Brain Training Apps Ranked
Before I dive into the research of ranking specific memory and brain training games, I should probably admit something: I’m not naturally drawn to puzzles.
When people talk about cognitive stimulation as one of the pillars of dementia prevention, they often mention crossword puzzles, Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, and other mentally engaging activities. While those may be great options for many people, they are not activities I naturally gravitate toward.
My background is in computers, marketing, and technology. I can spend hours staring at code trying to find the missing comma that’s preventing something from working. To me, that feels mentally engaging.
I have a friend who participates in a Lego building group. While some people enjoy building elaborate castles, ships, and airplanes, my brain immediately starts wondering whether there is a business opportunity to create a resale or exchange program for completed sets. Then I start wondering where all those completed Lego creations would go. My wife is very accommodating, but I’m not sure she’d appreciate the cost of buying, or our house gradually filling with Lego castles.
Traditional jigsaw puzzles have some practical advantages. You can often find them at thrift stores for just a few dollars, and completed puzzles can be stacked and slid under the bed when you’re done. But then I’d need to buy some sort of card table to assemble them because the dining room table already has the laundry that needs folding. And, remember, the challenge for me is lack of interest. My wife now enjoys pointing out puzzles whenever we “socially engage” by walking through flea markets or resale shops. I suspect she’s testing whether I’ve forgotten that I don’t actually enjoy puzzles.
Because I enjoy technology, my first thought was to use a tablet for cognitive stimulation. Personally, I prefer an iPad, but Android tablets offer similar options. Both are super lightweight, small form factor, and easy to carry around. I even tried purchasing a $99 tablet from Amazon once, hoping to save some cash. I quickly realized that cheap tablets are painfully slow to start, slow to load, and freeze up frequently.
You may prefer an iPad, Android tablet, Chromebook, or desktop computer. That’s OK. Use the device your most comfortable with. Or should we not use digital devices? Are apps just as good as the paperback sudoku and wordsearch books and physical games?
I asked AI: Are brain training iPad apps just as effective as traditional puzzles, word searches, Sudoku books, and physical games when it comes to cognitive stimulation and potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline?
AI Responded: “Yes, iPad apps can be just as effective as paperback Sudoku books, word search books, and physical brain games for cognitive stimulation, provided they are used regularly and are engaging to the individual. Current research suggests that the cognitive benefits come primarily from the mental challenge itself rather than whether the activity is performed on paper or on a screen. Both formats can help exercise attention, memory, problem-solving, processing speed, and other thinking skills. However, each has advantages and disadvantages. Some people find touchscreen apps more motivating because they offer variety, adaptive difficulty levels, and instant feedback, while others prefer paper-based activities because they are easier on the eyes, free from digital distractions, and may feel more comfortable or familiar. For most adults, the best choice is the one they enjoy enough to use consistently, and a combination of digital and physical activities may provide the greatest long-term engagement. Importantly, neither apps nor paper puzzles have been proven to prevent dementia on their own, but both can be valuable components of an overall cognitive stimulation strategy.”
Which Brain Games Are Worth Your Time?
Once I was satisfied that digital brain training activities could be a reasonable option, another question came to mind; Which games are actually worth playing?
Online searches will often recommend apps such as Lumosity, Peak, and Impulse. These platforms may offer useful exercises, but many of their most advanced features require paid subscriptions. I’m an average guy with an average bank account and don’t want to spend a fortune on subscriptions. Also, exactly what games are most beneficial? I like Checkers but is that the best game to play?
What types of games and puzzles appear to provide the most meaningful cognitive challenge?
Like I said, I enjoy playing checkers. But is checkers among the best options? Would chess provide a greater mental challenge? What about Sudoku, crossword puzzles, memory matching games, or strategy card games?
To explore this question, I asked AI to evaluate and rank the following list of popular and recommended memory games:
- Sudoku
- Crossword puzzles
- Chess
- Checkers
- Backgammon
- Go
- Memory matching games
- Logic puzzles
- Maze puzzles
- Jigsaw puzzles
- Word searches
- Picture recall exercises
- Brain teasers
- Riddles
- Word association games
- Pattern recognition challenges
- Strategy card games
The goal is to help myself, and readers, understand which activities may provide broader cognitive engagement than others.
AI’s Answer
If the goal is dementia prevention and long-term cognitive health, the most valuable games and puzzles are generally those that challenge multiple cognitive skills at the same time, especially strategic thinking, memory, planning, problem-solving, and learning. Research suggests that mentally stimulating activities are associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline, but no single game has been proven to prevent dementia on its own.
For most adults, the best approach is not to play every game on the list. Instead, choose one or two activities that you genuinely enjoy and will continue doing consistently. Activities that combine strategy, decision-making, memory, and learning tend to provide broader cognitive stimulation than activities focused mainly on simple repetition or visual scanning.
Based on current evidence and expert opinion from cognitive aging research, the following ranking reflects the likely overall cognitive value of these activities for most healthy adults seeking to maintain brain health.
Recommended Ranking for Cognitive Health
Tier 1: Highest Priority
- Chess
- Go
- Strategy Card Games
- Backgammon
- Logic Puzzles
- Crossword Puzzles
- Sudoku
Why?
These activities engage multiple brain systems simultaneously, including:
- Executive function (planning and decision-making)
- Working memory
- Attention
- Problem-solving
- Pattern recognition
- Learning and adaptation
Chess and Go are particularly demanding because players must continuously analyze, predict, remember, and adjust strategies.
Tier 2: Valuable Additions
- Word Association Games
- Pattern Recognition Challenges
- Picture Recall
- Brain Teasers
- Riddles
- Memory Match
Why?
