Passing the time with rounds of Angry Birds or Candy Crush is a fun way to blow off some steam, but you aren’t doing your brain any favors with these less than challenging games. If you’re looking for ways to strengthen your mind and still enjoy yourself, check out these great mind games for men of all ages.
The classics
There’s a reason why some games have stood the test of time and continue to challenge minds around the world. Some of the smartest people in the world play chess because it’s considered one of the few games that has such a wide range of skill levels, yet is still believed to be impossible to completely master. It requires you to think, plan, implement both offensive and defensive moves, and essentially stimulates all the best parts of your mind.
But chess isn’t the only classic game that can give you a mental workout. Others include checkers and backgammon, which while less taxing on your brain, still require you to focus and make decisions. These are chess alternatives for those looking for a more leisurely game that isn’t as innately competitive as chess.
Don’t get bored with board games
We all grew up playing endless rounds of Operation, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland and Trouble, and while many of these games (which are almost always designed for young children in mind) aren’t that difficult to comprehend and enjoy, there are a few that will put the mind muscles to work.
Near the top of the list would be Risk, whose back and forth land conquering gameplay is a great example of forcing you to develop strategies and plans in order to overcome the other opponents on the board. And who could forget about Monopoly? A constant back and forth battle for property ownership and hotel development where you can buy and sell your way to victory. Granted, none of these will put the pressure on the way chess or a Sudoku puzzle will, but not every mind game has to be intense for you to reap in the benefits.
The gambler
Fancy yourself a card shark or craps expert? Many casino games involve mathematics and deductive reasoning, plus they’re some of the more fun types of games you can play. But if you don’t feel your skills are as sharp as they used to be, Planet 7 Casino has complete breakdowns on how to play and win at the most popular casino games in the world. From picking up tips to play roulette to great blackjack strategy, they’ll help you prepare yourself.
Getting physical
Games that require you to take up a pen and physically write out solutions and answers have been proven to give your brain a better workout than games that you can do purely in your head. Crossword puzzles are a great example of this because you need a great memory combined with a general knowledge of a wide variety of topics if you hope to complete the entire thing. For many, Sudoku is even a better challenge as you constantly move and shift numbers around in order to fit the 1 through 9 requirements of the playing grid. Both options will have you constantly thinking to yourself for the right answer, amply working out your mind the entire time.
Apps and technology
You can’t overlook the popularity of online tools, games and apps if you want to keep your mind sharp. There are entire sites such as Lumosity.com that are dedicated with establishing and tracking your mental prowess as you go through a series of memory challenges. Plus, you can fill a smartphone or tablet with apps containing practically all of the suggested games mentioned above, having them readily available whenever you want to play. Thanks to Wi-Fi and other wireless networks, finding people to play with and against is as easy as logging on.
However you choose to exercise your brain and keep your mind in fighting shape, it’s important to try and develop a routine that will keep you testing yourself consistently, rather than short bursts here and there throughout the year. Do this, and you’ll be able to function at your mental peak 100% of the time.
