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7 mind-sharpening exercises to do as you age, according to brain experts.

Diving into a crossword puzzle, reading a great book, and completing a word game are all fun ways to stimulate your brain. And they become even more important as you get older. The best way to tend to your mental fitness is to treat the brain like any other muscle in the body and continue to use and challenge it.

Let's dive into what neuroscientists and psychologists focused on aging well have to say about the best brain exercises for keeping your mind sharp

The importance of brain exercises & mental fitness

So what do brain exercises actually do, and how do they impact your mental fitness? "Brain exercises keep your brain flexible and changing—this is neuroplasticity ," says   neuroscientist Tara Swart, M.D., Ph.D.

"When we learn something new, then we get the direct benefit of that new learning but also global benefits in the brain in our executive functioning such as emotional regulation, complex problem solving, creative thinking, etc.," Swart adds.

Elaine O'Brien, Ph.D. , human movement psychology expert and co-author of The Power of Play: Optimize Your Joy Potential , cites what's known as the "theory of multiple intelligences" to further explain how brain games work.

When we use strategy to solve puzzles or play thinking games, we engage our linguistic-verbal intelligence and put thoughts and feelings into words. This helps develop our cognition and creativity. "Intellectual play and games involving problem-solving, thinking, and practicing new mental skills can teach us how things work in the world. There is an activation of concentration, strategy, and active thinking during playtime," says O'Brien.

Swart adds that it's important to play brain games throughout your life 1 —not just when you're in school or when you reach older age. "Brain cells can start to shrink or die in your 20s 2 , so the age to start challenging your brain is when you are not naturally learning [as many new things]," she says.

For a general rule of thumb on when to prioritize different types of brain exercise, neurologists Dean Sherzai, M.D., and Ayesha Sherzai, M.D., directors of the Alzheimer's Prevention Program at Loma Linda University , previously told mindbodygreen that it may be helpful to focus on attention in your 20s, memory in your 30s, and executive function in your 40s and beyond.

The best brain exercises to stay mentally sharp

There are an array of games and exercises that can do the trick in stimulating your brain and aiding your memory, creativity, and problem-solving. "As with any learning, the more you repeat the learning process and the longer you do it, the more benefits you will get," says Swart.

Here are four brain-stimulating exercises that are engaging, enjoyable, and sustainable throughout the decades of your life:

Play board & card games

Social games like board and card games can combine the benefits of brain exercises with those of social connection 3 . These are ideal to play weekly with friends or family. (I recently played Scrabble with a 90-year-old woman, and she won easily!) Consider joining a club or organizing your own game nights. Research suggests 4 that this combination of social elements and mental stimulation is especially effective. 

Do crosswords, Sudoku, Wordle, etc

Research suggests that brain-training games done solo, like crosswords or Sudoku, can also help protect against cognitive decline 5 . These types of activities are easy to do every day. Consider the New York Times crossword that differs in difficulty based on the day of the week—perfect for making sure you continue to flex your mental muscles.

Look into online brain games and apps

Brain exercises should become more challenging over time, says Swart. That's why she suggests online brain games or apps that can easily be scaled up in intensity and difficulty.

" Brain HQ and Cognifit have been shown to have benefits for cognitive function 6 (thinking, memory, etc)." These games and apps are built to increase in difficulty and are easy to engage in daily, especially since they are easily accessible on your phone. 

Learn a valuable new skill

Finally, Swart notes, brain exercises should be transferable to real-life problem-solving. She also suggests activities like learning a new language, musical instrument, dance, coding, or cooking to round out the list.

Other ways to keep your mind young

Completing brain games and exercises isn't the only way to support your cognitive function. Here are a few other elements that have been scientifically shown to keep the mind sharp as you age:

Prioritize social connections and things you have in common with your peers

Ellen Cole, Ph.D., a psychologist who focuses on women in their 70s and beyond, believes that social connection is not just important; it's everything. Research supports the overwhelmingly positive impact of social connections 7 on physical and mental health. Isolation and loneliness become more common as we age, and they are tremendously harmful to health 8 .

"One of the things that I love more than anything else when I'm with people my age is how we laugh about how we can't wear high-heeled shoes anymore, or we go upstairs and then we forget why we're there," says Cole. She found this reflected in her research, observing focus groups of women thriving in their eighth decade. There was a shared feeling of relief to talk about these changes, and universal in these focus groups was the discussion of changes in memory.

Keep up with movement and play

"Neurologically, play is one of the fastest and most effective ways to spark lifelong learning, creativity, and resilience, while keeping your brain fitness," says O'Brien.

One way to get started playing for the sake of your brain? Move your body to music. In O'Brien's research on active older women participating in a community dance exercise class , the combination of music and dance brought people together. "Music moves us physically and emotionally and improves our cognition and brain function at every age and stage of our life," she concludes.

Reject ageism

"Ageism is a killer, literally and figuratively," Cole says. "If you think it's better to be younger than older, then you're not going to age well." Cole herself exemplifies the rejection of ageist thought patterns: She earned another master's degree at age 70 and 10 years later continues to engage in work focused on positive aging.

If you think it's better to be younger than older, then you're not going to age well.

Swart echoes that anybody, no matter their age, can use neuroplasticity to reinvent themselves—an incredibly hopeful sentiment that reminds us of the opportunities each stage of life brings.

How can I strengthen my brain?

It's simple; use it! Any challenging activity that you enjoy is great for stimulating your brain and helping to fight cognitive decline.

What are the best brain exercises for seniors?

The best brain exercises for seniors include continuing to engage your curiosity by learning and reading, connecting with others, and participating in enjoyable mental activities. 

The takeaway

Brain games help fight cognitive decline by exercising the brain like any other muscle. Beyond using classics like crosswords and Sudoku, games that connect you with other people are especially effective because of how important it is to be with others, especially as we age.

It's also important to acknowledge that our brains will change and that aging brings about new opportunities to continue to pursue passions, follow curiosity, and experience joy. To continue to learn about how to optimize cognitive function and memory, check out more resources on how to improve episodic memory and flex your mental fitness .

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3191246/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2596698/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6125010/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31020777/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5930973/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4712702/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3874845/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32510896/#

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Popular Stories

75 Brain Teasers to Sharpen Your Wits and Make You LOL

Some of these riddles are sure to stump kids and adults—but don't worry, we've included answers, too!

Whether you're stuck in the car during a long road trip , waiting for the popcorn to pop before kicking off movie night , or are just looking to keep your mind occupied while you're puttering in the garden , brain teasers are a great way to boost your cognitive abilities. Like the old saying goes, "use it or lose it," and studies show that games that specifically engage your noggin can help improve your memory and problem-solving skills, promote creativity, and increase your attention span.

But brain teasers are more than just a workout for your gray matter. They're seriously fun—especially when they're super clever or funny, like the ones we've gathered below. They'll make you think for sure, but they're also pretty much guaranteed to get you giggling as hard as your favorite Dad wisecrack or knock-knock joke does.

And as you'll see, we've included not just more difficult brain teasers that are great for grown-ups, but also plenty of easier, kid-friendly thought puzzles and math riddles. That way, the whole family can work them out together at the dinner table . Because the only thing better than training your brain is bonding with your loved ones while you do it!

Let the Brain Teasers Begin!

Funny Brain Teasers

• Q: What can you put in a bucket to make it weigh less? A: A hole.
• Q: What is faster, hot or cold? A: You can catch a cold, so hot is definitely faster.
• Q: What kind of running also means walking? A: Running out of gas.
• Q: Who is bigger: Mr. Bigger, Mrs. Bigger, or their baby? A: Their baby, because he is a little bigger.
• Q: What has a lot of teeth but can't bite? A: A comb.
• Q: Imagine you're in the forest, surrounded by ravenous, man-eating wolves. How do you put an end this terrible situation? A: Stop imagining it.
• Q: What has a bottom at the top? A: Your legs.
• Q: What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it? A: Short.
• Q: Why did the woman push her car to a hotel and tell its owner she’s bankrupt? A: Because she's playing Monopoly.
• Q: How can a man who shaves many times a day still have a long beard? A: He’s a barber.
• Q: Which tire doesn’t move when your car turns left? A: The spare tire.
• Q: What kind of tree can you carry in your hand? A: A palm tree.
• Q: How far can a bear run into the woods? A: Halfway. After that, he’s running out of the woods.
• Q: When two snakes get married, what do their towels say? A: Hiss and hers.
• Q: Which side of a chicken has more feathers? A: The outside.

Easy Brain Teasers

• Q: You live in a one-story house made of redwood. What color are the stairs? A: There aren't any stairs. It's a one-story house!
• Q: If an electric train is heading north, which way is the smoke going? A: There is no smoke. It's an electric train.
• Q: I have two newly minted coins in my pocket. One isn't a nickel, but they total 30 cents. What are the coins? A: A quarter and a nickel—one isn’t a nickel but the other is.
• Q: What kind of band doesn’t play music? A: A rubber band.
• Q: I'm not psychic, but I can always predict the score of any baseball game before it starts. How do I do this? A: The score is always zero to zero before the game starts!
• Q: A man is taking a walk when it starts to rain. He's not wearing a hat, and he doesn't have an umbrella, or anything else to cover his head. How does he manage to not get a single hair wet? A: He's bald.
• Q: Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world? A: Mt. Everest was still the highest mountain the world—it just hadn't been discovered yet.
• Q: What has a lot of keys but can’t open a lock? A: A piano.
• Q: A plane crashes on the border of the U.S. and Mexico. Where are the survivors buried? A: You don't bury survivors!
• Q: There are 12 months in a year, and seven months have 31 days. How many months have 28 days? A: All of them.
• Q: I'm a six-letter word. My first three letters refer to an automobile and my last three letters refer to a household animal. My first four letters are the name of a fish, but I'm found in your house. What am I? A: Carpet.
• Q: What can you hold without ever touching it? A: Your breath.
• Q: I won't cry if you cut me, but you will! What am I? A: An onion.
• Q: What 2 things can you never eat for breakfast? A: Lunch and dinner.
• Q: There's a power outage and the lights go out. It's pitch black, but you have one match on you. Do you light the candle, the oil lamp or the fire first? A: You light the match first.

