Top 10 Brain Games That Will Blow Your Mind

Introduction: There is no shortage of brain-training apps on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. But did you know Elevate was the first app of its kind? Yes, with over 50 million downloads, Elevate is a popular brain-training app that is designed to improve your memory, focus, communication skills, math, writing and reading comprehension skills. The company claims that if you train at least three times a week, you can see dramatic improvements in your confidence and other skills. The app provides a personalized training program to maximize results. When you download the app, you have to enter your age and choose the areas that you want to work on. You need to log in daily to practice, play games and take tests. After each test, you get a score and rank, which helps you to track your progress in the selected areas and identify where you need to work more. The level of difficulty is based on the age of the user.

Here are some salient features of Elevate app:

1. Over 35 games dedicated to improving cognitive skills.
2. Daily mini tests.
3. A detailed progress report.
4. A calendar to track your progress and winning streaks.

Play

Here are some areas available on Elevate-

Self-Awareness: After signing in, you are asked a series of questions. The questions can be either close ended or open ended. Answer the questions truthfully and you will be prompted to choose from multiple skill sets. You can also select one area where you think you need more improvement. There are daily quizzes and mini games that help you improve your skills. You can check your progress under the “Performance” tab.

Focus: This area relates to improving your focus and concentration. Of course, you will be asked whether you want to work in this area or not. If you do, check the box and you will be prompted to a series of mini quizzes.

Working Memory: The app features a training program to boost your memory. This program helps you to retrieve information from your working memory and eliminate any tip-of-the-tongue moments. You are presented with clues that can be used to identify a word in the quiz and spell it out using the provided letters. The program also features a reading test where a text will be displayed for some time and you have to answer the questions on the basis of your reading of the text.

Reading: Here you can improve your reading comprehension skills. When you sign up with Elevate, you have to enter your age. In accordance with your age, you are presented with certain reading activities. These activities are useful to develop focus and critical thinking skills.

Writing: Here you have to answer various writing questions. There are quizzes on redundancy, double negatives, synonyms and much more.

Cost: The game is available for free to download onto your preferred mobile device. You have to deposit a minimum of Rs. 25/- to play cash games/tournaments.

Platform: Android, iOS and the official website

Introduction: With over 50 million users on board, Junglee Rummy is the most trusted site for online rummy. It is the best platform to play Indian Rummy online on your preferred mobile device. The platform offers a wide variety of rummy games, including free and cash games and tournaments. Log in to the Junglee Rummy app/website and pick a rummy variant of your choice to start playing. The gameplay on the rummy app is surreal and gives you a feeling of playing the game in a real-world club. Team Junglee has designed the best user interface and graphics to give you the most realistic experience. Also, great background music keeps playing during the game to elevate your fun quotient. Besides, there are attractive welcome bonuses, offers, rewards and prizes that make you come back for more. The platform hosts daily, weekly, monthly and special occasion tournaments with prize pools worth lakhs and crores.

Play: Indian Rummy is played by 2 to 6 players using one or two standard card decks. On Junglee Rummy, the game setting is similar to real-world rummy. All the participants are seated at a table and the card decks are kept at the centre. Each player gets 13 cards and they must be arranged in required combinations to win. The combinations include sequences and sets.

Sequence: Three or more cards of the same suit in succession make a sequence. When there is no Joker involved, it’s a pure sequence, whereas a combination in which a Joker has been used to replace a missing card is an impure sequence. To win a rummy game, you need at least two sequences. Out of these two sequences, at least one must be a pure sequence.

Examples: 1. Pure Sequences: 3♣-4♣-5♣; J♥-Q♥-K♥

Set: Three or four cards of the same rank but different suits form a set. A Joker can also be used in a set. A valid declaration cannot have more than two sets.

