Today, we choose our 7 best brain games to improve focus and memory. We were looking for brain development activities, so we decided to focus on suitable games to improve concentration and focus in adults.

Why we chose games? Everyone likes games, so why not combine practicality with pleasure.

Whether you’re looking for focus games for students, different brain development activities, or brain games for adults, this list is for you. It has the best games for concentration and memory, so keep reading.

Chess

Chess has always been among the best games for concentration and memory; if you have ever played it, you know why.

When playing modern chess on a higher level, you must predict and plan at least three moves ahead. Both your actions and your opponent’s. This is a complex task for our brains, so it can help improve your real-life strategies.

The complexity of chess as a game makes it one of the best brain games for adults to improve their brain function in no time, and it’s also fun.

Catan and Risk are other family-friendly board games we can recommend for developing thinking and real-life skills. Both are strategic multiplayer games that are very strong in the organizational aspect and offer a blast.

Sudoku

I have liked Sudoku ever since I tried it for the first time. The game is simple – you will receive a puzzle with a couple of entered numbers. Consider those numbers and their positions, and then fill in the numbers 1-9 exactly once in every row, column, and 3×3 region.

Your mind must follow several strategies and absorb several pieces of information in a short game to solve a Sudoku puzzle. This will force your brain to focus and figure out a way to place all the numbers in their exact positions without repeating them.

Playing Sudoku can help train your brain to think faster and make it easier for you to concentrate and think while considering numerous variables.

We have written a guide on how to play Sudoku and included 10 puzzles for you to practice and boost your brain power, so check them out.

Video games

Now, who doesn’t like video games? Today’s fast-paced games require you to multitask and swiftly react and adapt to new, dynamic environments. They force your brain to focus and concentrate on various details, while you improve your reaction time.

According to Nih, “children who played video games for three or more hours per day showed higher brain activity in regions of the brain associated with attention and memory than did those who never played.” So, make sure to start young.

Whether you’d like to play strategy-focused FPS video games, like Call of Duty, or immersive virtual reality video games, like Beat Saber, there is something in it for you. Players have reported improved mental health and mitigating effects on mood disorders such as anxiety or depression. Another reason to play sporty VR games is that they can significantly improve physical health and overall fitness. It’s exhausting, like gym training, when you get into it.

You must keep challenging your mind with different tasks – switch to something new when it becomes too easy or automatic. Keep stimulating your mind, and the rewards will follow – it will promptly lead to boosting your brain function.

Crosswords

I know, I know – crosswords will sound old-fashioned. The last people I remember actively doing them were my grandparents, but listen to me for a moment.

These games are the best cognitive exercises for improving focus and concentration in adults. Possibly the reason why older people always play crosswords is that they also reduce the risk of dementia and mental decline.

One of the additional perks of crossword games is that you will educate yourself. While playing, every time you don’t know a word is another chance to learn a new word, so use it.

Rebus puzzles

Also called picture riddles or word picture puzzles, rebuses are excellent as they force you to concentrate on the words.

It’s a great way to improve your grammar, expand your vocabulary, and even become a better writer, as you must concentrate on words to figure out what they mean. For example, ‘Bad’ has synonyms like ‘disastrous,’ ‘harsh,’ or ‘awful,’ so it’s on you to figure out the right word behind the image.

This is one of the brain games for adults and kids, as it allows for super-easy and tremendously complex combinations. So, depending on your skill level, find suitable puzzles and try them out.

If you couldn’t figure it out, the rebus above says ‘one night stand.’

Jigsaw puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles stimulate your short-term memory by concentrating on sorting different puzzle pieces into a picture. The difference is in shapes and colors; the more parts a puzzle has, the more your brain needs to focus.

I love Jigsaw puzzles because they are a great way to connect to my kid while getting our brains to work. It’s one of the brain games for adults and kids – if the puzzle is simple enough, even a two-year-old can play. It was a great way to connect to my parents when I was a kid.

It’s a never-ending circle of fun that will improve concentration for the whole family.

Solitaire

The good, old Solitaire. This classic dates back to somewhere in the 18th century when it emerged as a form of fortune-telling in the Baltic countries. Nowadays it’s a popular choice worldwide amongst receptionists and anyone forced to spend a long time in their company offices.

Although Solitaire is a single-player game, it offers unlimited amounts of entertainment. Your goal is to sort through the cluttered decks and organize each card by numerical order and black or red color.

This game improves your memory and organizational skills. However, for a more advanced game level and a sense of competition, many players decide to play a timed version trying to beat their personal best.

Conclusion

So, here’s our list of best brain games to improve focus. Now you know what you can do to improve your productivity. You can play many games to improve your concentration and memory, and the classics we talked about are on-point. If you dislike our recommendations, find another game, but make sure it’s stimulating for your brain. So, get on to playing and improve yourself right now.

For other brain development activities and more ways to improve focus and concentration in adults, check our related articles:

• The Best Nootropics Supplements To Improve Brain Function
• Best Way To Improve Brain Function
• Best Food To Improve Brain Power
• What Are Nootropic Supplements
• Why You Should Never Let Emotions Dictate Your Actions
• How To Improve Your Storytelling Skills

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