Memories are like muscles; they grow stronger with use. The more you work them out, the better they become at doing their job. The same is true for your brain and memory improvement.
Why do you think kids go to school? It’s not just so they can learn about math, science, and reading. It’s also to give their brains a workout. They have to remember what they’ve learned and apply it in different ways.
One way to give your brain a workout is by playing memory games. You can play these games online or offline, and they come in varying difficulty levels. Many people think that memory games are just for kids, but adults can benefit from them as well.
Memory games can help adults improve their memory, focus, and concentration. They can also help you to think more quickly and creatively. Memory games are an effective option if you’re looking for a way to give your brain a workout.
There are many different memory games for adults available online and offline. Let’s discuss 15 of the best memory games for adults below:
Best Fun Memory Games For Adults
1. Lumosity
Lumosity is a brain training program designed to improve cognitive abilities. The program consists of a series of games that target different areas of the brain such as problem solving, word, memory, attention, speed, math, and flexibility.
Lumosity has been shown to improve cognitive performance in various studies. For example, one study found that Lumosity users improved their working memory and fluid intelligence after using the program for eight weeks.
Transfer of learning from Lumosity games to tasks outside the program has also been demonstrated. For instance, one study found that participants who played Lumosity games improved their performance on an intelligence test.
Lumosity is available online and is accessible through a web browser or mobile app. A subscription is required to access the full range of games and features. Lumosity costs $12 monthly.
The fact that Lumosity categorizes games into targeted brain areas is great. I like that there is some science to back up the program’s effectiveness.
2. MentalUP
Stimulation for the brain helps psychomotor development and processing speed. MentalUp games train specific cognitive skills related to attention, speed, flexibility, memory, and problem-solving.
This app is really helpful for aging adults to keep their minds sharp, but it’s also a lot of fun for people of all ages.
Though MentalUP is designed for educational purposes, it contains many features that make it an effective brain training tool. The games are designed to train specific cognitive skills while the app tracks your progress.
One of the things we like about MentalUP is its user-friendly design. Over 100 brain exercises, mobile adaptability, and no ads or in-app purchases make it an excellent choice for people looking for a brain training app.
Advanced performance tracking lets you see how you’re progressing over time, and the app’s developers are always adding new features and exercises.
MentalUP can help with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and memory loss in numerous ways. First, the games can help to improve cognitive function and memory. Second, the app provides a way to track progress and see improvements over time.
And finally, the social features of the app can help to keep the mind active and engaged.
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3. Dakim Brain Fitness
Dakim Brain Fitness is an online brain training program designed to improve cognitive function and overall brain health. The program offers various exercises and games meant to challenge adults and help keep their minds active.
Dakim Brain Fitness has been shown to improve memory, concentration, and mental processing speed in those who use it regularly.
Clinical studies have also demonstrated that the program can help reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dakim Brain Fitness uses a unique cross-brain training approach that engages both the left and right sides of the brain. This type of training is more effective than traditional brain exercises that focus on only one hemisphere.
The program also utilizes NuroLogic Technology, a proprietary algorithm that adapts to each user’s cognitive abilities. It ensures each person is challenged at their unique level, making the exercises effective.
Over 100 unique exercises are available on the Dakim website, with new ones added regularly. The exercises cover a range of topics, including memory, language, math, and logic.
4. Happy Neuron
Happy Neuron is a brain training app designed to improve memory, focus, and mental agility. The app offers a variety of exercises and games that challenge the user’s cognitive skills. Happy Neuron is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.
The brain training program offered by Happy Neuron has been clinically proven to improve cognitive function in adults. A full list of mind games and countless fun challenges await you inside the app.
Performance tracking lets you see your progress over time and compare your scores with other users.
Personalized exercise recommendations ensure that you are always challenged and engaged. The intensity of challenges depends on your personal level.
Happy Neuron features:
- A wide variety of brain games and exercises
- Clinical evidence of improved cognitive function
- Performance tracking and personalized recommendations
- Intuitive and user-friendly design
It best suits therapists, psychologists, and coaches responsible for the mental health of their patients or athletes. It costs $99 per month for private practices, with a one-year commitment.
An office with two to three therapists pays $149 per year, while facilities incur $199 monthly costs.
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5. Chess
Chess is a popular board game played by people of all ages. The game most likely originated in India, and it has been around for centuries.
Chess is a strategy game that requires skill and planning, and it can be exciting to play.
Chess is a two-player game, though elite players often get pitted against supercomputers. The game is played on a square board with 64 squares of alternating color.
