The Best Brain Games to Improve Your Mind

Ever since the pandemic started, we feel like our memory has gotten increasingly worse. Don't ask us what we did last month—we're lucky if we remember what we've even had for breakfast.

We'd like to prevent our memory from getting any worse, so we've added brain games into our daily routines. Whether you're feeling the effects of a COVID brain or would simply like to prevent memory decline, here are five brain-training games you should incorporate into your life.

Sudoku

Everyone probably knows that Sudoku is the best game for improving your mind. It makes sense because it was very challenging for us to get the hang of it. The first couple of times, we found ourselves depending on hints on mobile apps and taking a peek at the solution. Once you find yourself in the groove of it, you can really hone in on your problem-solving skills—something we probably could have used during our days of math class.

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Chess

Chess isn't a game we've had the chance to reap the mental benefits of, but it's entertaining to watch. You can see how much brain power goes into it by observing other people playing it. It's one of the best games to improve your concentration because you have to keep track of every move and strategize two to three steps ahead.

 

Crossword Puzzles

Crossword puzzles might be our favorite type of brain game because we prefer working with letters over numbers. Because we're writers, we're always thinking of new ways to expand our vocabulary, and crosswords are an easy method to introduce new words into your personal dictionary.

 

Scrabble

Much like crossword puzzles, Scrabble will definitely expand your vocabulary. According to Scrabble's website, the game is also meant to test your memory so you can recall them in-game later on. But in addition to its literacy improvement, you'll still have to use your calculation skills to strategize and get the most points.

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Wordle

If you're seeking something less intense, we recommend adding Wordle to your daily rotation. This game takes less than 10 minutes to complete per day, and you can do it from the comfort of your phone. You'll definitely improve your problem-solving (without numbers!) by strategically eliminating letters to determine that day's word.

 

Tetris

Who needs letters or numbers? You can still improve your brain with a game of Tetris. In this game, you truly have to beat the clock, so you'll not only have to work on your strategy (pattern recognition and spatial awareness to eliminate matching blocks) but also have to increase your reaction time.

 

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