Difficult Brain Teasers

• Q: What is special about these words: job, polish, herb? A: They are pronounced differently when the first letter is capitalized.
• Q: Turn me on my side and I'm everything. Cut me in half and I'm nothing. What am I? A: The number 8.
• Q: Can you name the three playing cards that have been place in a row using the following clues? There is a two to the right of a king. A diamond will be found to the left of a spade. An ace is to the left of a heart. A heart is to the left of a spade. A: Ace of diamonds, king of hearts and two of spades.
• Q: What word has three double letters in a row? A: Bookkeeper.
• Q: What is unique about the number 8,549,176,320? A: Each number, zero through nine, is listed in alphabetical order.
• Q: What is made and bought by people who have no use for it, while the person who uses it can't see it or feel it? A: A coffin.
• Q: What is unusual about the following words: revive, banana, grammar, voodoo, assess, potato, dresser, uneven? A: If you put the first letter of each word at the end instead, it will spell the same word backward.
• Q: What is yours, but everyone else you know uses it? A: You name.
• Q: If I am holding a bee, what do I have in my eye? A: Beauty. (It's a play on the famous proverb, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.")
• Q: What can go up a chimney when down but can't go down a chimney when up? A: An umbrella.
• Q: What word's first two letters signify a man, first three letters signify a woman, first four letters signify a great man, while the whole word signifies a great woman? A: Heroine.
• Q: What runs but never walks, has a bed but never sleeps, a mouth that never speaks, and a head that never weeps? A: A river.
• Q: A cowboy rides into town on Friday, stays for two nights, and leaves on Friday. How is this possible? A: His horse is named Friday.
• Q: Two men wearing backpacks are in a desert. One is dead. The man who is alive has his backpack open, and the guy who is dead has his backpack closed. What's in the dead man’s backpack? A: A parachute.
• Q: What can fill an entire room without taking up any space? A: Light.

Math Brain Teasers

• Q: How many triangles are in the image above? A: 18. See the explanation.
• Q: Using only addition, how can you add eight 8s to get the number 1,000? A: 888 + 88 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 1,000.
• Q: Mr. and Mrs. Smith have six sons, who each have one sister. How many people are in the Smith family? A: Nine. Each brother shares the same sister, so there are six boys and one girl, plus Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
• Q: The ages of a mother and his daughter add up to 55. If you reverse the digits of the mother's age, you get the daughter's age. How old are they? A: The mother is 41, and the daughter is 14.
• Q: How do you make the number 7 even without using addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division? A: Drop the "s" and "seven" becomes "even."
• Q: How can you use the numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the symbols + and = to make a true math equation? A: 2 + 5 = 3 + 4 .
• Q: A farmer has 24 cows. All but seven of them ran away. How many does he have left? A: Seven.
• Q: What 4-digit number multiplied by 4 gives the same number in reverse? A: When multiplied by 4, the number 2178 is 8712.
• Q: Which weighs more: 16 ounces of gold or a pound of feathers? A: They weigh the same. 16 ounces = 1 pound, no matter what's being weighed.
• Q: How can 6 + 12 = 6? A: When you think in terms of time. 6 a.m. + 12 hours = 6 p.m.
• Chet purchased a pair of pants and a shirt for $150. The pants were $100 more than the shirt. How did each item cost? A: Answer: The pants cost $125, the shirt $25.
• What three numbers give the same result whether they're added or multiplied together? A: 1, 2 and 3 (1 + 2 + 3 = 6 and 1 x 2 x 3 = 6).
• Q: What can you place between 5 and 6 to make the outcome greater than 5 but less than 6? A: A decimal point.
• Q: If three bears can catch three fish in three minutes, how long will it take 100 bears to catch 100 fish? A: Three minutes. If one bear can catch one fish in three minutes, 100 bears catch can catch 100 fish in three minutes.
• Q: What three-digit number has a second digit that is four times greater than the third digit, and a first digit that is three less than the second digit? A: 141.
• Q: In your head, take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now add 10. What is the total? A: 4100. But most people get tripped up at the end of the equation, when adding 10 to 4,090, and come up with 5,000.

Clever Brain Teasers

• Q: If you drop me I’m sure to crack, but give me a grin and I’ll always grin back. What am I? A: A mirror.
• Q: What begins and ends with an E but only has one letter? A: An envelope.
• Q: A man is standing on one side of a river, and his dog is on the other. The man calls his dog, who crosses the river without swimming and without using a boat or a bridge. How did the dog get across? A: The river was frozen.
• Q: What building has the most stories? A: The library.
• Q: Give me food, and I will live. Give me water, and I will die. What am I? A: Fire.
• Q: In 1990, a person is 15 years old. In 1995, that same person is 10 years old. How can this be? A: They were born in 2005 BC.
• Q: If a sundial has the fewest moving parts of any timepiece, what has the most? A: An hourglass. It has thousands of grains of sand.
• Q: I'm always in you, sometimes on you, but if I surround you, I can kill you. What am I? A: Water.
• Q: Two fathers and two sons are in a car, yet there are only three people in the car. How is this possible? A: They are grandfather, father, and son.
• Q: What can you hold in your right hand but not in your left? A: Your left elbow.
• Q: Where does today come before yesterday? A: The dictionary.
• Q: Sometimes they're green, sometimes they're brown, and both of these times make me frown. But in between, for a little while, they're perfect and yellow and make me smile. What are they? A: Bananas.
• Q: What runs though cities and towns, forest and fields, but never moves? A: A road.
• Q: First, I threw away the outside and cooked the inside. Then I ate the outside and threw away the inside. What did I eat? A: Corn on the cob.
• Q: If there are seven boys, and seven peaches in a basket, how do you give each boy a peach, but keep a peach in the basket? A: Give the last boy his peach in the basket.

Jill Gleeson is a travel journalist and memoirist based in the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania who has written for websites and publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist, Canadian Traveller, and EDGE Media Network. Jill is the travel editor for Enchanted Living. Learn more about her journey at gleesonreboots.com.

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Swap Story 4+

Fun swap story with the clues, luong ba thuan, designed for ipad.

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Swap Story - the ultimate brain teaser, inviting you to tackle clever riddles that will test your mental agility. Each level presents a unique challenge. Choose the right characters with the clues Swap Story - the riddle and puzzle game designed to challenge your creativity and problem-solving skills! Brain-teasing challenges and clever riddles equipped with a magical assortment of characters, objects, and settings. Pick the right characters to finish the fun story Fun and addictive stories. Your goal is straightforward: unleash your creativity to conjure up the most amusing, surprising, and satisfying endings. With every tap and drag, you become the mastermind behind your characters' happiness

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Playing technology games and making science fun helps young kids solve visual problems and grasp ideas better

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As I watched my sons, Wavhudi and Rivhavhudi, play games on my phone before bedtime, I was captivated by their enthusiasm and how deeply they were engaged – especially when the games involved maths or science. Both boys experienced speech delays and I hoped the games would help them develop their language skills. It worked.

What I saw at home has been repeatedly underscored by research: early engagement with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) concepts through interactive tools can profoundly enhance children’s visual literacy (reading, writing and creating images) and conceptual understanding (grasping ideas).

For my Master’s degree, I’d examined how molecular biology students’ lack of visual literacy made it harder for them to grasp complex scientific concepts. This academic foundation, combined with the newfound spark in my boys, inspired my PhD research : investigating the effects of early STEM education on young children’s visual literacy and ability to grasp scientific concepts.

In a recent, related study , I explored how different types of preschool education influence children’s understanding of science and their ability to interpret visual information. The study involved children aged 4 or 5 years who were in Grade R (the year of schooling before Grade 1) from various private schools in Bloemfontein, South Africa. I observed that those exposed to STEM education were better at spatial visualisation than their peers. These children excelled in tasks that required them to recall and manipulate visual details, such as accurately reproducing elements from images, while their non-STEM counterparts often struggled.

Some people may question why all children should be exposed to STEM concepts, given that not everyone will go on to further study or careers in science, technology, engineering or mathematics fields.

But teaching these skills at a young age is not just about preparing children for specific fields. My findings underscore the profound effects of early STEM education on cognitive development, such as fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, creativity, innovation, logical reasoning and adaptability. These qualities are beneficial in many facets of our lives, no matter our career paths.

Testing children’s skills

In South Africa, private schools often have more flexibility than government-run (public) schools to incorporate specialised STEM curricula and innovative teaching methods tailored to early childhood education. This might include hands-on experiments like mixing colours or observing plant growth, problem-solving tasks and interactive learning through, for example, counting games and shape recognition.

Public schools, meanwhile, follow a national curriculum set by the Department of Basic Education. While this includes foundational STEM concepts, not all schools have the necessary resources, so the extent and depth of STEM instruction can vary significantly from school to school.

Though they were private institutions, the non-STEM schools in my study followed the national Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement set by the Department of Basic Education for Grade R. This does not explicitly emphasise STEM subjects. The STEM schools involved in this study, which were also private institutions, had developed their own curricula that emphasised scientific and related learning.

Drawing from study methods used elsewhere in the world , I created a special test with two main parts to measure my participants’ skills.

One tested their content knowledge. This part assessed how well the children understood basic science concepts, such as distinguishing between living and non-living things. The second evaluated the children’s ability to interpret visual information, including understanding spatial relationships and solving visual problems.

The differences between those who were STEM-educated and those who weren’t were immediately clear.

For example, I showed the children a picture of some blocks and asked them how many blocks they saw. One STEM-educated child said there were nine blocks “because some are hiding behind the others in the picture”. A non-STEM child saw “six blocks because I counted them.”

The child with STEM knowledge used advanced thinking skills to imagine where the hidden blocks might be, while their peer only counted the blocks they could see directly.

In another exercise I showed the children a picture with a dog, ball, tree, desk, boy, school bag, book and chicken and asked them to identify which ones were living things.

STEM child: “The boy, the dog and the chicken are living because they can breathe and need water to grow.” The child understood what makes something alive, using ideas like breathing and needing water.

Non-STEM child: “Only the boy is living because the dog and chicken can’t talk.”

This is a more basic, less accurate concept of what constitutes a living thing.

Game-changing learning

Based on my findings, I encourage educators to integrate STEM activities into early childhood curricula to cultivate spatial thinking, visual literacy and scientific understanding. Digital educational games and interactive learning experiences can be incorporated into lessons.

Policymakers should prioritise early STEM education, recognising its long-term benefits in preparing children for academic and professional success. This involves investing in resources, training educators, and developing curricula that embed STEM principles from the start of formal education.

My PhD research was born out of my personal experience with my sons. This journey of love, learning and relentless determination reflects my deepest aspiration: to ignite the same passion and curiosity in others that I have witnessed in my own children.

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Brain Games

Play free brain games in your web browser and improve your thinking skills! Train your brain while having fun in the newest and best brain games.

Challenge Your Mind

Brain games are more than your average puzzle game. They train your mind to think logically and recall patterns to solve problems. Improve your brain by coming back daily. In this category, we’ve curated some of the best brain games to put your mind to work!

Play The Best Brain Games

The best brain game for you depends on what genre you like. If you enjoy mahjong , there are some particularly challenging mahjong games like Mahjong Solitaire that are well worth checking out.

For a tricky logic puzzle game with oddly satisfying gameplay, Cups - Water Sort Puzzle is a must-play title where you sort colored liquids into bottles with increasingly difficult situations. Another one of our greatest brain games is Bloxorz , a stone-cold classic from the Flash games era.

Memory games are a really effective way of sharpening up those recall skills. Incremental Memory is a game about memorizing and choosing the correct tiles. This is a great way to train your brain!

Math isn’t for everyone, but it certainly improves your numerical skills. Sudoku is an excellent combination of math and puzzle. Math Push is a cool platformer where you move blocks to solve mathematical expressions.

What are the most popular Brain Games?

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What are Brain Games?