Each player gets 16 pieces entailing eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, a queen, and a king.
The objective of the game is to checkmate the other player’s king by trapping the king so that it cannot move without being captured. You can also win the game by capturing all of the other player’s pieces or by forcing the other player to resign.
Chess is a brilliant brain exercise and memory-enhancing game for adults. It has been known to improve cognitive skills, problem-solving ability, and concentration.
Chess helps with overall mental health and wellness. It’s a fun and rewarding hobby to have, which allows you to tap into the psychology of every opponent.
Online chess has become a popular way to play the game, and many websites and apps offer this service. Playing chess online is ideal for meeting new people and making friends from all over the world.
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6. Sudoku
Sudoku is a logic-based game of arranging numbers and applying a combinatorial number-placement puzzle.
The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits. Each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 subgrids composing the grid should contain all digits from 1 to 9.
Every Sudoku game entails a partially completed grid that has only one unique solution.
Completing the puzzle requires patience and logical ability. Using simple logic methods to eliminate possibilities is more effective, although Sudoku puzzles can be solved by brute force.
Commercial computer programs designed to solve Sudoku puzzles can also use very sophisticated methods, up to and including a full search of all possible solutions or even brute force.
Brute force entails every single possibility being checked for consistency with the Sudoku rules. It’s time-consuming and generally unnecessary.
There are several basic strategies for solving Sudoku puzzles. The simplest is cross-hatching, involving looking at each row, column, and 3×3 box in the grid and crossing out numbers that have already been used in that line.
It’s especially effective in winnowing down the possibilities.
Sudoku is a perfect memory fun game to play while waiting in line or taking a break at work. Timed Sudoku helps with speed building while relaxed sudoku is perfect for killing time.
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7. Backgammon
Backgammon is an ancient board game. This two-player game allows each player fifteen checkers, which they move between twenty-four points (triangles or houses) according to how two dice roll.
The objective of the game is to be first to bear off, i.e. remove all of one’s checkers from the board.
Backgammon probably originated in Persia over 3000 years ago, and it is mentioned in writings by Pliny the Elder and Claudius Aelianus. It was later introduced to the Western world by soldiers returning from the Crusades.
The cognitive benefits of playing backgammon have been studied in recent years. Older adults who play backgammon stand to gain improved memory, attention, and task flexibility. Their depression symptoms are also likely to diminish.
The game can be played online or with a board and pieces. If you are playing with a board and pieces, you will need:
- A backgammon board
- Two sets of 15 checkers (traditionally, one set is black and the other red)
- A pair of dice
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8. Geometry Dash
This series of five games is a platform where you need to get from one side of the screen to the other, avoiding obstacles along the way.
Geometry Dash Lite and Geometry Dash World are available for free on Android and iOS, while Geometry Dash SubZero is a paid app.
Mental health is essential to an individual’s well-being and can impact how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions.
Geometry Dash exercises your mind and mental agility while providing a fun challenge. The game can help improve your problem-solving skills and reaction time, as well as increase your focus and concentration.
Other benefits of playing Geometry Dash include:
- Improving hand-eye coordination
- Sharpening reflexes
- Boosting confidence
- Fostering teamwork skills
This fun memory game for adults is a great way to keep your mind sharp and improve your memory! The transfer of learning between the game and real life can also help improve your everyday quality of life.
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9. Crossword Puzzle
Crossword puzzles are a type of puzzle that require you to use clues to solve words in a grid. They can be used as a fun way to learn new vocabulary, test your knowledge, or just for entertainment.
Crosswords are also essential tools to keep your mind sharp as an adult. This fun memory game can help improve your cognitive skills including memory, focus, and concentration.
Clues for solving a crossword puzzle can come in various forms. They might be straightforward definitions, anagrams, or even riddles. You’ll need to use your mental agility and problem-solving skills to figure out the answer, no matter the clue.
Interestingly, you can deduce the transfer of learning from crossword puzzles. The skills you use to solve a crossword puzzle also applies to other tasks, like solving problems at work or understanding concepts in school.
The difficulty level of a crossword puzzle can range from easy to extremely challenging. Start with an easy puzzle and work your way up if you’re a beginner. As you become more confident, you can try more challenging puzzles.
Challenge yourself, and have fun with crosswords!
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10. Words Within a Word
This fun memory word game challenges you to unscramble words within a word. For example, if the main word is TABLE, some of the anagrams hidden inside of it could be BEAT, ABLE, or LATE. Use your powers of deduction to unscramble the hidden words in each puzzle.
