mind that they can only appear once in every row and column.
Sudoku is one of the oldest brain games for adults, and it’s still equally popular across the globe. Sudoku puzzles are also available with variable difficulty levels, and you can play the game according to your expertise and growth. Grasping the game’s tricks is time-consuming, and you need to play multiple practice games and follow Sudoku tutorials and videos to understand how to play it. Over time, Sudoku will make both your short-term and long-term memory impressive.
Key Features:
- One of the oldest cognitive training games.
- It’s a number-based game that requires you to follow the trail of consequences of each move.
- One player is needed for each game.
Brain Test: Tricky Puzzles
While most of the other brain games on the list follow a fixed pattern or rules to make you play them, Brain Test: Tricky Puzzles is as random as it gets. The game throws different puzzles at you with each level. The levels get tougher and more random as you progress. I remember playing a level where I needed to find something in the dark, and I couldn’t wrap my head around it. That’s when it stumbled upon me to increase my phone’s brightness, and that was it! As soon as I increased the brightness, I could find the missing object. That’s a slight glimpse into how random and equally exciting brain tests can become.
Key Features:
- It’s randomness makes it the most unique brain game for adults.
- The games are created based on proven cognitive-boosting strategies.
Read More: Best Math Puzzle Games to Play
My Recommendations
Though all the brain training games listed here are highly rated, a few are my favorites.
- MPL Speed Chess: I rate it5 stars for its utmost difficulty and development of quick thinking and cognitive abilities.
- CogniFit Brain Fitness: I rate it a solid 4 on the variety of games and the ability to provide something new.
- MPL Win Patti Puzzle: I rate it a 4.5 for its integration of poker makes it a fun way to enhance your brain’s cognitive abilities.
These games have helped me unleash my best cognitive potential, and that’s why I highly recommend these games. Apart from this list, you can also try games like Luminosity, Happify, and Brain Wars to level up your cognitive skills.
FAQs
Can anyone play brain games?
Yes, any individual who is looking forward to enhancing their brain abilities can play brain games regardless of their age.
Are brain games addictive?
Yes, brain games may become addictive, but they’re not as harmful as other games. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to brain games can result in high cognitive learning in the brain.
How long does it take to boost brain abilities with brain games?
It’s subjective. However, you’ll witness gradual progression in your cognitive abilities as you play brain games regularly for a few weeks.
Are brain games harmful to children?
No, brain games aren’t harmful to children. When played responsibly, they may assist their cognitive learning, which is one of the perks.
Wrapping Up
Cognitive stimulation is much-needed for everyone nowadays because we are all busy scrolling through social media platforms that provide nothing but drain a lot. The best mind games for adults listed in this article not only make you more productive and mentally agile but also improve your overall lifestyle by improving your brain functions in general. After all, your brain must function seamlessly to help us make better decisions and activities in our everyday lives.
All the best brain games for adults listed in this article are handpicked, and I’ve played them all before listing them here. So, I can ensure that these games are powerful tools to boost your cognition and help you thrive in every aspect of your life.