Examples: 1. Without a Joker: 2♥-2♣-2♠; 10♣-10♦-10♥-10♠
2. With a Joker: A♣-A♥-3♦ (WJ); 6♠-6♦-6♣-PJ

Tips to Win

1. Prioritize creating a pure sequence: A pure sequence is mandatory to win a rummy game. So focus on creating a pure sequence first.
2. Outsmart your opponents: In rummy, you need to outsmart your opponents to walk the winning path. This is done by guesstimating the cards in their hands. Keep a close eye on the cards picked by them from the discard pile. Suppose a rival picks the 6 of Hearts from the discard pile, , do not discard the 7 or 5 of Hearts or the 6 of any suit, if you have them, even if you don’t need them.
3. Learn rummy rules well: Rummy is a game of skill and you must understand all rummy rules in detail to play the game well. Also, learn some tricks to outsmart your opponents.

Cost: You can download the game for free. There are in-app items that can be purchased for Rs. 54.88 to Rs. 6600.

Platform: Android, iOS and the official website

Introduction: Are you a chess fan? Now you can checkmate in the virtual world on Chess.com. It is one of the most popular platforms for online chess games. Sign up or log in to your account and start playing with real players. The platform hosts over a million chess games every day. The games are available for free but to avail yourself of special services, you have to buy subscriptions.

There are different varieties of chess games available on Chess.com. For example, live chess is available in rapid, blitz and bullet time controls. Pick from over 20 board themes, backgrounds and 3D chess pieces. The game also has a chat feature. That means you can meet new people and make new friends. There is also a chess forum where you can interact with fellow chess players and discuss strategies and tactics to win the game. Along with that, you can also read articles and blog posts by coaches and trainers.

Play: The gameplay is similar to that of the original chess game. Chess is a strategy board game played by two players on a checkerboard. The board is divided into 64 white and black squares. Each player gets 16 pieces to play with. The pieces are arranged on the two opposite sides of the board. They include a king, a queen, two knights, two bishops, two rooks and eight pawns. Every piece has a certain ability to maneuver on the board. The queen is the most powerful piece and the pawn is the weakest piece in the game.

The objective of the game is to checkmate or directly attack the king of your opponent. For that, you need to block the king so that it does not escape. Either way, if the other important pieces get eliminated from the game, the king automatically becomes vulnerable.

You can attack and eliminate your opponent’s pieces from the board throughout the game. This can be done by moving your pieces strategically across the board. You must plan and strategize continuously to eliminate the opponent’s pieces from the game. The game ends for you when you cannot play a move within the given time limit.

Chess is an exciting brain game. The game helps improve your analytical and logical reasoning and boosts memory. It also calms your mind and allows you to think more creatively.

Tips to Win

1. Start with a pawn: When you open with a pawn, it moves two squares forward in front of either the king or the queen. Starting with a pawn will open the pathway for the bishop and the queen. This is important as you cannot play them unless the pawns are in the way.
2. Play knights and bishops before the queen: Before playing the queen, move the knights and bishops and play them to the centre of the board. This is only possible when you play the pawns.

Platform: Android, iOS, and Windows

Introduction: Do you like playing puzzle games? Monument Valley brings a unique puzzle game to your mobile phone. It was released in 2014. The game world has unimaginable geometry and architecture that defies the laws of gravity. You play as Ida, the princess, and lead her through amazing mazes of impossible objects and optical illusions. You take her through mysterious monuments, discover hidden paths, and outplay the Crow people in the game.

Monument Valley is a perfect brain game for both youngsters and adults. The game can be a little frustrating, especially when you are stuck in a puzzle. But it gets exciting once you figure out how to solve the puzzle.

Play: As said earlier, you get to control Princess Ida. You have to take her through the eye-catching landscapes to seek forgiveness for a sin she has committed. There are mazes of optical illusions and impossible objects. The game is in isometric view and you can drag and turn certain parts of the buildings to find hidden passages for Ida. Every level of the game has a different mechanic. This is based on your perception. If you position an element well, a hidden path appears for Ida. You also come across various obstacles like Crow people who try to block the character’s path.

Monument Valley includes a camera mode where you traverse a level made of screenshots. It also includes filters that are quite similar to the ones found on Instagram.

