Reap the benefits of sharpening your mind and improving cognitive ability with these top 12 brain training apps and games, designed to test and improve your logic, memory, and problem-solving skills.
From challenging mind-bending riddles to fun crossword puzzles, these tools effectively train your brain to think critically and foster a sharper intellect.
What are the benefits of brain training games?
With the endless amounts of media that are presented to us in this digital age, it is important to dedicate some time to keeping our brains healthy. Brain training games are aimed at exercising one’s mind and have research demonstrating their ability to improve attention levels, memory, and logic skills.
A 2015 study had a group of participants use a brain training game for 15 minutes, at least 7 days a week for 3 weeks. The results revealed that the participants who used the brain game had significant improvement in cognitive abilities like attention and motor speed, in comparison to participants who did not use the game.
Here is Our List of the 12 Best Brain Training Apps & Games:
- Lumosity
- Elevate
- CogniFit Brain Training
- Peak
- Sudoku
- Wordle
- Impulse – Brain Training
- NYT Connections
- Crosswords
- Duolingo
- Words With Friends 2
- Braingle
Lumosity
Lumosity is the #1 app for training your brain! Along with 50+ brain games for improving skills like memory and math, players can also track their progress.
On the Lumosity website and app, users can play customized brain-training activities designed to improve their cognitive function. Signing up for the free account gives you access to 3 games per day tailored to your desired goals like memory, problem-solving skills, processing speed, and attention span.
Players can also purchase Lumosity’s subscription service for access to more offerings.
Available on: App Store for iOS and Play Store for Android.
Elevate
Apple’s 2014 App of the Year, Elevate, offers a variety of brain-training options for those looking to improve their writing, memory, speaking, reading, vocabulary, and math skills.
Aside from 40+ fun games tailored to their preferences, users can track their progress and see where they measure up against other players.
After a free 7-day trial including all its features, Elevate users can choose the free plan with limited options or an annual paid subscription with access to all features.
Available on: App Store for iOS and Play Store for Android.
CogniFit Brain Training
The app CogniFit Brain Training was developed by neuroscientists to measure 23 different cognitive skills. Of those skills are spatial perception, working memory, visual perception, response time, and more.
The app allows users to take a quiz to assess their cognitive state and it adapts to whichever areas they need improvement in. With various games and exercises, users can track their progress and compete with friends.
The developers suggest spending 20 minutes, two or three times a week training on the app. Users get four free games and can also purchase monthly or annual subscriptions for access to more games.
Available on: App Store for iOS and Play Store for Android.
Peak
Take 10 minutes out of your day to focus on your brain health with 45 memory, problem-solving, focus, language, and math games on Peak.
The app allows users to track their progress and compete with other players and is free with subscription options that unlock other features.
Available on: App Store for iOS and Play Store for Android.
Sudoku
Sudoku has puzzled the minds of people since the late 1970s. The Japanese puzzle game relies heavily on the abilities of one’s short-term memory.
Players are tasked with entering numbers into a 9×9 grid, without repeating any numbers in each line, horizontally or vertically. The game improves multiple aspects of cognitive function as it tests your attention, computational, and problem-solving skills.
It can be played on paper or virtually. Plus, you can keep your brain sharp without spending a penny as many websites and apps offer Sudoku for free.
Available on: The New York Times website and the NYT Games app on the App Store for iOS, and Play Store for Android.
Wordle
At the beginning of 2022, The New York Times’ web-based game, Wordle, was the absolute craze. The brain exercise allows players six chances to guess a five-letter word, with colorful hints.
However, you ought to harness your brainpower here as the game only offers one puzzle per day.
Available on: The New York Times website and the NYT Games app (on the App Store for iOS and Play Store for Android).
Impulse – Brain Training
Put your brain to work with various games, puzzles, and tests on the Impulse – Brain Training app! The app features activities that help improve memory, focus, language, and problem-solving skills.
Impulse offers assessments that measure users’ IQ levels, emotional intelligence scores, personality types, and more.
A free 3-day trial is granted to users showcasing all of its features with no ad interruptions. Once the trial ends, users can purchase a paid subscription to keep the exclusive features.
Available on: App Store for iOS and Play Store for Android.
NYT Connections
Exclusive to The New York Times website and NYT Games app, Connections has become a hit among brain-training enthusiasts.
The once-a-day activity presents players with 16 words. You are given four attempts to group the words into four groups of four, once you’ve established the relationship that connects them.
Connections is notorious for its tricky brainteasers and is guaranteed to keep your mind active!
Available on: The New York Times website and the NYT Games app.
Crosswords
One of the most timeless methods of brain-training is crossword puzzles. Since the early 1910s, people have boosted their cognitive skills by testing their vocabulary, memory, and attention through crossword puzzles.
Crosswords are among the most accessible brain-training exercises as they can be found both online and in person, typically at no cost. Most newspapers even include one and bookstores often sell books filled with crosswords of varying difficulty levels.
Websites like The New York Times and AARP offer daily free crosswords. There are also various apps available to improve your mental agility via crosswords that offer free options.
Available on: The New York Times website and the NYT Games app, the AARP website.
Duolingo
Learning a new language has its own benefits for our general cognitive well-being. A 2020 research study revealed that bilingual brains are more resilient and therefore less susceptible to Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Duolingo is a language learning app that offers micro-lessons that teach users to speak, read, and write in their desired tongue, from a selection of more than 40 languages.
The app is free, but users can choose to purchase Supreme Duolingo, the app’s premium subscription.
Available on: App Store for iOS and Play Store for Android.
Words With Friends 2
The Scrabble-esque game, Words With Friends 2, helps users expand their vocabulary and concentration skills.
Players must create words using randomly chosen letters. The game is interactive as you can play with family and–of course–friends.
Words With Friends 2 is free and offers various in-app purchases.
Available on: App Store for iOS and Play Store for Android.
Braingle
Braingle is a free website that offers various tricky puzzles, trivia sets, and activities.
With over 15,000 games, the site claims to have the largest collection of brain-training games in the world!
Braingle also hosts an online community feature where players can chat and compete with one another.
The website is entirely free and allows users to play games as guests or create an account.
Available on: The Braingle website.
This concludes our list of the top 12 best brain training apps and games to stay sharp. Boost your cognitive health by setting aside some time each day to exercise your brain with these fun and puzzling brainteasers!
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