These activities specifically target memory, language, recall, mental flexibility, and processing speed. They provide good cognitive exercise but generally engage fewer cognitive domains than complex strategy games.
Tier 3: Helpful but More Limited
- Jigsaw Puzzles
- Checkers
- Maze Puzzles
- Word Search
Why?
These activities can be enjoyable and mentally engaging but tend to rely more heavily on visual processing, attention, or a narrower set of cognitive skills. They may be beneficial as part of a broader mix of activities but are less cognitively demanding overall.
Potential Benefits
- Encourages lifelong learning and mental engagement
- May help maintain attention and concentration
- Can strengthen problem-solving abilities
- Supports memory and recall skills
- May improve processing speed
- Encourages strategic thinking and planning
- Some games provide social interaction, which is independently associated with better cognitive health
- Can reduce boredom and increase quality of life
- May help build “cognitive reserve,” the brain’s ability to compensate for age-related changes
Potential Risks or Limitations
- No game has been proven to prevent Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias
- Improvements often occur primarily in the specific skill being practiced
- Excessive focus on a single game may limit exposure to other beneficial activities
- Some activities may become too easy over time, reducing cognitive challenge
- Frustration or anxiety can occur if games are overly difficult
- Sedentary gaming should not replace physical activity, social engagement, healthy sleep, or proper nutrition
- Research often shows associations rather than direct cause-and-effect relationships
What the Research Says
Researchers consistently find that people who regularly participate in cognitively stimulating activities tend to have a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Activities involving strategy, problem-solving, learning, and social interaction appear particularly beneficial.
However, studies have not identified a single “best” game. Most experts believe cognitive stimulation works best when activities are:
- Challenging
- Enjoyable
- Varied
- Continued over many years
Many neurologists and aging researchers emphasize that cognitive health is strongest when mental activities are combined with physical exercise, quality sleep, healthy nutrition, social engagement, and management of cardiovascular risk factors.
Strength of Evidence
Moderate
Why not Strong?
- Strong evidence supports cognitive stimulation as part of a healthy brain lifestyle.
- Evidence that any specific game prevents dementia remains limited.
- Most studies are observational rather than randomized clinical trials.
- Benefits likely come from long-term engagement in mentally challenging activities rather than from any single puzzle or game.
Who May Benefit Most
- Healthy adults seeking to maintain cognitive function
- Adults over age 50
- Individuals with a family history of dementia
- People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
- Retirees seeking intellectually engaging hobbies
- Individuals looking for alternatives to passive entertainment
Who Should Be Cautious
- Individuals experiencing significant memory loss should consult a healthcare professional for evaluation rather than relying on brain games alone.
- People with vision, hearing, or motor impairments may need adapted versions of certain games.
- Those who become frustrated by highly competitive games may benefit from cooperative or simpler activities.
Practical Recommendations
- Choose activities you genuinely enjoy, because consistency matters more than the “perfect” game.
- Prioritize chess, Go, strategy card games, backgammon, logic puzzles, crosswords, or Sudoku if selecting only a few.
- Rotate among several activities to challenge different cognitive abilities.
- Increase difficulty over time to keep the brain challenged.
- Whenever possible, play with other people to add a social component.
- Combine cognitive activities with regular physical exercise.
- Avoid spending all your cognitive stimulation time on passive activities such as watching television.
- Treat brain games as one part of a comprehensive dementia prevention plan, not a standalone solution.
Key Takeaways
- Strategy-based games generally provide the broadest cognitive challenge.
- Chess and Go are among the most cognitively demanding activities on the list.
- Crosswords, Sudoku, and logic puzzles remain excellent choices for most adults.
- Word searches and maze puzzles are enjoyable but typically provide narrower cognitive stimulation.
- No single game has been proven to prevent dementia.
- Consistency is more important than choosing the “perfect” activity.
- Variety may stimulate more cognitive systems than repeating one game exclusively.
- Social interaction can enhance the benefits of cognitive activities.
- Cognitive stimulation works best alongside exercise, sleep, nutrition, and social engagement.
- The strongest evidence supports an overall cognitively active lifestyle rather than any specific puzzle or game.
Important Perspective
It is important to remember that no puzzle, game, app, or mental exercise has been proven to prevent dementia or Alzheimer’s disease on its own.
Researchers generally believe that cognitive stimulation may help build and maintain cognitive reserve, which may help the brain function more effectively as people age. However, cognitive health is influenced by many factors, including physical activity, sleep quality, nutrition, cardiovascular health, social engagement, education, genetics, and overall lifestyle.
Even individuals who regularly participate in mentally stimulating activities can still develop dementia, including advanced dementia and late-stage dementia. Likewise, no brain training app can guarantee protection against future cognitive decline or loss of decision-making capacity.
The goal is not perfection. The goal is to regularly challenge your brain in ways that you genuinely enjoy and are likely to continue doing over time.
Conclusion
While I like Checkers, apparently it’s not the best option available! But seriously, the best cognitive activity is often the one you’ll actually stick with.
If you enjoy crossword puzzles, great. Some may say Sudoku keeps them engaged, that’s excellent. And others may prefer strategy games, brain teasers, memory games, or even checkers! Whatever fits your lifestyle better will be worthwhile options.
By understanding the strengths of different activities, you can choose the games and challenges that match your interests while supporting the Cognitive Stimulation pillar of dementia prevention.
After all, consistency matters more than forcing yourself to complete activities you don’t enjoy.
If you have discovered a free app, game, website, or puzzle resource that you find engaging, please share it in the comments. Your recommendation may help another reader find a cognitive activity they’ll enjoy for years to come. Happy Hunting!!