Brain games feature problem-solving puzzles that may help improve one or more aspects of your cognition. They can feature abstract logic, math, memory recall, and sometimes questions similar to those you may find on an IQ test.

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10 Best Brain Games to Keep Your Mind Sharp

Playing mind games is a no-brainer

Delmaine Donson / Getty Images

Happy Neuron

Brain age concentration training, my brain trainer.

People of all ages use brain-training games to improve mental functioning and prevent brain aging . Backing them up is research showing that brain-training games may help improve attention levels, memory, response time, logic skills, and other measures of cognitive function if played over a long timespan.

The brain is just like a muscle - it thrives on exercise! As a neurologist, I'm thrilled by the incredible potential of brain games to help people flex their mental muscles, activating underused brain circuits to sharpen cognition and skills like focus, speed, and memory.

From pen-and-paper Sudoku and crosswords to specialized brain training apps, options for brain games are plentiful. To give your brain a workout while having fun, try these games and activities that may improve your mental focus and fitness.

Peter Dazeley / Getty Images

Sudoku is a number placement game that relies on short-term memory. To complete a Sudoku puzzle, you have to look ahead and follow trails of consequences—if you put a 6 in this box, that one must be an 8 and this one a 4, and so on. This type of planning helps improve short-term memory and concentration.

You can play Sudoku online, on an app, or on paper. Look for a regular Sudoku in your newspaper, buy a book with a collection of puzzles, or download a free app for your phone or tablet.

Sudoku puzzles are available in varying degrees of difficulty. When you're starting out, play the easy games until you learn the rules. If you're playing on paper, use a pencil!

Lumosity is one of the most established brain training and mental fitness programs. You can sign up for a free account to play three games per day, or choose the subscription service for more offerings. Either way, you can keep track of your results and improvement.

One recent study showed that participants who played Lumosity's exercises for 15 minutes a day at least seven days a week for three weeks experienced improved attention and motor speed. You can use Lumosity via their website or download the Lumosity app on iOS and Android. Lumosity also has a meditation and mindfulness app called Lumosity Mind.

Carol Yepes / Getty Images

Crosswords are a classic brain trainer, accessing not only verbal language but memory from many dimensions of knowledge. There are many ways to do crossword puzzles, both online and off. If you receive a daily newspaper, you'll almost always get a crossword there. Or pick up a book of crosswords specifically suited to your skill level and interests.

You will also find many options for crossword puzzles online or via free or inexpensive apps. The AARP website offers a daily crossword that's free to everyone, whether or not you're a member of the group.

Elevate's games center on reading, writing, speaking, and math, and you can customize your training to focus on whichever areas you prefer. As with most other brain games, you can track your progress to see how your skills are improving.

You'll need to download an app to play Elevate 's 35 (and counting) different brain-training games, which have a strongly educational feel. It's free (with in-app purchases) and both iOS and Android versions have tens of thousands of five-star reviews.

Peak is another app-only option (available for iOS and Android) that provides brain games to help you work on focus, memory, problem-solving, mental agility, and more cognitive functions. If you're a competitive person, you might be motivated by seeing how you perform against other users. The app is free to use, but an inexpensive subscription unlocks more features.

Happy Neuron divides its games and activities into five critical brain areas: memory, attention, language, executive functions, and visual/spatial. Like Lumosity, it personalizes the training to fit you, tracks your progress, and the games are based on scientific research.

You must pay a monthly subscription fee to use the site, and its simplified app version is available for Android users only. Happy Neuron does, however, offer a free trial offer so you can see if you like the approach.

Claiming to have the world's largest collection of brain teasers, Braingle's free website provides more than 15,000 puzzles, games, and other brain teasers as well as an online community of enthusiasts. You can even create your own puzzles to give your brain a super workout. Braingle has a wide variety of offerings, including optical illusions, codes and ciphers, and trivia quizzes.

Queendom has thousands of personality tests and surveys. It also has an extensive collection of "brain tools"—including logic, verbal, spatial, and math puzzles; trivia quizzes; and aptitude tests—for you to exercise and test your brain. If you'd like to save results and scores, you'll need a free account. Some tests give you only snapshot results for free, and charge a fee for full reports.

Brain Age: Concentration Training / Nintendo Life

Brain Age Concentration Training is a brain training and mental fitness system for the Nintendo 3DS system. It includes a huge number of games to hone your concentration, memory, calculation, and other brain skills. It's fun, portable, and challenging. Brain Age is also available for the Nintendo Wii U, but not for the Switch, Nintendo's most up-to-date gaming system.

My Brain Trainer calls itself an online "brain gym." It is similar in format to, although less stylish than, Lumosity and Happy Neuron. It's also less expensive; a three-month subscription costs the same as a month on the other services. The annual subscription is an even bigger savings. You can try a challenge for free as well.

This website is full of games, puzzles, and other challenges designed to improve your mental fitness. The website recommends 10 minutes of brain training twice a day for the best effects. It also has a basic training program that claims to improve your mental speed.

This web-based puzzle game from The New York Times exploded in popularity in early 2022 and now counts millions of users worldwide. The premise is simple: Users get six tries to guess a five-letter word. Wordle's combination of problem-solving challenges and easy-to-use interface makes for a satisfying mental workout.

Keep in Mind

Remember, brain training isn't limited to games and puzzles; staying socially engaged, maintaining creative hobbies, and even working out can help to flex your brain and improve cognitive functioning. Find what feels good and works for you.

Make brain training a daily habit and build the mental reserves to delay cognitive decline!

Al-Thaqib A, Al-Sultan F, Al-Zahrani A, et al. Brain training games enhance cognitive function in healthy subjects .  Med Sci Monit Basic Res . 2018;24:63-69. doi:10.12659%2FMSMBR.909022

Games designed to train your brain

Explore our cognitive games and exercises., discover the full suite of training areas, speed games.

Highway Hazards

In Highway Hazards, you quickly dodge obstacles in a race through the desert — t...

River Ranger

In River Ranger, you must quickly spot animals in a river, and remember which an...

In this game, you fit the last item into an already filled suitcase. That means ...

Speed Match

A fast-paced game, Speed Match exercises your brain’s ability to process informa...

Memory Games

Memory Serves

Exercise your memory by delivering bags to hotel guests. As a bellhop, you’ll ne...

Tidal Treasures

Keep choosing unique ocean treasures from a tide pool as more and more items was...

Memory Matrix

In Memory Matrix, you quickly memorize a group of tiles on a grid. That means re...

Pinball Recall

In Pinball Recall, you must memorize the locations of several bumpers before the...

Attention Games

Trouble Brewing

In this game, your task is to fill multiple coffee orders at once. The more orde...

Assist Ants

Train your divided attention skills by preventing ant collisions.

Lost in Migration

Lost in Migration exercises your attention abilities by asking you to identify w...

Train of Thought

Your task is to guide an increasing number of trains to their stations. You must...

Flexibility Games

Disillusion

In this game, you quickly match tiles according to rules that keep changing.

Ebb and Flow

Shift your focus between two details: where the leaves point and how they move.

Brain Shift

In this game, you will switch between two rules depending on whether the letter-...

Color Match

Color Match is a Flexibility game that challenges the particular skill Response ...

Problem Solving Games

Pirate Passage

Exercise your planning skills by finding the route to buried treasure.

Masterpiece

Exercise your spatial reasoning by fitting pieces of a mosaic together.

Organic Order

Exercise your logical reasoning by planting seeds in the right order.

Pet Detective

In Pet Detective, you must rescue all the lost pets, which means using your plan...

Word Bubbles

In Word Bubbles, you write words that start with the same starting letters. This...

Exercise your vocabulary and reading comprehension by replacing incorrectly used...

Word Snatchers

Exercise your vocabulary by unscrambling the word.

Exercise your vocabulary by ordering words according to meaning.

Pick the most expensive prizes to exercise your quick estimation skills.

Magic Chance

Exercise your probabilistic reasoning by matching the pattern of cards needed fo...

Chalkboard Challenge

Chalkboard Challenge trains quantitative reasoning to help with decision-making....

Raindrops exercises arithmetic, which is part of your set of problem-solving ski...

14 years, 100 million members

4.7 rating on iOS App Store

"I am surprised and delighted by your games. I appreciate the variety and multiplicity of games and the feeling of personalization. The daily workouts are welcome, more fun than push ups, and they make my day go even better."

Mary , New Jersey

"I really like this app. Lots of great games and it comes with tutorials that help you understand the game. I love the Insights I receive every time I train. It's also nice that I get to choose what to play."

Rashmi , California

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The 12 best brain games for adults to train memory and focus

Jump to section

What’s brain training?

4 benefits of brain training games.

The limitations of brain training games

12 best brain games for adults

Use your time wisely.

Your body and mind work together to help you function. Why exercise one and not the other?

Brain games are workouts for your mind that stretch your soft skills, improve cognitive function, and boost mental fitness . You might already play some without realizing it, like completing a crossword on the way to work or spending a Sunday morning relaxing with a newspaper.

With so many puzzles and brain games for adults out there, it can be hard to tell which will work for you. Here are 12 favorites to sharpen your mind, build new skills, and strengthen others.

Brain training uses mental fitness activities to help your mind function better. These exercises include number games like Sudoku, word games like crosswords or Scrabble, and even full training programs like Lumosity. They stretch your individual soft skills like critical thinking and logic. Similar to how muscles become stronger with regular physical exercise, strengthening your cognitive skills takes consistent practice, and brain games are just one way to do so. 

Training your brain creates more connections between neurons , contributing to neuroplasticity. This helps your brain learn and adapt, improving cognition and even easing pain. Continuous learning, like picking up a new language, practicing a professional skill , or expanding your social network through mentorship , are just a few ways to boost neuroplasticity. 

Fun brain games do the same thing, just on a smaller scale. They give you the chance to stretch your cognitive function without the commitment or effort of in-depth learning, which makes them perfect for busy people. You can practice on your commute, lunch break , or weekend off to keep your mind active. 

Playing brain games isn’t just entertaining. It can strengthen your cognitive agility and help you control your mind . Here are four benefits of practicing brain games and concentration exercises in your free time : 

1. Improve brain function

A study of the cognitive training game Lumosity found that after three weeks of daily 15-minute play, test subjects saw improvements in attention, processing speed, visual memory, and executive functions . These results mean that you need less than two hours per week of practice to assist brain functions like memory and focus.

2. Strengthen memory

According to a 2022 study published in NEJM Evidence, people experiencing mild memory problems saw improved cognition and less brain shrinkage after eight weeks of completing crosswords. The results suggest that crosswords could even become a treatment option for people with memory problems after more research occurs, and that similar games requiring recall from clues could offer the same benefits.

3. Reduce dementia risk

A study from Cambridge University found that reading, playing checkers, and doing jigsaw puzzles throughout life are associated with a significant reduction in dementia . That’s because those activities promote complex patterns of mental activity, preventing potential decline later in life.

4. Increase attention levels and logic skills

Studies of university mathematics students found that play was more effective than traditional teaching approaches in learning and decision-making . The study showed that games help people learn critical thinking processes . Rather than simply looking for answers, students could think ahead and evaluate possible outcomes to make better decisions .