As you unscramble the words, keep an eye out for the bonus word! If you can find it, you’ll earn extra points.
Words within a Word enhances cognitive skills, including:
- Visual and auditory processing
- Fine motor skills
- Language and vocabulary development
- Concentration and memory
- Problem solving and logic
This game is a potent tool for growth as it supports the transfer of learning skills and enhanced mental capacity to new situations.
Thus, not only does it improve your performance at work and in your studies, but it also makes you better at solving problems in your day-to-day life.
Adults can play this game to exercise their brain power or use it as a fun way to help kids learn new words. So put on your thinking cap, and get ready to have some fun!
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11. Hangman
Hangman is a popular word game in which the player attempts to guess a word by guessing letters. The player is given a certain number of chances, and they lose if they cannot guess the word before running out of chances.
This website allows you to play alone, against one friend, or many people. It stimulates your brain and keeps you entertained.
Mental stimulation is helpful for adults of all ages, and this game can provide that for you. Playing with friends or family can also be a bonding experience. Playing alone is fine, too!
You can play this game online or offline. If playing offline, all you need is a pen and paper. Online, all you need is an internet connection. You can also download the app to play offline on your mobile device.
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12. MentalUP’s Remember Faces
This game is designed to improve your facial recognition skills. In this game, you will see a series of images, and you must correctly identify the individual in each image.
This game will help improve your memory, observation skills, and your ability to recognize faces.
The background music as you play also lifts the heavy veil of boredom that most memory games wear. Remember Faces is effective for improving your memory while also having some fun.
There are four different levels to this game, with each level getting progressively more difficult. This game is suitable for all ages, and it’s ideal for improving your memory.
Visual attention and facial recognition are both important cognitive skills. Remember Faces can help you to improve both of these skills.
This game is also available on iOS and Android devices.
13. Google’s Quick Draw
Quick Draw is a cool game where you have to draw an object within 20 seconds. The game will give you hints about what to draw. Quick Draw is really fun, and it’s an effective way to improve your drawing skills.
The challenge stimulates mental agility and is one of the reasons people enjoy playing it. You can categorize it as a fun memory game for adults because you need to remember what the drawing is and how to draw it.
Other mental skills that it enhances are problem-solving and creative thinking. When the 20 seconds are up, you can see how well you did and try to improve your score next time.
Additionally, speed and responsiveness are important if you want to win. If you can deploy them in this game, the same wits are transferable to other areas of your life.
Playing Quick Draw with children helps adults to spend time with them while also teaching the children how to focus and be patient.
14. Angry Birds 2
Adults tend to get angry, which is bad for anyone’s mental health. Do birds also get angry, and why is the Angry Birds 2 game so popular among adults?
The original Angry Birds game was released in 2009 and became an overnight sensation. The popularity of the game led to several subsequent releases, including Angry Birds 2 in 2015.
While the Angry Birds franchise is generally geared towards children, the second installment of the game is particularly popular among adults.
It may be because the game is more challenging than the first, and it requires more strategic thinking to complete.
Adults need fun memory games like this to keep their minds sharp, and Angry Birds 2 provides that challenge. The game is also visually stimulating, with vibrant colors and cute bird characters.
This game is thus instrumental for stress relief among adults and is enjoyable for players of all ages.
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15. Crossy Road
Why did the chicken cross the road?
To get to the other side!
This joke is so old; it’s practically a cliche. But that doesn’t make it any less funny. The age of this joke is what makes it funny. It’s a classic! What else is classic? How about aged adults playing Crossy Road to keep their memories sharp?
Crossy Road is an endless runner video game released on the App Store, developed and published by Hipster Whale. The player controls a character who must cross various roads without being hit by cars or other obstacles.
This arcade video game became one of the most popular games on iOS and Android devices, with over 100 million downloads.
The mental challenge and the need for quick reflexes make Crossy Road an excellent game for people of all ages, especially seniors.
So why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side and to keep your mind sharp!
Final Thoughts
Memory games are a great way to improve your memory while also having some fun. The variety and diversity of memory games for adults means that there’s something for everyone.
You’re sorted, whether you’re looking for a challenging game to improve your mental agility or a fun and easy game to play with your grandchildren. My favorites are Lumosity, MentalUP, and Dakim Brain Fitness.
Still, I’d try them all to see which ones work best if I were you. Remember, the secret to a reliable memory is exercise.
Cassie Riley has a passion for all things marketing and social media. She is a wife, mother, and entrepreneur. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, language, music, writing, and unicorns. Cassie is a lifetime learner, and loves to spend time attending classes, webinars, and summits.