Nearly 20% of adults over the age of 60 experience memory loss and cognitive problems. Learning how to improve problem-solving skills now could sharpen your brain for the future. Developing your problem-solving and cognitive skills can benefit your career and daily life as well.
Here are a few adult games you can use to sharpen your mental skill set. Playing these games will improve skills you use on a routine basis.
Read on (and start playing) today!
Sudoku
Sudoku uses a 9×9 grid to encourage your cognitive skills. To win, you’ll need to fill each box within the grid using a number from one to nine. You can’t repeat numbers within the same 3×3 box, row, or column.
You can play Sudoku on Zoom with others, play online alone, or complete puzzles by hand.
Some digital platforms allow you to use annotation features to determine which numbers are unavailable.
Crosswords
Improve your verbal and problem-solving skills with crosswords! Crosswords allow you to connect words using unique, familiar clues. You’ll need to use your critical-thinking skills while using these clues to ensure your choices are accurate.
While playing, you’ll need to think critically about the surrounding words to make sure you’re choosing the correct answer for each space. Remember, the words interconnect; one wrong answer could have a domino effect.
You can purchase crossword puzzle books to complete by hand, or complete the New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle online. Dictionary.com offers a free daily crossword you can complete, too!
Try completing more difficult puzzles over time to expand your skill set. If you’re struggling to solve the clues, read! Reading about pop culture references can help you make the proper connections.
If you’re not a fan of crossword puzzles, try word search puzzles instead. Try timing yourself to make it more challenging!
Escape Rooms
Learn how to improve skills like problem-solving by participating in escape rooms. Escape rooms are timed games. Groups are required to work together to solve puzzles to escape the locked room in an allotted period of time.
Most escape rooms use themes to keep participants engaged.
You’ll need to complete all puzzles in the room within one or two hours. Otherwise, you’ll lose!
Puzzles can range from math puzzles to word association puzzles. Some Escape Games use clues to further complicate puzzles while others require physical agility to solve. Working with a team can improve your cognitive skills, problem-solving skills, and time-management skills. Work on a single puzzle too long and you could run out of time!
You can participate in an escape room in person or online.
Digital escape rooms are available in two forms: a choose-your-own-adventure format or a Zoom room (often led by a host).
To complete puzzles in a virtual escape room, you’ll enter a video meeting and follow the prompts provided. In some cases, you’ll screen share a Google Form and work with others to escape.
Interested? Check out this code breaking escape room and challenge yourself!
Murder Mysteries
If you’re a fan of story-based games, consider playing a murder mystery. With these games, you’ll take on either the role of a suspect, detective, or killer. While playing, you’ll read lines from a script and search for clues to find the murderer.
These games will require you to analyze other characters’ behaviors. You’ll need to search for hidden clues in the script, too.
Pay attention to conversations to piece together the clues you’re provided before the murderer kills you.
Treasure Hunts
With virtual treasure hunts, players will use prompts and hints to locate new clues from one webpage to the next. Eventually, the clues will lead you to hidden treasure on the final page.
Most treasure hunts follow a specific theme. For example, you can participate in a pirate adventure.
Some treasure hunts require you to solve a mystery, too.
Poetry Challenges
If you’re not a fan of math, science, or logic, expand your cognitive skills with poetry challenges. These challenges require you to rely on your writing skills, making them ideal for language lovers.
You’ll receive a limited word bank you can use to create a poem or story.
Different types of poetry challenges include:
- Ransom note stories/poems
- Page poems
- Poetry magnets
- Random word generator poems
- Found poems/stories
Let your creativity take over as you participate in these challenges.
Moral Challenges
If you prefer ethical over factual puzzles, try a moral challenge. These challenges require you to use your decision-making skills to tackle ethical dilemmas and social puzzles.
You can find moral challenges online via:
- Quandary
- Dilemma
- Mortality play
- Scruples
- Moral machine
You can participate in a group to exercise real-life conflict resolution skills.
Virtual Hackathons
Virtual hackathons involve designing or pitching a new product or solution in an allotted amount of time. Hackathons first originated in the programming world. They’re often used to encourage the development of new apps.
You can also participate in virtual hackathons with a team to design solutions to specific problems.
Improv
Think fast! Improv games are a great way to stretch your problem-solving skills. You can use exercises to keep the scene moving in an entertaining way alongside other participants.
A few improv games include scenes from a hat, banned words, and miracle cure.
To play scenes from a hat, participants can toss prompts into a hat before one is selected for the group to act out. With banned words, performers can’t say certain words, encouraging you to think of synonyms to act out a scene. With miracle cure, you’ll use a random object to solve a scene partner’s random problem.
Game On: Learn How to Improve Problem-Solving Skills
Learning how to improve problem-solving skills can set you up for success at work or in life. These adult games are an effective way to keep your mind sharp. Have fun while improving essential life skills with these engaging games!
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