Games are entertaining, but they can also teach a lot of things. Some are designed to boost cognitive functions; others develop reaction and quick thinking. Some games help to train analytical and critical skills while still being fun.
Gaming is an outstanding way to learn and relax. No wonder so many students are into it nowadays. Just take Wordle. It became a worldwide sensation because of its simple design and easy rules. It helps to get your brain started in the morning with the help of a small riddle.
Unfortunately, students often lack time to do what they want. They have to balance out social life, part-time work, and academic overload all at once. How can I find time to play games when I have all these essays and research papers to write? Can I pay someone to write my paper on WritePaper today? – One might ask. And the answer is yes; of course, WritePaper professionals got your back.
It is a trusted academic writing platform that offers help with any kind of college assignment in the shortest time. Whether you need help editing, proofreading, or writing – it has got you covered. In the meantime, you can learn something new in one of the most enjoyable ways – through gaming.
Small Games for Cognitive Functions
Those who are interested in developing their mental skills and such cognitive functions as memory, concentration, and coordination will love these. These are small yet extremely effective brain training apps for the game-based learning experience. The best part is that they do not take long; only 15-30 minutes per day will do the trick.
1. Luminosity
You can complete daily tasks in the form of small games; there are more than 60 of them in the app. And it tracks your performance and shows how your skills develop.
2. Eidetic
This one is all about training your memory, which is essential for students. What makes it different from other competitors is that you can put any meaningful information in there. So you are learning important things while playing.
3. Brain it On!
This app has a ton of quizzes and puzzles often based on Physics. Sometimes there are multiple ways to solve each puzzle, and you can compete with friends.
4. Cognito
The game is great for training adaptability, focus, reasoning, and memory. It has lots of exciting puzzles tied together with the story about secret agents and spies.
5. Fit Brains Trainer
is one of the top educational apps around the world. Not only does it help to develop IQ and EQ. There is daily training, and you also have an opportunity to track the progress. The exercises are based on science.
Of course, there are many other similar games, but these are on the top.
Games That Endorse Thinking
Now let’s move to other video games that can be played on PC or console. They can help you relax and prevent student burnout while still teaching you. Here are the most interesting ones:
1. Capitalism
It is a part of the Harvard Business School curriculum for a reason. There is no need to explain the premise as the title says it all.
2. Super Mario 64
This is a nice classic story about saving the princess. But you would be surprised to find out that an actual scientific study was done. Max Planck Institute of Human Development proved that people playing SP 64 experience a significant increase in gray matter. It is particularly responsible for memory, strategic planning, motor skills, and spatial orientation.
3. Civilization
It is another classic and world-known franchise. It is a strategy that allows one to build a civilization, develop it, choose what to focus on, and how to lead it. Every choice has consequences, and there are also neighboring countries you need to build relationships with. As the premise suggests, it is all about strategic thinking and making decisions.
4. Call of Duty
First-person shooters do not have the greatest reputation because of the debate around a depiction of violence. But if it is something you enjoy, it is good to know that one can learn a lot from such games too.
First of all, it develops motor skills and fast reactions. Secondly, the University of Rochester’s study (2009) suggests shooters give players a better vision.
So players of Call of Duty can boost the contrast sensitivity function, which is very helpful for noticing brightness changes. And it can make one a better night driver.
5. Witcher Franchise
Hunting down monsters in a medieval-like setting is also quite good for learning. One can play as Geralt of Riva on his quest to find his adopted daughter and work on their decision-making and resource management. Action role-playing games are amazing at training complex thinking like adaptability, strategic planning, and analysis.
And, of course, they are great for coordination and motor reactions.
Games That Makes You Think About Life
In this section, one can find intellectual and complex video narratives that question ethics, morals, society as we know it and other existential issues. So, stop procrastinating and dive right into these excellent stories.
1. Papers, please
You play as a customs officer of a communist country that checks papers of visitors and tourists. It sounds simple, but it is not. It explores such issues as immigration, free will, choice, and totalitarianism.
You get paid according to how many people you process correctly. And at the end of the day, you buy food or medication for your family. So if you choose based on morals, your family can go homeless or die from an illness.
2. Bioshock Franchise
There are three parts of this series exploring utopia and the concept of free will. The first one is aimed to deconstruct Ayn Rand’s philosophy. And some great plot twists are coming.
The second one is devoted to collectivist extremism and where it leads. There are multiple possible endings based on the choices made.
The third one is designed in steampunk esthetics and is based on American exceptionalism and how every utopia is already a dystopia.
3. Missile Command
The main plot point for this one is moral choices during a nuclear war. It is an old 8-bit game from the 1980s, but it is extremely thought-provoking.
You are a commander with 3 bases and six cities to protect. The number of missiles is limited, and you need to make choices about what incoming missiles to destroy what city or base to lose. When all 6 cities are destroyed, you lose the game.
And here is a twist – you cannot win this one, much like in a real war. It just gets harder until you lose eventually and the words “The End” appear.
In Summary
It is completely possible to combine entertainment and education. Video games get a bad reputation because of a lot of misunderstandings. Actually, they can be beneficial for cognitive functions and complex brain activity.
From training motor reactions, memory, focus, and fast response to questioning moral choices, these are all the benefits that games give you.
There are lots of opportunities to try on and learn something from them.