The limitations of brain training games 

Although brain puzzles and mind games encourage your brain to adapt and thrive, they aren’t a magic fix to make your brain work at 100% . A review from Scientific American says that research about brain games is overall inconsistent , though the general impacts of training your brain are promising. Doing a crossword once in a while won’t improve your mental fitness . But, like physical exercise, consistency and long-term practice of brain exercises are key to a long-lasting positive impact on brain fitness, according to a review from Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. T he review found that potential improvements you find from games will be skill-specific. 

As you get better at a logic game, you may see improvements in your problem-solving skills . But that doesn’t mean you get better at thinking in general. You’ll need to practice a game that targets other areas to improve them. It’s best to think of playing brain games as just one tool to become smarter . 

Don’t forget to pair brain training with attention to the rest of your health. Without nutrition and exercise, your brain can’t perform its best. Complement your training with physical exercise, a balanced diet, and healthy social connections to feel the full impact of your cognitive growth. 

With so many brain teasers, puzzles, and word games, the right games for you can be hard to narrow down. Here are 12 great options to try, including plenty of free brain games for adults:

Sudoku is a popular logic-based number puzzle that originated in Japan. The goal is to fill a 9x9 grid with numbers so that each row, column, and 3x3 square contains the numbers 1–9. To complete the puzzle, you have to flex your working memory and critical thinking skills to think ahead of the consequences of each number. 

Playing Sudoku often, even for a short time, could pay off later on. Studies of older adults have found links between higher cognitive function and playing number games daily . 

Sudoku is a great free brain game for adults that you can play online or on an app. You can also buy a paper booklet or look for the puzzle in your newspaper. Just be sure to play with a pencil, should you need to move some numbers around. 

2. Lumosity

Lumosity is a platform with a wide collection of games that test your cognitive function. Scientists built the games to focus on brain training and mental fitness, with specific options for individual skills like attention , flexibility , and problem-solving. 

You can play up to three games per day for free or choose a paid subscription service — $11.99 per month — for more gameplay from the app or web. Whichever plan you opt for, Lumosity tracks your progress and adjusts to your difficulty level to encourage skill growth. 

3. Peak 

Like circuit training for your mind, Peak challenges you with short, intense mental workouts that test memory, mental agility, and focus . If you have a competitive spirit, you can measure yourself up against other players and boost your motivation . 

Peak is app-only, available on iOS and Android. It’s free to use, although the subscription service provides more tailored workouts and performance insights to help you reach your goals. It’s one of the best brain games online if you’re ready to commit to learning on a regular basis.

4. Crosswords

Diving into a crossword puzzle invites you to tap into your long-term memory for vocabulary and general knowledge. But beyond a workout for your memory, crossword puzzles stimulate your logical reasoning, asking you to consider word count, available letters, and clues to find the right answer. 

You can find daily crosswords in most newspapers, like The New York Times , or use a dedicated app to practice on your phone. 

5. Brainwell

Brainwell is another brain trainer with an algorithm that builds you a personal workout plan, targeting everything from memory to language with games from neuroscientists. Beyond gameplay, Brainwell provides feedback on your performance, letting you pinpoint new areas for improvement. 

Another app-only service, you can begin with a free trial and level up to a subscription starting at $1.99. Then you gain access to more features, like challenging friends and family to compete. 

This two-player tactical game has been the subject of books, movies, and television series, so it needs little introduction. Chess requires you to predict and assess risks, potentially activating your flow state . It encourages divergent and creative thinking and can improve your memory skills , giving you the chance to build relationships with opponents along the way.

You can invest in a physical board to play with a partner or find chess online or in your app store. There are even online courses to help you improve your chess skills.

7. Cognifit 

CogniFit is a digital healthcare company that provides comprehensive cognitive measurement and enhancement tools. The experience begins with a brain test to assess your cognitive well-being and identify strengths and weaknesses , including concentration, hand-eye coordination, and memorization. Based on the results, the program gives you a personalized brain training regimen. 

Although the platform has a basic free version, diving deeper requires a monthly premium subscription that begins at $19.99. More specific cognitive tests cost $49.99 each. It’s available on iOS and Android. 

8. SET 

SET is a fast-paced card game where players identify patterns among cards from the deck. Each one displays symbols that vary by number, color, shading, and shape. The goal is to find sets of three identical or different cards. The card game is a fun way to practice pattern recognition, quick decision-making, and short-term memory. Set isn't exactly a memorization technique but it is a great way to keep your mind sharp.

There is a digital app available on iOS and Android, but you can buy a physical card set to play live with friends or loved ones from major toy retailers. 

9. Scrabble

This classic word game is more than a test of your vocabulary. By placing words on the board strategically, you challenge your critical thinking, recall, and spatial reasoning. Whether you practice with friends on a traditional board or compete online with a digital version, Scrabble is a great way to boost both your linguistics and strategic thinking. 

Any kind of trivia is an excellent memory game for adults, requiring you to stretch your long-term recall and look for connections between seemingly unrelated facts. Platforms and games like Trivia Crack , Jeopardy , and Sporcle are great ways to play independently from your phone or desktop. 

An after-office trivia night or icebreaker is a great way to encourage fun learning with coworkers while bonding as a team . And if you live in a city, you can likely find a local cafe or bar near you that hosts trivia nights.

For old-school video game fans, Portal is a single-player narrative game that involves puzzles and physics. To get through the game, you must use spatial awareness, logic, and creative problem-solving to portal through one environment to the next. The game is available on the Steam network and compatible with Mac and Windows. 

12. Elevate

Elevate is a brain training app that began as an SAT and language learning service, which explains its focus on developing practical soft and hard skills . In addition to cognitive function, you can improve written communication, speaking, and math. 

Elevate is a great resource for professionals who want to fine-tune their granular skills. Games are very specific, letting you target everything from proper comma use to learning to calculate percentages. You can try it out for free on iOS and Android, with extra features available with in-app purchases.

Brain games for adults are a fun way to pass the time and keep your mind sharp. Explore these 12 options, download your favorite to your phone, or carry a booklet wherever you go. 

To sustain your goals, coaching is another enriching, hands-on way to improve your personal and professional development. You can further identify and work on your strengths and weaknesses while setting tangible goals to help you grow.

Understand Yourself Better:

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Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

Big Five personality traits: what they are and how to use them

Feeling foggy let us help you strengthen your mental clarity, 17 self-awareness activities for exploring yourself, 21 ways to boost energy and motivation (and maybe change your life), how to get out of a rut: 8 tips for finding purpose, talking your way up to emotional well-being: 7 tips to express your feelings, how biofeedback for stress can improve your health, how to find happiness throughout your life: 6 tips, brain fog: symptoms & treatment, eidetic memory: can you train your brain to remember better, give your brain a workout: 10 concentration exercises to up your focus, can’t concentrate 12 things that may be making it hard for you to focus, how to use 100% of your brain: is it possible, how to become smarter: the best 10 tips to boost your brain, 17 memorization techniques to sharpen your memory & recall, 11 things to do with your free time to feel happier and healthier, the 20 best hobbies to do after work to unwind and relax, 17 top apps to help you focus in the digital age, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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14 Best Team Building Problem Solving Group Activities For 2024

The best teams see solutions where others see problems. A great company culture is built around a collaborative spirit and the type of unity it takes to find answers to the big business questions.

So how can you get team members working together?

How can you develop a mentality that will help them overcome obstacles they have yet to encounter?

One of the best ways to improve your teams’ problem solving skills is through team building problem solving activities .

“86% of employees and executives cite lack of collaboration or ineffective communication for workplace failures.” — Bit.AI

These activities can simulate true-to-life scenarios they’ll find themselves in, or the scenarios can call on your employees or coworkers to dig deep and get creative in a more general sense.

The truth is, on a day-to-day basis, you have to prepare for the unexpected. It just happens that team building activities help with that, but are so fun that they don’t have to feel like work ( consider how you don’t even feel like you’re working out when you’re playing your favorite sport or doing an exercise you actually enjoy! )

What are the benefits of group problem-solving activities?

The benefits of group problem-solving activities for team building include:

• Better communication
• Improved collaboration and teamwork
• More flexible thinking
• Faster problem-solving
• Better proactivity and decision making

Without further ado, check out this list of the 14 best team-building problem-solving group activities for 2024!

Page Contents (Click To Jump)

Popular Problem Solving Activities

1. virtual team challenge.

Virtual Team Challenges are popular problem-solving activities that involve a group of people working together to solve an issue. The challenge generally involves members of the team brainstorming, discussing, and creating solutions for a given problem.

Participants work both individually and collaboratively to come up with ideas and strategies that will help them reach their goals.

Why this is a fun problem-solving activity: Participants can interact and communicate with each other in a virtual environment while simultaneously engaging with the problem-solving activities. This makes it an enjoyable experience that allows people to use their creative thinking skills, build team spirit, and gain valuable insights into the issue at hand.

Problem-solving activities such as Virtual Team Challenges offer a great way for teams to come together, collaborate, and develop creative solutions to complex problems.

2. Problem-Solving Templates

Problem-Solving Templates are popular problem-solving activities that involve a group of people working together to solve an issue. The challenge generally involves members of the team utilizing pre-made templates and creating solutions for a given problem with the help of visual aids.

This activity is great for teams that need assistance in getting started on their problem-solving journey.

Why this is a fun problem-solving activity: Problem-Solving Templates offer teams an easy and stress-free way to get the creative juices flowing. The visual aids that come with the templates help team members better understand the issue at hand and easily come up with solutions together.

This activity is great for teams that need assistance in getting started on their problem-solving journey, as it provides an easy and stress-free way to get the creative juices flowing.

Problem Solving Group Activities & Games For Team Building

3. coworker feud, “it’s all fun and games”.

Coworker Feud is a twist on the classic Family Feud game show! This multiple rapid round game keeps the action flowing and the questions going. You can choose from a variety of customizations, including picking the teams yourself, randomized teams, custom themes, and custom rounds.

Best for: Hybrid teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Coworker Feud comes with digital game materials, a digital buzzer, an expert host, and a zoom link to get the participants ready for action! Teams compete with each other to correctly answer the survey questions. At the end of the game, the team with the most competitive answers is declared the winner of the Feud.

How to get started:

• Sign up for Coworker Feud
• Break into teams of 4 to 10 people
• Get the competitive juices flowing and let the games begin!

Learn more here: Coworker Feud

4. Crack The Case

“who’s a bad mamma jamma”.

Crack The Case is a classic WhoDoneIt game that forces employees to depend on their collective wit to stop a deadly murderer dead in his tracks! Remote employees and office commuters can join forces to end this crime spree.

Best for: Remote teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: The Virtual Clue Murder Mystery is an online problem solving activity that uses a proprietary videoconferencing platform to offer the chance for employees and coworkers to study case files, analyze clues, and race to find the motive, the method, and the individual behind the murder of Neil Davidson.

• Get a custom quote here
• Download the app
• Let the mystery-solving collaboration begin!

Learn more here: Crack The Case

5. Catch Meme If You Can

“can’t touch this”.

