Games that help with memory

Memory games challenge the mind and help the gray matter in our brains—the part that impacts memory—to grow and expand. Research has shown that just 15 minutes each day of brain training can improve brain function. Improving your memory can have a big impact on your work. Some main benefits include:. Better performance since you retain and learn new information better. Greater productivity since you have a strong working memory that allows you to retain information while using it.

Less stress since you will better remember information when you need it. Improved organization and ability to remember where things are. Here are the top games you can play to improve your memory. Crosswords are one of the most classic brain training games. These games can help test your vocabulary skills and draw on knowledge from history, science and popular culture.

You can perform crosswords online or through gaming apps or go with the more traditional route, such as printed books or newspapers. Crosswords are often used as a cognitive exercise to delay the onset of dementia, especially when made into a regular habit. Focus on puzzles that are challenging and keep your brain engaged.

The game of chess was designed to be a mentally intensive and intellectually challenging game. It requires reliance on short-term memory to fully analyze the board and create a strategy for each move. You will also have to anticipate the moves of your opponent and make sure each move works in a way to help you achieve your end goal. This action triggers your long-term memory so you are exercising both portions of your brain in a shifting pattern.

Jigsaw puzzles are effective brain training games, as they require you to work the left and right sides of the brain at once. Try alternating crosswords with other word-search games to keep your brain engaged. If you split your purchases up with a friend or family member, you can see who remembered the most items and in what order. Jigsaw puzzles are a fantastic tool for engaging short-term memory, since your brain has to sort through a series of colors and shapes in order to assemble a visual picture.

The first person declares he or she is packing a suitcase with one item; the next person repeats the declaration and adds an item. It will make the location of cards more difficult to remember. Ask a friend to grab a serving tray and a bunch of random items. Allow yourself a brief peek at the tray, then have it covered with a cloth.

Try to remember all of the items. You can also look at a picture online, then minimize the browser and try to remember the contents. It features more than a dozen exercises intended to help everything from short-term memory to hand-eye coordination.

Best for: Anyone who wants to boost their reaction time and reflexes, as well as their decision-making skills. Claims: Improves perceptual speed, visual short-term memory, and dual-task, divided-attention, and other skills. Its creators say it turns your PC into "a fitness room for the brain," assessing and developing key cognitive skills, tailoring the program to work on weak spots, and increasing in difficulty as your skills improve.

Claims: Speeds up brain function, sharpens ability to hear and discern sounds, and improves recall and cognition via a series of interactive exercises. By Nancy Matsumoto Updated September 06, Pin FB More. Best for: Folks who want an alternative to crossword puzzles to keep their minds sharp.

Best for: Users who want to maintain and improve cognitive-thinking skills. Best for: People who want to maintain and improve their mental sharpness and sensory skills.