Looking to play games that help to sharpen your mind and develop your strategic thinking skills? In this article, we dive deep to explore 10 games that would help you refine your strategic abilities.
Video games with strategic elements can help in stimulating cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, calculated thinking, and efficient decision-making. Since the beginning of gaming, strategy games have been widely important for players to brush up on their minds and strategic skills. Here, we will discuss some games that can sharpen your mind, assessing the key involvement in brain training and problem-solving.
These games help your brain adapt to different types of in-game scenarios. But first, let’s look at why video games are effective for your mind.
Why Video Games are Good for Sharpening Your Mind
Video games are helpful in improving cognitive activities. They boost strategic thinking and allow players to make decisions faster. Furthermore, video games are also good for improving attention span and building memory.
Here is why video games support sharpening the mind:
Improved Cognitive Flexibility
Many video games with strategic elements enable players to make decisions quickly and adapt to new strategies with the changing gaming sequence. For example, rummy card games can present the opportunity to change strategies as per their opponent’s move. In recent years, research has shown that video games cause significant transformation in brain structure and enhance the individual’s senses and attention span.
Gamers become More Attentive
Video games make players more attentive as they can disregard distractions. In real-world situations, enhanced focus would allow the players to elevate their concentration.
Better Reasoning Skills
Video games can also encourage players to improve their reasoning skills as they navigate through different complex situations using their strategic thinking. Different types of puzzle and strategy games can improve the reasoning skills of the players, considering their engagement in the games.
Now, since the importance of video games for getting a sharp mind is clear, let’s look at 10 games of different genres that would elevate the strategic skills of gamers.
10 Strategy-Boosting Games to Play
Here are 10 games that you can play to enhance your strategic understanding and polish your gameplay.
A23 Rummy
Genre: Rummy card game
Publisher: HeadDigital Works Private Limited
Reason to Include in this List:
A23 Rummy tops this list because it brings the traditional fun and strategic elements of rummy games to mobile. This game involves essential decision-making. The decision-making often happens blindly, because players cannot see the cards the opponents are using.
Playing rummy games also helps in developing the anticipation ability of the players as they can plan their moves accordingly to the gameplay of their opponents. A23 rummy game is an ideal game for players who want to enhance their focus and develop their attention span. This is an effective online card-based strategy game that requires adaptability and flexibility from the players to make effective moves.
Chess: Play and Learn
Genre: Strategy board game online
Publisher: Chess.com
Reason to Include in this List:
Chess is an evergreen strategy board game, and it has been introduced on mobile. In this game, players can learn while playing the game. Similarly, like the rummy card game, chess is highly strategic and requires the player to engage in long-term thinking, planning ahead of the opponent. Without including chess, this list will be incomplete because chess is one of the best games that offers strategic displays to the players.
Sudoku.com – Classic Sudoku
Genre: Puzzle game
Publisher: Easybrain
Reason to Include in this List:
This is a free numerical puzzle game that will help you train your brain and sharpen your mind. Whether you want to relax or want to make your mind active, this game is ideal for effectively sharpening the mind.
Civilization VI
Genre: Turn-based Strategy
Publisher: Aspyr Media Inc
Reason to Include in this List:
This game is an epic turn-based strategy game where you transform a civilization from the prehistoric age to the modern age. In this game, players take the role of the leader and explore different cities.
One of the best features of this game is its tactical depth. This game features Word Congress, which enables the player to take a diplomatic stance. Civilization VI involves a lot of customization options for the players, where they can change their strategy as per the game conditions.
Mini Metro
Genre: Puzzle Strategy games
Publisher: Dinosaur Polo Club
Reason to Include in this List:
Mini Metro enables players to design a strategic subway map for a city by connecting metro stations. This game is an exemplary game that supports the adaptability of the players. Considering the changing metro lines, players have to adjust their strategy by redrawing new subway lines. However, players have to make crucial decisions because they have limited resources.
Starcraft II
Genre: Real-time Strategy
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Reason to Include in this List:
This game has been included in this list because of its strategic depth. It has also been crucial for the players to manage the in-game resources and strategic tactics. Starcraft II has different factions which has balanced strategic involvement in the game. Hence, every action from the players requires making conscious strategic decisions.
Players who frequently play Starcraft II have shown increased connectivity in particular areas of the brain. Improved cognitive engagement has been shown in areas of the brain that influence players’ visualization, reasoning, and kinetic control.
Scrabble Go
Genre: Puzzle game
Publisher: Scopely
Reason to Include in this List:
Scrabble GO can be considered a classic strategy game that replicates the classic word game. It helps the player to build a robust vocabulary. Furthermore, it also helps with strategic thinking and wordplay, which requires high engagement from the players.
Luminosity
Genre: Brain Training Game.
Publisher: Windmill Games
Reason to Include in this List:
This game has more than 25 mini-games, which will help you develop custom-tailored brain training for the game. For different types of players, this game offers different types of brain-sharpening games that will elevate your cognitive capabilities.
XCOM 2
Genre: Tactical role-playing game.
Publisher: Feral Interactive
Reason to Include in this List:
XCOM 2 has great turn-based tactical combat where players need to make quick decisions and use resources responsibly. Although the gameplay mechanics can be a bit difficult for new players, it is crucial to understand their strategic depth.
Clash of Clans
Genre: Base-building, Real-time Strategy Game
Publisher: Supercell
Reason to Include in this List:
A combination of city-building games and real-time combat games, Clash of Clans allows players to make a base and effectively allocate resources. This game has smoother combat tactics, and it requires players to develop strategic troop composition, depending on the enemy base.
This game has been included in this list because of this game’s ability to attract players through its engaging strategic gameplay mechanics. Playing Clash of Clans will help you assess your level as you can play with real-time opponents.
In Summary
Video games, especially games with complex gaming mechanics and strategic engagement, can help you enhance your thinking. Many video games offer open-ended situations for players when they are required to think and strategize their next move. Along with fun, these kinds of games challenge the thinking process of the gamers.
Play Games that Sharpen Your Mind!
Want to play games that sharpen your mind and elevate your brain function? Use this list and play any of these games to experience increased focus and mind development.