Tips to Win

1. A game of perception: n Monument Valley, you will find a world full of optical illusions, and the game is based on your perception and how you look at things. If you are stuck somewhere, make sure to look from all the possible angles. For example, a staircase may appear from one angle and disappear completely from another.
2. Explore the landscape: Before starting the game, take a look around and explore all the things around you. Before you move or rotate anything, inspect it and see what would be the best course of action for Ida. If you make a switch, do not forget to note it.
3. Use pulleys and switches: The Crow people tend to undo switches in some levels of the game. In such a case, you can use pulleys or barricades to hold and divert them.

Platform: Android, iOS, Windows, and Nintendo Switch

Introduction: Do you love puzzle games? Try The Room! This is an intriguing puzzle game developed by Fireproof Games. The plot of the game includes a gloomy room with a massive box. As the game progresses, you will get a series of letters and clues that need to be decoded in order to open the box. There are four boxes and you will have to find relevant items to crack the code. Sounds simple, right? The game has engaging, realistic graphics that add an element of thrill to it. With its incredible visuals, the game may keep you hooked for hours.

Play: The Room is a 3D puzzle game with a minimal storyline. You are presented with a mysterious box in a room in the game and you need to solve the puzzles around the box. While solving the puzzles, you get some notes from the author who has solved the mystery box. The objective of the game is to unlock each of the mystery boxes.

At the beginning of the game, you are presented with one out of the four puzzle boxes. The first box is more of a tutorial that demonstrates game controls and shows the ways to maneuver in and around the box. You also get a small list of items like keys of the compartments and special lens. Using the special lens, you see things that are made up of null elements. The lens is also useful to see the secrets of the null elements.

The Room is an amazing puzzle adventure game with intricate puzzles that will blow your mind.

Tips to Win

1. If you are stuck somewhere, use an item from the inventory or move to another part of the puzzle.
2. It might be difficult to use the eyepiece and you may find yourself stuck in the game. Tap on the eyepiece to reveal secret items and other areas.

Platform: Android and iOS

Introduction: Do you like scribbling on a piece of paper? We all do. Thankfully, Brain It On! comes as a saviour for many puzzle lovers. It is a mathematical puzzle game where you can draw shapes to complete the objective at different levels. The goals can be as simple as sorting colored balls to as difficult as making a ball touch the right wall. When you draw anything, it becomes solid and starts interacting with the game surrounding. For example: If you draw a circle, it becomes solid and bounces for a while. You cannot control the objects once you draw them.

Brain It On! has a simple game design and it can be enjoyed by players of all ages. The game also has a Facebook feature where you can challenge and compete with your friends.

Play: There are over 100 levels in the game. They are divided into groups of 20 (each level consists of 5 sub-levels) and you have to solve at least 2-5 such levels to collect stars and advance to next levels. You win 3 stars on completing every puzzle: one star for solving, one for completing it within a given number of shapes, and one for finishing the puzzle within the time limit. The stars can also be purchased from the in-game store for $0.99 each.

Each puzzle has a different objective. You achieve the objective by drawing shapes on the screen. When you advance to higher levels, the puzzles get more difficult.

Tips to Win

1. Sometimes it may get frustrating to solve a puzzle at higher levels. Take a breather and relax. There are multiple ways to solve a puzzle. You can resume the game and find a solution the next day.

Platform: Android and iOS

Introduction: Do you remember the “Connect the dots” column in the newspaper? Brain Dots will remind you of that. A puzzle game with over 50 millions downloads, Brain Dots will let your creative juices flow. Yes, you can use your creativity to find a solution to the puzzle. The game has simple rules and the objective is to make the two dots touch each other. Sounds easy? Well, as you advance to higher levels, the puzzles are anything but easy. But if you are a regular player, you can clear any difficult level easily.

Brain Dots has clean design and the play is simple and straightforward. Anyone can play this game as there is no age limit. The game tests your logical reasoning and analytical skills. There are many interesting features including one where you can create a stage and your own puzzle for everyone on the platform.

Play: Brain Dots has very simple gameplay. The objective is to connect the two dot friends that are blue and pink. You have to draw lines and shapes to connect the dots to clear every level. If a dot falls off or the dots do not touch each other, the game is over.

There are some simple levels that can be solved within seconds, while others require out-of-the-box thinking. The solutions are as simple as drawing a single line to sketching killer triangles. You can unlock new levels by using the points earned for clearing a level. You also have to collect different items such as pens, colored pencils, crayons, feather quills and paintbrushes that are available at higher levels.