Purposefully created to enhance leadership skills and team bonding , Catch Meme If You Can is a hybrid between a scavenger hunt and an escape room . Teammates join together to search for clues, solve riddles, and get out — just in time!

Best for: Small teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Catch Meme If You Can is an adventure with a backstory. Each team has to submit their answer to the puzzle in order to continue to the next part of the sequence. May the best team escape!

• The teams will be given instructions and the full storyline
• Teams will be split into a handful of people each
• The moderator will kick off the action!

Learn more here: Catch Meme If You Can

6. Puzzle Games

“just something to puzzle over”.

Puzzle Games is the fresh trivia game to test your employees and blow their minds with puzzles, jokes , and fun facts!

Best for: In-person teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Eight mini brain teaser and trivia style games include word puzzles, name that nonsense, name that tune, and much more. Plus, the points each team earns will go towards planting trees in the precious ecosystems and forests of Uganda

• Get a free consultation for your team
• Get a custom designed invitation for your members
• Use the game link
• Dedicated support will help your team enjoy Puzzle Games to the fullest!

Learn more here: Puzzle Games

7. Virtual Code Break

“for virtual teams”.

Virtual Code Break is a virtual team building activity designed for remote participants around the globe. Using a smart video conferencing solution, virtual teams compete against each other to complete challenges, answer trivia questions, and solve brain-busters!

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Virtual Code Break can be played by groups as small as 4 people all the way up to more than 1,000 people at once. However, every team will improve their communication and problem-solving skills as they race against the clock and depend on each other’s strengths to win!

• Reach out for a free consultation to align the needs of your team
• An event facilitator will be assigned to handle all of the set-up and logistics
• They will also provide you with logins and a play-by-play of what to expect
• Sign into the Outback video conferencing platform and join your pre-assigned team
• Lastly, let the games begin!

Learn more here: Virtual Code Break

8. Stranded

“survivor: office edition”.

Stranded is the perfect scenario-based problem solving group activity. The doors of the office are locked and obviously your team can’t just knock them down or break the windows.

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Your team has less than half an hour to choose 10 items around the office that will help them survive. They then rank the items in order of importance. It’s a bit like the classic game of being lost at sea without a lifeboat.

• Get everyone together in the office
• Lock the doors
• Let them start working together to plan their survival

Learn more here: Stranded

9. Letting Go Game

“for conscious healing”.

The Letting Go Game is a game of meditation and mindfulness training for helping teammates thrive under pressure and reduce stress in the process. The tasks of the Letting Go Game boost resiliency, attentiveness, and collaboration.

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Expert-guided activities and awareness exercises encourage team members to think altruistically and demonstrate acts of kindness. Between yoga, face painting, and fun photography, your employees or coworkers will have more than enough to keep them laughing and growing together with this mindfulness activity!

• Reach out for a free consultation
• A guide will then help lead the exercises
• Let the funny videos, pictures, and playing begin!

Learn more here: Letting Go Game

10. Wild Goose Chase

“city time”.

Wild Goose Chase is the creative problem solving activity that will take teams all around your city and bring them together as a group! This scavenger hunt works for teams as small as 10 up to groups of over 5000 people.

Best for: Large teams

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: As employees and group members are coming back to the office, there are going to be times that they’re itching to get outside. Wild Goose Chase is the perfect excuse to satisfy the desire to go out-of-office every now and then. Plus, having things to look at and see around the city will get employees talking in ways they never have before.

• Download the Outback app to access the Wild Goose Chase
• Take photos and videos from around the city
• The most successful team at completing challenges on time is the champ!

Learn more here: Wild Goose Chase

11. Human Knot

“for a knotty good time”.

The Human Knot is one of the best icebreaker team building activities! In fact, there’s a decent chance you played it in grade school. It’s fun, silly, and best of all — free!

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: Participants start in a circle and connect hands with two other people in the group to form a human knot. The team then has to work together and focus on clear communication to unravel the human knot by maneuvering their way out of this hands-on conundrum. But there’s a catch — they can’t let go of each other’s hands in this team building exercise.

• Form a circle
• Tell each person to grab a random hand until all hands are holding another
• They can’t hold anyone’s hand who is directly next to them
• Now they have to get to untangling
• If the chain breaks before everyone is untangled, they have to start over again

Learn more here: Human Knot

12. What Would You Do?

“because it’s fun to imagine”.

What Would You Do? Is the hypothetical question game that gets your team talking and brainstorming about what they’d do in a variety of fun, intriguing, and sometimes, whacky scenarios.

Best for: Distributed teams

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: After employees or coworkers start talking about their What Would You Do? responses, they won’t be able to stop. That’s what makes this such an incredible team building activity . For example, you could ask questions like “If you could live forever, what would you do with your time?” or “If you never had to sleep, what would you do?”

• In addition to hypothetical questions, you could also give teammates some optional answers to get them started
• After that, let them do the talking — then they’ll be laughing and thinking and dreaming, too!

13. Crossing The River

“quite the conundrum”.

Crossing The River is a river-crossing challenge with one correct answer. Your team gets five essential elements — a chicken, a fox, a rowboat, a woman, and a bag of corn. You see, the woman has a bit of a problem, you tell them. She has to get the fox, the bag of corn, and the chicken to the other side of the river as efficiently as possible.

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: She has a rowboat, but it can only carry her and one other item at a time. She cannot leave the chicken and the fox alone — for obvious reasons. And she can’t leave the chicken with the corn because it will gobble it right up. So the question for your team is how does the woman get all five elements to the other side of the river safely in this fun activity?

• Form teams of 2 to 5 people
• Each team has to solve the imaginary riddle
• Just make sure that each group understands that the rowboat can only carry one animal and one item at a time; the fox and chicken can’t be alone; and the bag of corn and the chicken cannot be left alone
• Give the verbal instructions for getting everything over to the other side

14. End-Hunger Games

“philanthropic fun”.

Does anything bond people quite like acts of kindness and compassion? The End-Hunger Games will get your team to rally around solving the serious problem of hunger.

Best for: Medium-sized teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Teams join forces to complete challenges based around non-perishable food items in the End-Hunger Games. Groups can range in size from 25 to more than 2000 people, who will all work together to collect food for the local food bank.

• Split into teams and compete to earn boxes and cans of non-perishable food
• Each team attempts to build the most impressive food item construction
• Donate all of the non-perishable foods to a local food bank

Learn more here: End-Hunger Games

People Also Ask These Questions About Team Building Problem Solving Group Activities

Q: what are some problem solving group activities.

• A: Some problem solving group activities can include riddles, egg drop, reverse pyramid, tallest tower, trivia, and other moderator-led activities.

Q: What kind of skills do group problem solving activities & games improve?

• A: Group problem solving activities and games improve collaboration, leadership, and communication skills.

Q: What are problem solving based team building activities & games?

• A: Problem solving based team building activities and games are activities that challenge teams to work together in order to complete them.

Q: What are some fun free problem solving games for groups?

• A: Some fun free problem solving games for groups are kinesthetic puzzles like the human knot game, which you can read more about in this article. You can also use all sorts of random items like whiteboards, straws, building blocks, sticky notes, blindfolds, rubber bands, and legos to invent a game that will get the whole team involved.

Q: How do I choose the most effective problem solving exercise for my team?

• A: The most effective problem solving exercise for your team is one that will challenge them to be their best selves and expand their creative thinking.

Q: How do I know if my group problem solving activity was successful?

• A: In the short-term, you’ll know if your group problem solving activity was successful because your team will bond over it; however, that should also translate to more productivity in the mid to long-term.

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Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults

By: Angela Robinson | Updated: February 13, 2024

Here is our list of the best problem solving games, activities and exercises for adults.

Problem solving games are activities that require players to use critical thinking skills to solve puzzles. Example activities include escape rooms, Sudoku, and murder mysteries. The purpose of these exercises is to sharpen reasoning and decision-making skills in group settings and to do team building with employees.

These activities are a subset of remote team games , found in problem solving books , and are similar to team puzzles , team building brain teasers and team riddles .

This article contains:

• team building problem solving activities for employees
• free problem solving games for adults
• virtual problem solving activities for students
• group problem solving activities
• problem solving team builders

Here we go!

List of problem solving games & activities

From word and number puzzles to role-playing games, here is a list of inexpensive and free problem solving team builders that help groups practice the art of critical thinking and compromise.

1. Espionage! (Team Favorite)

For an exciting game of social deduction, check out Espionage! This thrilling experience will put your team’s wits and instincts to the test.

Espionage! offers the following:

• a 90-minute session led by an experienced host
• undercover teams of agents and spies
• challenging puzzles, tasks, and maneuvers
• team conversations to help uncover secret identities

The best part is we will bring all the necessary game materials to your preferred location. If you are interested in boosting communication and critical-thinking skills within your team, then consider Espionage!

Learn more about Espionage!

2. Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh (Hosted)

You can turn your team into skilled detectives with Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh! In this captivating mystery, participants will locate the stolen artwork, The Bedroom .

Key features of this experience include:

• a 90-minute adventure led by a world-class host
• detailed puzzles, clues, and mysteries to unravel
• trails of evidence and hidden secrets
• group discussions to find the art

Additionally, you can include a cocktail kit to spice up your event. Through Art Heist, you will enhance your team’s ingenuity and problem-solving skills!

Learn more about Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh .

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• icebreaker games
• bingo cards

3. War of the Wizards (Popular)

With War of the Wizards, teams roleplay as minions of powerful wizards to vanquish forces of evil. Participants will play thrilling games and go on a quest to restore harmony to the realm!

War of the Wizards offers the following:

• a 90-minute journey guided by a distinguished host
• immersive storytelling that transports players into a magical realm
• engaging activities like world-building, role-playing games, and storytelling
• opportunities for forming alliances, facing challenges, and going on quests

Through the power of imagination and teamwork, your team can overcome tasks and participate in an epic fantasy battle. To improve communication and bonds, include War of the Wizards in your agenda!

Learn more about War of the Wizards .

Sudoku is one of the most popular free problem solving games for adults. The objective of this game is to fill each box of a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. The puzzle makes a great team challenge. To play Sudoku on Zoom, screen share the game board. Then, turn on the annotation features. Using the add text functions, participants can fill in the numbers on the grid.

We made a starter puzzle you can use in your next meeting or virtual team bonding session:

Here are more online Sudoku puzzles .

5. Crossword puzzles

Crossword puzzles are word games that ask players to fill in words based on clues. Words interconnect, and players must think critically about the surrounding words to select the right phrase for the space.

You can use an online crossword puzzle maker to create a custom puzzle. Here are a few themes you may want to consider:

• teammates’ tastes and interests
• company knowledge and history
• industry terms and trends

Or, create a miscellaneous puzzle just for fun.

We made a sample puzzle you can use for your game:

To complete puzzles during online meetings, you can use the share screen function and add text through annotations.

Or, subscribers can play the New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle virtually . Dictionary.com also offers a free daily online crossword puzzle .

Check out more vocabulary games .

