5 Types Of Challenging Games And The Benefits Of Playing Them

For as long as people have been interacting they have been playing games. Games give a fun outlet that does not stop the flow of conversation. They also can be very challenging.

Some of the best games are the ones that take awhile to get the hang of. They challenge your brain and sometimes your reflexes. Whether you are playing alone or with friends, the best games offer hours of entertainment.

It is important that you know the benefits of the games you play and why you should play certain games. Games are all made to be fun but certain games are also beneficial in a number of ways. Here are five types of games that are challenging and good for you.

(1) Simple and Fun Games

The original games are always a good place to start. Things like cards, dice, and puzzle games have existed for a very long time because they are both fun and enriching. The enrichment that these kinds of games offer can begin in very early childhood and continue to be great for your brain as you grow. Not only that, but they are easier than ever

  1. Cards

Card games are probably some of the first games you ever learned. Card games are usually strategic and engaging. The reason they keep our attention and are played all around the world is that card games are both fun and give our brains a good stretch. They may seem simple, but card games over time have become more and more complicated. Now that everyone is moving more and more towards creating games online and mobile apps, they have become easier to access. Meaning more people are playing card games online. Making it easy and fun to start a game that brings fresh minds and perspectives to the games we love.

  1. Dice

Games played with dice usually involve some form of simple math that allows the game to be played on a sheet of paper. Even using simple math can give your brain something to focus on and provide enrichment for both adults and children. Dice games also usually have rules that you must keep track of as you play which makes them take up more of your attention than your average board game. 

  1. Puzzles

You likely began playing with puzzles when you were very young as a way to learn how shapes and pictures go together. These benefits do not go away as you get older, you just need more complex puzzles. As your brain develops and learns it will need more difficult stimulation, luckily there are plenty of puzzles made to challenge adults.

(2) Sandbox Games

A sandbox game allows the player a lot more freedom than a game with specific quests offers. The idea is, similar to a child in a sandbox, you can allow your imagination to roam and create your own game. Sandbox games are a blank slate where you can create whatever you want.

This level of creativity can be nothing but beneficial to a brain of any age. These are games with limited, or no, rules so the player can decide what is happening in their world and what is being created. Most sandbox games are actually made for young adults and adults so they can do whatever they want in a world without rules.

Play therapists use a similar method to allow children to explain their thoughts and relationships. Sandbox games give complete freedom of expression which allows the player to do whatever they want and be completely creative.

(3) First Person Shooter

A first-person shooter game puts you in the position of the character you are playing. You see the game through their eyes and you shoot with their hands. These games are very popular with pre-teens and teenagers.

The benefits of playing first-person shooter games mostly focus on reflexes and decision making. People who play first-person shooter games have been found to have better reaction times, spatial awareness, and quicker decision-making skills than people who do not. These skills are helpful in driving, sports, and high-stakes decisions.

A first-person shooter game puts the player into the action and raises the stakes. If your character dies then you just died and lost the game. This makes players become more aware of their surroundings and better at making split-second decisions to help them survive the game.

(4) Role Play Games

Role-playing games are an entirely interactive game. They require you to make your own character, your own choices, and create your own journey. Role play games are so individual and so all-consuming that it often takes a special type of person to invest the time and energy into the game that it deserves.

Because these games require you to create a new persona, they often increase the empathy of the player who is now living in the game as a different person. They also are great for social skills as role play games often are played with a group that you must interact with to win the adventure.

To play a role playing game you must be able to keep track of what is going on around you and what each character is doing. Your character is your own creation and your adventure is based on your choices. This makes it difficult to not become engaged and empathetic with the characters in your game.

(5) MMORPG’s

Massively Multiplayer Online Role play Games are very similar to a normal RPG. While RPGs can be played with people, MMORPGs must be played with a group of people that you are teamed up with or against. The teamwork involved in an MMORPG is one of the main reasons these games are so popular.

MMORPGs are excellent for social interaction as they unite people all over the world to play on a team where they must interact and work together to reach the end goal. They also build self-confidence as you are rewarded in the game every time you succeed. Both of these things build more confident, socially adept people who are also really great at teamwork.

The reason MMORPGs have become so popular over the last few years is that working with a team to win is something that appeals to everyone. Winning and then celebrating with your teammates brings a lot of happiness as well as the feeling of success and comradery. That is why MMORPGs are so beneficial and fun.


Games are a way to connect people whether they are on a table or over the internet. They allow us to feel successful and help us create friendships that can last a lifetime. There are plenty of games online that are both challenging for your brain and beneficial for your mental and physical health.

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