Brain Dots is a fun puzzle game that keeps you glued to your screen for several hours at a time.

Tips to Win

1. The game has many obstacles that keep the two dots separated. For example, some areas are sealed, which makes it difficult to draw the objects. In other areas, there might be lasers to turn off and much more. In such cases, try different ways to solve the puzzle.
2. There is no time limit in the game. This means that you can take your time to think and find a solution for the puzzle.

Introduction: Do you remember playing rectangular maze games? If you loved playing those games, you will definitely love Mekorama. With over 10 millions downloads from the Google Play Store, this game is a fun puzzle that resembles Monument Valley and Captain Toad. There are over 50 levels in the game and the objective is to guide a cute robot through the map to reach a red marker. Along with guiding the robot, you can move levers and manipulate the platform to open new paths on the map.

Mekorama is a challenging puzzle game and it tests your mental ability and patience. Even though the game is similar to Monument Valley, it has a peculiar style and mechanics that keep you hooked for hours.

Play: There are over 50 levels in the game. The objective is to control the robot named ‘B’ and guide it to exit the map. The controls of the game are simple. Tap anywhere on the map to move the robot and start the game. B can walk up the stairs and go in water but it cannot jump.

To move the robot, tap on it and slide your finger to change the orientation of the map. Changing the orientation of the map is useful, especially when you want to get to the end of the map.

If the robot falls, it cannot move further.If that happens, pause and restart the game.

There are fewer obstacles at higher levels, but other robots can be dangerous in the game.

Platform: Android and iOS

Introduction: With over 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store, Flow Free is one of the most popular puzzle games of all time. Released in 2012, the game requires you to connect the same-colored circles. Just swipe the screen to form a continuous line. The game has different levels that are available to play for free. You can choose between 5x5 and 9x9 play screens. When the size of the grid increases, the game becomes more difficult. You can purchase more difficult levels for $0.99 to $1.99. Every level has over 30 stages. In the Time Trial mode, your speed and accuracy are tested as each game may last from 30 seconds to 4 minutes.

Flow Free is easy to learn and play. The game is recommended for kids aged 5 and above.

Play: You are presented with a puzzle that has a square grid. Some grids are filled with colored dots. The objective of the game is to connect the same-colored dots by drawing pipes between them. The entire grid is occupied by pipes that may not intersect each other. When you complete a level, a check mark will appear that indicates that the puzzle is solved. On finishing a level with the least moves, you earn a star.

Tips to Win

1. Plan: Before the game begins, you should scan the puzzle and think well about how to make the first move. This is quite helpful to avoid any mistakes in the rest of the game.
2. Play practice games: Practice playing in the Time Trial mode after completing a few levels. In this mode, you can choose to play on a grid of 5x5 to 9x9 and set a time limit.

Brain Games FAQs

Is chess.com an app?

Chess.com is an online platform created for chess game enthusiasts. It is the largest community of online chess as people from all walks of life play on this platform. After a huge success of the online website, the makers had also developed an online application that is available on both Android and iOS devices.

How much does the Elevate app cost?

You can download and use the Elevate app for free. But, there are a few in-app purchases that may cost you between $0.99 to $159.99.

Is Monument Valley free?

No. Monument Valley is not a free game. It can be downloaded for ?260 from Google Play Store and for ?349 from the App Store.

How many levels are there in Mekorama?

There are over 50 levels in the Mekorama game.

Is the rummy game good for the brain?

Yes, rummy is a good brain game. This game tests your analytical, logical and decision making skills. If you have these skills, you can definitely excel in rummy card games. If not, you can always develop them by playing the game on a regular basis.

What are some best free brain game apps?

Brain training game apps are designed to improve your cognitive skills such as memory, concentration, logical thinking, analytical reasoning and much more. You can train your brain by playing various games on the following apps:

1. Luminosity
2. Junglee Rummy
3. Elevate - Brain Training
4. Peak
5. MentalUP Educational Games
6. Memorado
7. Eidetic
8. CogniFit