6. Online Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are timed games that get groups working together to solve puzzles. Traditionally, players enter a locked room and must complete all puzzles in an hour or two to unlock the door. However, groups can also play escape rooms online.

Digital escape rooms typically come in one of two forms: in a Zoom room and led by a host, or in a choose-your-own adventure format via Google Forms or websites. To play escape rooms virtually, enter a video meeting and follow the prompts, or screen share the Google Form and work out the puzzles together.

Check out our full list of online escape rooms .

7. Murder Mysteries

Murder Mysteries are story-based games that ask players to take on the roles of suspects or detectives while trying to identify a killer. These games often involve reading lines from a script, searching for clues, and occasionally solving puzzles to get hints.

These games make participants pay attention to conversations, analyze other characters’ behavior, and search for hidden meaning in the script. Players must use their powers of observation and logic to unravel the mystery.

Check out our list of Zoom murder mystery games .

8. Treasure Hunts

Treasure hunts are scavenger hunts with intention. While virtual scavenger hunts often ask players to collect random items, treasure hunts require participants to locate clues that lead to other prompts and hints. The game typically ends with players finding a treasure or solving a mystery, sometimes both.

The treasure hunt can have a specific theme such as secret agent missions or a hunt for pirate treasure, or you can run a more general hunt. Teammates can either compete simultaneously via Zoom call, or can play the hunt on an app individually and compete to beat each other’s scores.

Check out our list of treasure hunt apps .

9. Poem or story challenge

Most team building problem solving activities for employees revolve around science, math, and logic. Poem/story challenges rely on writing skills and are sure to appeal to the language lovers on your team.

Each player receives a limited word bank to use to create a story or poem. Then, players have a few minutes to craft their pieces. Afterward, everyone reads out or screen shares their creations.

Here are a few word challenge activities you can do remotely:

• Found poems or stories : Participants make poems or stories out of words they find by visiting websites, searching emails, glancing out the window, or taking a walk or drive around the neighborhood.
• Random word generators : Teammates use a random word generator to populate a word bank, and must use each word in the poem or story.
• Poetry magnets : Group members make poems using poetry magnets. You can send poetry magnet sets to employees and assemble the verses on a cookie pan during a Zoom call. Or, teammates can play with poetry magnets online .
• Page poems: Participants receive one page of a book or magazine, and must make a poem or story by blocking out other words so only the chosen text remains visible. This activity is part storytelling, part art, since story crafters can illustrate the pages as part of the design.
• Ransom note stories or poems : Players cut out letters from magazines and must form new words to make poems and stories. Or, players can receive a mix of random letters, form words, and run the text through a ransom note generator .

These activities are suitable for teams and individual players.

10. Moral challenge

Some problems are ethical rather than factual. Moral judgment plays just as important a role in the decision-making process as technical prowess. Players can flex their moral problem-solving skills by tackling ethical dilemmas or social puzzles.

Here are some social problem solving games online:

• Moral machine
• Scruples – the game of moral dilemmas
• Morality play

To play these games, either download the apps, or pull up the website and then screen share the prompts. These games are best played when discussed as a group, because the more belief systems and opinions, the harder an issue is to resolve. These exercises provide practice for real-life conflict resolution.

You can find similar challenges on our list of online personality tests .

11. Frostbite

Frostbite is a group game that hones team leaders’ communication skills while sharpening teammates’ listening and cooperation skills. The premise behind the game is that a group of explorers gets caught in a snowstorm and must build a shelter. Frostbite has paralyzed the leaders’ hands and snow-blinded the rest of the team. The leader must give the team instructions to build a tent that can resist arctic winds.

To play Frostbite, each teammate wears a blindfold. Then, the leader gives directions. Once the structures are complete, players turn on a fan to test whether tents can withstand the wind.

Frostbite is usually an in-person game, however you can also play virtually. In the remote version of the game, teammates construct tents out of cards and tape, while the leader surveys the scene on screen.

This exercise demonstrates the challenges of leading remotely, as teams need to operate with minimal oversight or supervisor observation. Therefore, instructions need to be clear and direct to be effective.

Check out more team building games .

12. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where participants have a set amount of time to design and pitch a new product or solution. This type of event originated in the programming world and is often used to create new apps, however you can apply the game to any industry or school subject.

Virtual hackathons are online versions of the event. Teams enter the competition, then work with each other via virtual meeting software or remote work communication platforms to design the solution. At the end of the competition, teams pitch ideas to a panel of judges and a winner is decided.

To run a virtual hackathon, first announce the theme of the event and collect sign-ups. So that no teams work ahead, hint at the general idea of the issue, and only explain the precise problem when the event begins. Then, give teams anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete the project.

Discover more virtual hackathon ideas .

13. Improv games

Improv games are excellent problem solving activities. These exercises force participants to think and respond quickly to keep scenes moving in a logical and entertaining way.

Here are some good problem solving improv games:

Banned words : Performers cannot say certain words. Scene partners will conceive of situations that encourage the actors to use those words, and the actors must find alternatives, such as using synonyms or taking the scene in a new direction.

Scenes from a chat : Audience gives a suggestion for a scene, and players act the scene out. Though it’s a fictional and often ridiculous scenario, actors must react to the situation and solve the problem in order for the scene to end.

Miracle cure : Miracle cure is a quick-moving exercise that follows a simple format. One player declares, “I have a problem.” Another player responds, “I have a….[random object.]” The first player then replies, “great! I can use the [random object] to….” and describes how they will solve the problem.

Check out more problem-solving improv games .

14. Spaghetti Tower

The spaghetti tower is a classic team building game. Participants gather uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows, and must construct the tallest freestanding tower.

During the in-person version, players must construct one tall freestanding tower. However, for the virtual version of the game, players construct individual towers. You can send groups to breakout rooms for the build, then reconvene in the main room for judging. Teams are judged on three main factors: number of towers, height, and uniformity.

This version of the game not only tests the structural integrity of the tower, but also consistency and quality control. This exercise teaches teams to align and collaborate remotely, and produce a consistent product even when far apart.

15. What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? is a simple situational game that challenges participants to react to different circumstances. To play this game, read prompts one by one, and then ask participants to respond with gameplans. You can use the polling or raise hand feature to vote for the best option.

Here are some problem solving scenarios for adults or kids to use in the game:

• Zombies attack and you have to find a place to hide.
• You are at the zoo and the animals escape. Which one do you try to corral back into the pen first?
• After waiting in line for hours, someone cuts in front of you last minute. The person appears to be visually and hearing impaired, and doesn’t notice your protests. An official announces that due to diminishing supply, this individual will be the last in line to be served.
• You are eating a meal with important clients and/or your partner’s parents, and you want to impress. The individuals make you a dish that does not fit within your dietary restrictions, but you do not speak the same language and cannot explain why you do not want to eat.
• An imposter has infiltrated the organization, who looks, speaks, and behaves exactly like you. How do you convince your peers that you are the original?

For similar dilemmas, check out this list of Would You Rather? questions.

16. Desert Island Survival

Desert Island Survival is a game that challenges players to prioritize. The premise is that players have been stranded on an island, and must decide what order to perform survival steps.

Here are the possible actions:

• Set up shelter
• Explore the island
• Try to signal for help
• Make weapons for self-defense
• Build a raft to escape the island
• Start a fire
• Choose a group leader
• Search for other survivors

All group members must agree on the order of the steps. Players should explain the reasoning for the order of each step while ranking the actions.

Another version of the game involves players receiving a list of 15 to 20 items, and selecting five or so to bring to the island. You can also vary the location of the game, substituting remote islands for destinations like outer space or the distant past.

17. Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure stories enable readers to determine the outcome of the story by making decisions. Each action has a consequence that takes the tale in a different direction. Participants can try to guess how the story may unfold by talking through the different choices. When completing the activity in a group setting, the majority of the team must agree on an action before moving forward in the story.

There are a few ways to facilitate these activities online:

• Play an online role playing video game
• Watch an interactive movie like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
• Read from a Choose Your Own Adventure book on Zoom
• Click through a Choose Your Own Adventure platform
• Create your own story using a Google Form

Whichever way you choose to do the exercise, you can use the screen share feature in your virtual meeting software so that listeners can more easily follow along.

18. MacGyver

MacGyver is a show where the hero escapes sticky situations by improvising tools out of unlikely materials. For example, in one episode the hero makes a telescope out of a newspaper, magnifying lens, and a watch crystal.

To play MacGyver, you can either list three to five objects participants can use, or challenge players to use items that are within arms reach.

Simply state a desired end result, such as “a way to open a locked door,” or “a getaway vehicle,” and then ask teams to explain what they will build and how they will build it. To make the activity more collaborative, you can give teams five or ten minutes in breakout rooms to strategize and design a prototype.

19. Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a roleplaying game where players pretend to be magical figures and creatures. One player serves as the dungeon master, who guides the game, while the other players pick characters and make decisions to move the story forward. Upon choosing a course of action, players roll a twenty-sided die to determine whether or not the plan succeeds. The game is story-based, the possibilities are nearly limitless, and truly creative problem solving options arise. Also, since gameplay is mostly verbal, Dungeons & Dragons is an easy activity to do over Zoom.

Here are the basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons .

20. Pandemic

Pandemic is a game that pits players against the forces of nature in a race to contain and control disease outbreaks. At the beginning of the game, each player receives a role such as containment specialist or operations expert. Participants must carry out the duties of their roles by choosing appropriate actions. Pandemic is a great game for groups because each team member has a clear part to play, and players must collaborate and work together instead of competing against each other.

To play the game online, you can use a Pandemic game app , or talk through the exercise while one attendee moves and displays pieces on the board.

Note: The subject of this game might hit too close to home for some players, considering recent history. You can find games with similar mechanics that deal with different subject matter, such as Forbidden Island.

Check out more team building board games .

21. Model UN

Model UN is one of the best virtual problem solving activities for students. This exercise casts participants in the role of international diplomats who must negotiate to solve realistic problems. Each player assumes the role of a country ambassador and must form alliances and propose solutions to solve crises.

Here are some sample Model UN scenarios:

• Human rights violation by powerful country
• Food shortage
• Disease epidemic
• Technology privacy violations
• Civil war branching into surrounding countries
• Natural disasters

Depending on the size of the group, participants either take on the part of an entire government of a country, or play a certain role within the government. To carry out the activity on Zoom, players can take turns giving speeches, message other countries privately via the chat, meet in breakout rooms to form alliances or have more intimate discussions, and use the polling feature to vote on propositions.

If politics does not resonate with your group, then you can alter the exercise by applying the same activity structure to a different theme, such as the Justice League, movie characters, business board members, or reality TV stars.

The main purpose of the exercise is to research, talk through problems, and compromise. As long as these elements are present, then the specifics of the setup do not matter.

There are many types of problem solving activities for adults. You can do online problem solving games, which require a different skill set than in-person problem solving. For instance, communication must be much clearer and more abundant when group members are far apart and unable to demonstrate or pick up physical cues.

