MOST of us play online games from time to time in order to relax after a long day or even as a means to earn a spare income. Although both of these reasons are entirely valid, did you know that many of these very same games can have a positive impact upon our mental faculties? This is particularly the case when referring to critical thinking skills. In fact, certain platforms can even influence the ways in which we make everyday decisions. The real-life applications of these talents are numerous and thankfully, you can choose from many unique games. Let’s therefore take a look at a handful of categories in order to better appreciate how each can affect the mind.
Online Slots
Not only are slots a great deal of fun, but they will often require that we make snap decisions within extremely short periods of time. This type of pressure forces our minds to process information at a vaster rate; especially visual cues (such as which symbols can be combined in order to achieve a winning combination). The good news is that slots are quite stimulating and they can provide untold hours of entertainment.
Hidden Object Games
Hidden object games are primarily associated with visual acuity. In other words, we will be forced to closely examine a series of pictures in order to discover a list of minute objects that are hardly visible to the naked eye. It is thought that such activities serve to stimulate the portion of our brains geared towards sight (known as the occipital lobe). Hidden object platforms can therefore represent great activities for anyone who wishes to improve their spatial differentiation and their attention span.
Live Dealer Poker
Many individuals who wish to come across the best online casino in the UK are keen to leverage the latest technological innovations. There is perhaps no better example of this observation than live dealer poker. This type of poker allows players to interact with real-time human counterparts; providing captivating organic edge. However, we need to remember that poker is an excellent way to improve our strategic thinking abilities.
Poker will often dictate that we think two or three steps ahead in order to counter the moves that other players may be contemplating. In other words, we will be processing information in rather abstract forms. This helps to improve cognition while also teaching us to listen to what out gut instincts have to say. Live dealer games may also be wise choices for anyone who is interested in building their social skills within a safe and welcoming online environment.
Point-and-Click Strategy Games
Improved cognition is arguably the most notable benefit which can be attributed to point-and-click games. Most modern platforms offer a rich storyline, detailed graphics and entertaining NPCs (non-playable characters). We will frequently be asked to solve a series of problems by using step-by-step deduction (such as collecting specific parts of a machine or navigating through a difficult maze in order to reach the next level).
As we can often select the difficulty settings, these games are just as suitable for beginners as they are for seasoned experts. Another lesser-known advantage of these games is that they can help to build self-confidence over time as we become more attuned to what is required of our mental faculties.
Digital Brain Teasers
Everyone enjoys a brain teaser from time to time. In many ways, the mind is similar to a muscle. It requires regular exercise in order to perform at optimal levels. Brain teasers can accomplish this desire within a fun and interactive interface. Here are some common examples of online brain teasers that you can choose from:
Riddles
Comparing the differences between two nearly identical pictures
Sudoku
Memory games (such as matching sets of cards that are turned over after each choice)
Trivia games
Not only will these strengthen our overall mental abilities, but we will learn useful knowledge along the way!
Crossword Puzzles
Believe it or not, even classic games such as digital crossword puzzles can benefit the mind and our critical thinking abilities. As words may be presented vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and even backwards, the mind will need to adopt a more flexible approach. This stimulates different physical portions of the brain; helping to create new neural pathways (the connections between cells). Finally, using crossword puzzles to learn a new language is a fun way to appreciate terms that might not always be taught within traditional classroom settings.
Online games provide a host of brain-friendly benefits, so be sure to take a closer look at this list. You can then select the right category based off of your personal preferences as well as what you are hoping to achieve.
