It’s commonly known that as a person ages, their memory fades. Many people have varying opinions on how to improve a person’s memory. Some people try to aid a person’s diminishing memory by letting them focus on historical pictures or significant family photos that can spark a connection with the brain. However, doctors and health care professionals agree that if you want to improve a person’s recall skills the person affect by a decreasing memory should play brain games.

These brain games can benefit a person in a number of ways that include increasing social skills, expanding focus, and enhancing response time. Brain games also come in a variety of forms and designs which can challenge the ablest body thinker to expand his or her cognitive ability. But what are the types of brain games?

Here are the most common types of brain games and its benefits:

What are brain games?

When people see the words ‘brain games’ they most likely think of games that test the brain, and they wouldn’t be wrong. Brain games are merely games or activities that question the mind and make you think, strategize, and recall information in order to win. In fact, many people play brain games as a part of a family and don’t realize the health benefits it offers to the brain. While games like Pictionary and Taboo are not marketed or thought of as brain games, they do indeed meet the criteria for what a brain game is, and thus, will benefit a person who has memory problems.

Pictionary, for example, enables players to draw a word that’s on a Pictionary card and players have to guess the word in a specific time frame. People who have memory issues not only benefit from the word-picture association but also the requirement to recall the word within a particular time frame which allows a person to improve their response time when remembering a word or a phrase. Moreover, brain games assist people by exercising the need to recall information in a specific time which will help a person improve their overall quality of life.

What are the different types of brain games?  

Brain games come in many different sizes and shapes, in fact, some games you can’t even hold. However, all brain games have a common goal of improving a person’s memory function and helping him or her have fun while doing so. While brain games are meant to test a person’s cognitive function, they’re also designed to be fun and creative, so everyone can get involved. Thus, brain games are purposely created for family participation. In fact, the most important advantage of playing a brain game is that you become more socially interactive with your friends, family, and peer group. Moreover, the most common types of brain games are card games, board games, puzzle games, and computer games.

1. Card games

Playing a card game is probably one of the best ways to keep your mind sharp. In fact, due to its versatility in the number of games, you can play you can challenge your mind and test its recall, reaction time, and concentration. Also, because of the number of games you can play with a deck of cards, there is no shortage of creativity. One day you can play a simple game with your kids or grandkids and the next you can play a hand of poker with your friends.

Card games are the perfect source to recall your memory since you can memorize the patterns on the cards or think of new strategize to win a complex game like poker. Therefore, card games can be simple or complex depending on what you want to play; however, due to its versatility, it’s the perfect type of game to play when you want to improve your cognitive skills.

2.  Board games

Many people love board games like LIFE and Monopoly because of their colorful backgrounds and fantasy roles. However, board games like chess and Scrabble are best for enhancing cognitive skills. In fact, these games enable a person to think strategically and readily allow a person to recall words or information in order to win the game.

While chess and Scrabble might not be a child’s favorite game; however, the whole family can get involved when playing. For example, when playing chess, a family could put the boys and the girls on opposite sides, or the oldest verse the youngest. Thus, even when it’s a two-player game like a game of chess you can still make it a family affair. Therefore, board games are naturally a family favorite; however, games like chess and Scrabble better improve a person’s cognitive ability than other board games.

3.  Puzzle games  

Some people like puzzles more than others, in fact, people who enjoy figuring out a puzzle are more likely to play puzzle games. Puzzle games unlike card games and board games are more centered towards one person instead of a group. While there are puzzle games that can depend on teamwork in order for the puzzle to be solved, although those types of puzzles are usually more difficult and challenging for someone who suffers from memory problems.

Puzzle games like Sudoku are perfect for a person who wants to enhance their cognitive ability. Since puzzles are known to make a person use forward-thinking, it’s one of the best ways to improve faster thinking. Additionally, since puzzles have been proven to challenge people, they are also an excellent way to enhance concentration in strategic thinking. Therefore, puzzle games can have an enormous effect on your cognitive ability as well as your overall well-being.

4. Computer games

Computer games have been controversial for some time due to how computer screens affect both the health and mental health of a person. However, computer brain games can improve your health if you use them correctly. Since there is such a diversity of computer games which aid cognitive ability, you can play a variety of them and still enhance your memory, concentration, and response time. Although, it’s important to remember that socializing is one of the significant benefits of brain games. So, if you play a brain game online why not invite your family members, friends, or other acquaintances to play too?