Though many problem solving games include props and in-person elements, there are many games you can play together online. These exercises work well as educational tools as well as team bonding accelerators. Upon completion, participants are likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence. These games are also great practice for real life conflict resolution, creative thinking and team building.

Next check out this list of connection games , this collection of crime-solving games , and this post with conflict resolution games .

We also have a list of the best decision making books and a list of team building problems for work .

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FAQ: Problem solving activities

Here are common answers to questions about group problem solving activities.

What are problem solving games?

Problem solving games are challenges that ask players to think critically and use logic to overcome issues or answer riddles. Examples include sudoku, murder mysteries, and spaghetti towers. These games are also known as “problem solving exercises”, “problem and solution games” and “group problem solving activities.”

What are the best problem solving games for groups?

The best problem solving games for groups include online escape rooms, moral challenges, and improv games.

What are some good problem solving team building activities for students?

Some good problem solving activities for students include crossword puzzles, choose your own adventure stories, and model UN.

How do you play problem solving games online?

The best way to play problem solving games online is to join a video call meeting to talk through the issue. Using the screen sharing and digital whiteboard features helps participants visualize the problem more clearly. Breakout rooms give teams the chance to discuss the issue more intimately.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com.

Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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15 Best Brain Games for Adults (Online & Offline) to Advance Your Cognitive Abilities

Anthony metivier.

• August 30, 2024

Yet, because we live in a society that prizes mental agility long into old age, I think you’ll love the myriad of stimulating brain games I’ve discovered for you.

As a Ph.d., I’m looking forward to continuing my many decades of research into memory and the mind for as long as I can. That’s why I have done the meticulous research into brain games that you’ll find on this page.

It’s also why I’ll tell you the truth a lot of designers of games will not.

As I take you into the realm of brain games, take note of the other activities I share that you can seamlessly integrate into your daily routines.

Brain games do indeed offer fantastic mental stimulation, but it’s important to remember this:

Your intellectual prowess requires a range of dynamic challenges, ranging from complex puzzles to strategy challenges.

And as my practical experience has shown, there’s more to the “game” of enhancing our intellectual skills than just play.

Ready? Let’s get started, or…

If you want to skip ahead, use this table of contents:

Why Brain Games For Adults? 20 Best Brain Games for Adults (by Category) Games and Puzzles (Online) Games and Puzzles (Offline) Brain Training Apps Video and Computer Games Fun and Games for the Brain

Why Brain Games For Adults?

You’ve probably seen advertising from different companies, claiming their games or brain training apps are the best way to keep your brain healthy as you get older.

Turns out, scientists are divided about the legitimacy of those claims.

In 2014, two opposing groups of scientists came out with letters arguing 1) no scientific basis for the efficacy of brain training — and 2) evidence for the “brain training effect” was plentiful .

So if even large groups of scientists can’t agree, how do we know if brain games can help you keep your gray matter fully functional?

As I researched this post, what I found over and over is this: brain training games may be effective, but so are other cognitive pursuits .

The key to maintaining brain health as you age is to consistently learn new things.

So if you’re worried about your brain health as you age, or have a parent or loved one who is at high risk for a disease like Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, keep that in mind. You won’t necessarily find results from playing the games featured on this page. This important to understand because several studies within the past fifteen years estimate that somewhere between 11-13% of older Americans have dementia.

So how do you avoid cognitive decline? What can you do to protect your brain?

According to both the Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and Alzheimer’s Association, there are a few key things you can do to maintain brain health as you age:

• Stay physically active: exercise and physical activity maintains proper blood flow to the brain and encourages the formation of new brain cells through neurogenesis.
• Eat for brain health: eating a healthy diet full of antioxidants (leafy green vegetables and fruits, for example) may help protect existing brain cells.
• Stay mentally and socially active: be active in your community to help avoid depression and isolation, and get regular brain exercise (especially learning new tasks) to help you maintain cognitive function.

So what are some of the best ways to stay mentally active? That’s where brain games for adults .do indeed come in handy.

Games for the brain can be a fun (and effective) way to keep your brain engaged. So let’s look at the best brain training games, what makes them great, and how you can even get some of these brain training games for free.

We’ll break them all down into categories, including both online and offline games, as well as our favorite brain training apps (and a few video games, too).

20 Best Brain Games for Adults (by Category)

If you want to be the next Stephen Hawking or Albert Einstein, brain training games and memory improvement games won’t get you there.

However, when it comes to keeping your brain healthy as you age, mixing and matching the following games could be just the ticket.

When the game gets easy, switch to learning how to play something new — and keep your brain healthy and your memory sharp.

Let’s start with the games and puzzles you’re most likely to find online.

Games and Puzzles (Online)

The following games and puzzles can help boost your working memory. They often involve thinking a step or two (or more) ahead to your next move.

Sudoku is one of the most popular brain training games online. It’s available through a number of different sites, including both Web Sudoku and Sudoku.com (which both have iOS and Android apps available).

It’s also available at the New York Times , USAToday , The Washington Post , and The Los Angeles Times .

Tricky Test 2™: Genius Brain?

Tricky Test 2™ is a free IQ game that challenges you to find out if you have a “genius brain.”

It includes a series of brain teasers and solutions designed to trick you — these puzzles are available through both the App Store and Google Play .

Left vs Right: Brain Games for Brain Training

Left vs Right was designed to “test your awareness, adaptability, reflex, reasoning, precision, and patience.”

Free brain training games are included to help you test your brain — and the app is available through Google Play , the App Store , and Amazon. While the app is free, in-app purchases are offered, including a VIP subscription option allowing you to access all 49 of the games.

A Clockwork Brain

A Clockwork Brain is a “series of fun and challenging games, specifically designed to test memory, attention, dexterity, language, and reasoning.”

Each of the puzzles features adaptive difficulty to keep your brain engaged, and is available in the App Store and Google Play , as well as through the Microsoft Store .

Next, let’s look at some classic forms of brain training that are available in the physical world.

Brain Games for Adults (Offline)

While there are options to play most of these types of games and puzzles online or on your device, you might want to stick to the traditional forms.

Why? Because the social aspect of the games makes them more powerful — by getting together with a friend (or a few) you can boost the brain-health factor.

Let’s start with a classic game for brainy people.

When you think of mentally challenging and complex games, chess is probably one of the first that comes to mind. Garry Kasparov, Bobby Fischer, (and even Deep Blue)… some of the greatest players of all time prove that chess is a game of strategy and concentration .

The game of chess helps train your working memory and improves your brain’s executive function as you plan and strategize. It also improves fast decision-making, while honing your concentration .

Crossword Puzzles

When it comes to minimizing cognitive decline, crosswords have been declared the go-to solution. These puzzles contribute to the development of memory and attention skills, as well as increased fluency (the ability to find words).

Like all the games and puzzles we’ll cover today, if the puzzles start feeling too easy it’s probably time to switch to another brainy pursuit. For example, if you usually play American crosswords you might try switching over to the British style (specifically their “cryptic crosswords”) to test your true riddle- and puzzle-solving skills.

No matter their difficulty level, crosswords are known to encourage cheating — but if you cheat you’re not getting the brain exercise you think you are!

Jigsaw Puzzles

Want to engage your short-term memory ? Jigsaw puzzles might be just the ticket. Your brain has to sort out the multiple colors and shapes — and the more pieces the puzzle contains, the harder your brain has to work. You even get a hit of dopamine when you click a puzzle piece into the correct slot.

To add a different kind of challenge to your puzzle assembling, flip over the pieces and try to solve the puzzle without any of the design clues.

Matching Pairs Card Games

There are virtually endless ways to play this type of memory game , including many online versions (including tile-matching games like Mahjong). Whatever variation you choose, the aim is to match as many pairs as quickly as you can — lay any number of cards face down, flip over two at a time, and try to remember where the matches are.

While most games keep the cards in neat rows, you can make the game more challenging by spreading out the cards in a less organized arrangement.

And for another level boost, here are 13 reasons you need a system for remembering cards . Just imagine the brain fitness you’ll get when you can remember the order of 52 cards after shuffling a deck!

Playing Scrabble is a great way to learn new vocabulary and improve focus and strategic thinking. Some of the best players develop a keen ability to find the anagrams amidst a jumble of letters.

A 2016 study showed that Scrabble experts often use the parts of their brain associated with visual perception and working memory. So if you get good enough at the game, you’ll be able to tap into different areas of your brain while you play.

But what about apps that were specifically designed to provide “brain training” — are they everything they claim to be?

Brain Training Apps

Turns out, maybe not.

In 2016, Lumosity paid $2 million to settle deceptive advertising charges. It was alleged that “they deceived consumers with unfounded claims that Lumosity games can help users perform better at work and in school, and reduce or delay cognitive impairment associated with age and other serious health conditions.”

Be advised that Christine Till’s research has shown that without also having regular meetings with a coach, software programs like these have limited outcomes .

No single app or game is the magic bullet for reversing cognitive decline. But the following apps, when paired with other learning games and puzzles, just might help keep your brain engaged as you age.

Post-FTC charges, Lumosity now claims to offer “daily exercise for your mind.” Their brain training helps sharpen memory, attention, mental flexibility, processing speed, and problem-solving.

Lumosity has been around for 10 years and boasts 100 million members. They offer a desktop version of the app, as well as App Store and Google Play versions.

CogniFit Brain Fitness

CogniFit includes both neuropsychological assessments and brain training programs. The assessments include 23 separate cognitive skills, and their training programs use a patented methodology that allows them to set an “optimal sequence of brain games specifically for the user.”

There are training programs specific to ages 55 and over, stroke , Parkinson’s, and more. There is a free version, as well as a paid version ($19.99 per month for unlimited training programs), and CogniFit is available through both the App Store and Google Play .

Mensa Brain Training

And last but certainly not least, the high IQ society Mensa offers exercises to help you improve your reasoning , concentration, memory, agility, and perception. Mensa claims that regular brain training can significantly enhance fluid intelligence .

Their training program includes “challenging exercises developed by puzzle experts and accredited by the definitive high IQ society.” Available on the App Store .

What might surprise you is that one of the strongest competitors in the brain training market is actually… video games.

Video and Computer Games

When you hear discussions about the impact of video games, it’s usually in relation to violence and negative impacts. But did you know video games can be very helpful for boosting cognitive function?

Particular types of video games can have positive benefits on the brain. Action games can help improve your ability to make quick decisions or focus on an important object. And racing games help improve eye-hand coordination.

There is even a 2018 study that looked at the benefits of cognitive and emotional training in healthy adults.

Super Mario 64

Playing three-dimensional video games like Super Mario 64 improves both spatial memory and recognition ability, according to a 2017 study . The game encourages exploration within the 15 worlds of the game, where the player encounters obstacle courses, hidden objects, and puzzles… as well as the enemies Mario must confront.

3D games might help stave off mild cognitive impairment, due to increases in gray matter volume in both the hippocampus and cerebellum.

Since 1984, Tetris has been challenging the brains of video game lovers. Much like the real world around us, the game “challenges players to make order out of chaos using a specific organization system.”

The makers coined the Tetris® Effect — where people who are packing their cars, loading their dishwashers, or organizing their shelves think strategically about how to fit each object into the available space.

