Gaming can be an increasingly consuming hobby to have. It can take hours, even days, before you realise the sun has gone up and set at least once since you started playing. And not only that, at times, gaming can be incredibly heavy on the brain. And needing a break once in a while isn’t a weakness, it’s actually really healthy to step away, relax and give your brain something else to focus on.
But what do you focus on? The thing is, there are actually so many games you can play that aren’t mentally taxing, but can still challenge you.Â
Let’s look at 5 such games.
Solitaire
Solitaire is one of those games that’s easy to play alone or with others, with physical cards or online. AKA it’s extremely flexible. And it’s the ultimate low-stakes game too. You just need to have enough pattern recognition to keep you present without it demanding too much from you. Perfect for tired brains that aren’t quite ready to stop just yet.
You can play 24/7 Solitaire in your browser between games, or you can grab a pack of cards if you have the space and play a physical game.
Alternatively, if you prefer different card games, there are FreeCell, Spider and Yukon, to name a few different games. All you need is a quick 10 minutes between your sessions, and you’ll feel better for the break.
Sudoku
All you need here is pure logic, no reflexes, just an eye for numbers, and a brain that likes to figure out puzzles. It’s the perfect palette cleanser for gaming, as it uses a completely different part of your brain than other games on this list. It’s a game that’s slow, methodical and extremely satisfying when you complete it.
You can play this digitally or via a physical puzzle book dedicated to all things Sudoku to help you stay mentally challenged.
Crosswords
If your games tend to shift towards the more visual and kinetic, a crossword can pull you out of that space completely. It needs you to use your language, memory and lateral thinking parts of the brain.
Also, what’s good about crosswords is that they have a natural endpoint. There are only so many challenges to solve to fill the crossword, so it’s not open-ended if you like that kind of thing or you’re trying not to fall down a rabbit hole. The New York Times mini crossword is a great place to start. It’s free, takes a few minutes, and then you can move on to more complex ones as you get more skilled.
Jigsaw Puzzles
If you need something more to do with your hands or something that captures your attention for longer periods of time, then you need to try jigsaws.
It’s the perfect screen break. Your hands will be busy with the pieces while your brain is occupied with spatial pattern matching, and you’re not looking at a single pixel of anything digital.
Wordle
Wordle took the world by storm a few years ago, and it’s still the ideal five-minute brain reset for those who like word puzzles. It’s a challenge you can stop gaming to complete and then carry on as normal. It’s an easy way to build breaks into your sessions and still challenge your brain and maybe even learn something new. Plus, if you like games with a more social element, this has that too.