Earlier studies seem to indicate that playing the game results in a thicker cortex in the brain, and helps improve brain efficiency. It has even been hypothesized that playing Tetris has positive results for certain spatial skills like mental rotation, spatial perception, and spatial visualization.

World of Warcraft

You might be surprised to see the world’s most popular role-playing game listed among our recommendations, but researchers at North Carolina State University found cognitive improvements among seniors who participated in the study.

You can try World of Warcraft free with their Starter Edition, which allows you to play up to level 20, or to subscribe for access to further levels.

With the 20 games, puzzles, and apps in this article, you have plenty to keep you (and your brain) busy.

Brain Games for Adults Are Fun

Getting older doesn’t have to mean you settle for cognitive decline and eventual dementia. In fact, if you use what you learned in this article, you now know 20 more ways to keep your brain active as you age… and have some fun along the way.

If games still aren’t for you, you have other alternatives you can explore, such as adult coloring books . I like using them so much, I even created my own and you can order a copy on Amazon .

At the end of the day, here’s what really matters:

As long as you stay physically active, eat for brain health, and stay mentally and socially active, you can keep your brain engaged and healthy for the long run. And if you’re ever worried and wondering if you have dementia, you can always take memory tests doctors use to diagnose Alzheimer’s.

But do remember: at the end of the day, time spent on brain training games always incurs a cost. It might not get with your learning style as an adult , for example, especially if you have to do any kind of chunking while playing the game.

But personally, I don’t think anything compares to the fun of using a Memory Palace. That’s why if you want to keep learning new things (perhaps a new language ?) you’ll also need to improve your memory skills to help you hang on to that new vocabulary.

The Memory Palace technique is actually the ultimate brain game because every time you learn, you win something far more valuable than points. You win knowledge that will soon turn into wisdom. And wisdom is the ultimate engine of engagement that lasts.

Check out these Memory Palace examples to see for yourself why this mental tool really does provide the best brain game for adults. I dare you to prove me wrong. Game on!

4 Responses

To “play the game for what counts” is good advice that I will remember!

Thanks for the insight,

Thanks for this post, Tom. I’m glad that this insight struck a chord! 🙂

I believe training root function such as visual processing speed, n-back challenges and meditation do show positive results. There’s an app that targets root function over specific skills and this generalises across applications. What is clear in playing these games is that threshold training is important in order to stimulate the brain to change. I’ve also found Harry Kahne’s Multiple Mentality course (free online) to be beneficial since it appears to ramp up brain band width. It’s very tough though.

So whilst I agree that games that focus on maths will not generalise, games that focus on spatial awareness, visual processing, facial recognition and sound recognition will. See the work of Dr Michael Merzenich. Many of the games on the market cite his studies yet don’t use the same training methodology to focus on root function.

Very few skills improve function across domains. If you play chess, you get better at chess. I don’t believe there’s much non domain improvement and it doesn’t improve GF.

Whilst I don’t believe mnemonics in of themselves have been shown to improve GF they certainly can improve the rate and speed at which we can remember data, which gives the appearance at least of greater intelligence.

With respect to language learning specifically, it’s my understanding that once one non native language has been learned the brain adapts its algorithm to make subsequent language learning more efficient. Language learning is tough, which gives a dopamine spike, which is why people can become quite addicted to language learning. It’s also a useful skill to have.

Thanks for this post. I found it interesting. I like your mnemonic and think history is particularly well suited to mnemonic devices. I generally find mnemonics make learning fun in any case.

Thanks for these great thoughts, Jon-Kristian!

It’s interesting that you mention Harry Kahne. What I find fascinating is his first exercise, which requests that you write out the alphabet backwards fifty times.

When I learned to do recite the alphabet backwards, it took precisely four minutes without writing down a single thing using keywords and a Memory Palace. I’ve never forgotten it and taught hundreds of people to do the same in similarly short periods of time.

The “Alphabet Skipping” variations are a little bit more challenging and takes longer to learn, but great brain games to be sure. I’ll have to mention them on a follow up podcast.

Thanks too for mentioning Michael Merzenich . I’m looking into his stuff now. Anything in particular you would suggest reading?

About mnemonics improving general brain functions, I think this is a matter of how we test them. For example, if mnemonics led to a measurable boost in fluency, then that would potentially lead to more social interaction, which exercises more of the brain. To take another example, abilities in math could lead to an interest in and aptitude for physics, which could then lead to other brain enhancing activities. In this way, we can perhaps see mnemonics as a “gateway drug” to bigger and better things. And as I hope I’ve suggested in the article, it’s a positive addiction that feeds itself because the more you learn, the more you can learn because you have a larger pool of associations from which to draw.

I’m glad you liked the post and mnemonics and I look forward to corresponding again soon! 🙂

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Strategies to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills

Got problems? We all do.

They’re something we encounter daily, both at work and at home. Tackling problems and finding solutions are useful skills that are in high demand.

At a basic level, there are three steps to solving any problem:

• Define the problem
• Generate ideas for solutions
• Implement solutions

You might be tempted to think that the first step is unnecessary. After all, that’s why you’re here in the first place, to solve a problem. However, defining the problem is arguably the most important step in problem-solving.

Albert Einstein is famously quoted as saying, “If I had an hour to solve a problem I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.”

When you can spend more time defining the real problem, and not just a symptom, it will be easier to find a lasting solution.

How to better define the problem:

• Ask “why” questions
• Talk it through with others
• Write down the problem in words
• Use graphs or flow charts

Now that we’ve talked about the steps of solving a problem and how to better define it, let’s dig into some strategies to help your brain perform at its best for solving problems.

“Thanks to a process called neuroplasticity, your brain is continually reorganizing itself by forming new neural connections throughout your life, which gives you the power to make your brain better.” – Daniel G. Amen, MD

Neuroplasticity enables your brain to continue to learn and grow throughout your life. Like your muscles, your brain needs exercise to become stronger. Becoming a life-long learner will not only strengthen your brain, but also sharpen your memory, boost confidence, and bring new knowledge and skills into your life.

3 Ways to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills

1.    Regularly Engage in Brain Boosting Activities

There are a number of easy and fun ways to strengthen your brain. Adding one or more of these activities into your daily routines can help boost your brain and result in better problem-solving abilities.

• Work on a jigsaw puzzle – Puzzles can be done on your own, or as a social activity. Putting together a puzzle requires concentration and spatial awareness, activating multiple parts of the brain and improving short-term memory.
• Play a musical instrument – Research has shown that learning to play an instrument can improve neuroplasticity and help improve your memory. Playing music engages multiple regions of the brain, providing numerous benefits. Maybe it’s been a while since you last played, or maybe you’ve never learned an instrument. Either way, it’s never too late to tap into your musical side and begin making music.
• Try a new hobby – Remember the “use it or lose it” concept when it comes to the brain. It’s recommended to never stop learning new things. Challenge yourself, no matter your age! Trying new hobbies is a great mental exercise to sharpen your brain. You also may find a new activity that brings more joy to your life.
• Meditate – The practice of meditation has been around for thousands of years as a tool for reducing stress, clearing your mind, promoting relaxation, and improving focus. Meditation is a powerful tool that can boost your brain anytime, anywhere.
• Play brain games – Chess, crossword puzzles, and sudoku all fall under this category. Brain games are an easy and fun way to improve concentration and strengthen memory. The best part is that they only take a few minutes to play and offer a nice break during the day.
• Read a book with a book club – Reading a book offers many benefits, including stimulating different areas of your brain to process and analyze information. When you participate in a reading group , your brain will need to remember information for later recall. This information recall is highly beneficial to protecting short-term memory. Book clubs also can provide a fun and supportive social network.

2.    Spend time NOT looking for the solution

This is counterintuitive, but it’s an important strategy to use when working on a problem. Allow yourself some downtime after defining the problem.

Let your subconscious do some work. Setting a task aside for a time can actually improve your efforts later. When you return to the problem at hand, you’ll likely have a fresh perspective.

What should you do while giving your brain a break from active problem-solving? Enjoy a hobby, get some rest, or move your body with a walk or other form of exercise.

3.    Practice healthy habits

You guessed it, those healthy habits that affect so many areas of your life are also tied to a healthy brain. Exercise, a healthy diet, and quality sleep can all help your brain function better and improve your problem-solving skills overall.

• Exercise – Moving your body increases blood flow to the brain, which can improve your ability to think critically, clearly, and creatively. Additionally, physical activity is a known way to reduce stress and anxiousness. Research has shown creativity and problem-solving to be negatively affected by stress. Using exercise to combat stress can improve your ability to find solutions with a clear mind. By exercising regularly, your overall physical, emotional, and brain health may be positively impacted.
• Healthy Diet – Dr. Daniel Amen teaches that one of the secrets to a healthy brain is to focus on detoxification in your diet. This includes avoiding alcohol, drinking plenty of water, and consuming detoxifying vegetables . Some good vegetables to incorporate into your diet would be lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, and asparagus. You also may try increasing your protein intake for a healthy brain, or try adding in turmeric , which can increase neuroplasticity.
• Quality Sleep – Finally, don’t forget about the impact quality sleep, or the lack of it, can have on your brain function and problem-solving abilities. Getting a good night’s rest gives your brain time to recharge and that necessary downtime of not actively thinking about the problems needing solving. While you sleep, your subconscious has a chance to do some work for you!

When you engage in brain-boosting activities, take some downtime, and practice healthy habits you’ll be better prepared for the problems in your days. And, next time you’re faced with the inevitable problems that come with life and work, you can address them with more clarity and confidence.

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Boost Your Brain - Free Brain Games Online!

Training your brain with the 200 free online brain games on this site is a fun way to keep your mind active, and to help improve your memory, concentration, and other brain skills. Play these games in your browser free anytime.

Which Brain Skills Can You Improve?

Terms related to concentration include focus, attentiveness, intentness, absorption, flow state.

But Does Brain Training Actually Work?

There are plenty of scientists in this same camp. As one example of how brain games training may improve brain health and preserve memory, consider the neurodegenerative medical condition Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

In patients with MCI... cognitive training may improve cognitive measures. 6

Brain Games Can Boost Brain Power

Many studies have shown increases in cognitive function. ~ Asap Science

With Free Brain Games - Plan a Little, Then Play

In addition to being a fun way to give your brain a workout, solving puzzles, mind benders, brain teasers, and other online brain games is a great way to take a break from other "normal" work.

Other Categories of Online Brain Training Games

More resources.

And if you want to practice memorization, try the online U.S. State Capitals Quiz that I made. Be sure to read the memorization tip at the bottom of that page.

[+] Scientific References

Different game genres have positive effects on different cognitive skills. This has clear practical benefits because it suggests that different video games can be selected depending on which cognitive skill one aims to improve.

One of the benefits of playing action games may be an enhanced ability to precisely learn the dynamics of new sensorimotor tasks. Such skills are key, for example, in laparoscopic surgery which involves high precision manual control of remote surgery tools through a computer interface.

Published: 02/23/2007 Last Updated: 10/16/2021

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