If you think your smartphone is a device that’s just for fun and leisure, it’s time to think again. Today, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of brain-training apps and games that aim to increase cognitive functioning, sharpen memory skills, and boost brain processing speed. Studies have even shown that some of these apps can, to a certain extent, reduce your risk of developing diseases like Alzheimer’s. So if you’re ready to put the “smart” in smartphone, here are nine great brain-boosting apps and games to try, in no particular order.
-
Lumosity
The oldest and best-known “brain power” app, Lumosity has set the standard and defined the format for what a good brain-training app should be. Designed with input from neuroscientists, Lumosity offers a broad range of brain workout exercises and games that you can select and combine into a personal daily training regimen depending on your goals. For example, memory exercises might include spatial tasks, pattern recall, and face-name recognition. Games change every day of the week, and to add to the challenge, they’re all a race against the clock.
-
Peak
One of the most highly polished apps in the brain-training landscape, Peak offers a slick collection of mini-games targeting different areas of brain functioning, including memory, language, mental agility, and attention. With more than 30 games to choose from in the free app, there’s plenty of variety, but you can also access more features and personalize your experience with a Peak monthly subscription.
-
Elevate
Elevate comes in a similar package to Peak, offering clear and striking visuals and games that are accessible and engaging. Some of the mental skills you can test and hone with Elevate include memory, focus, math skills, and comprehension. To help encourage a long-term commitment to the app, Elevate tracks your “success streaks” on a calendar when you’re logging in regularly and adjusts difficulty levels as you become more practiced.
-
Fit Brains Trainer
Whether you want to test your memory, concentration, problem-solving aptitude, language abilities, or other mental skills, one of the 35+ games offered by Fit Brains Trainer is sure to meet your needs. You can choose from three difficulty levels and group your chosen games and exercises into different workout sessions to keep your daily cognitive practice feeling fresh. Interestingly, Fit Brains Trainer also features games that target your emotional intelligence, or EQ, thus offering a more balanced and rounded experience than some other brain-training options.
-
Cognito
If you prefer your brain-training activities to be more like games than like workouts, you won’t want to miss Cognito. One of the most game-like brain-boosting apps, Cognito integrates its mental skills tests with a classic narrative game featuring secret agents and global spying missions—after all, national security is a great incentive to solve that logic puzzle quickly! Cognito also tracks your stats to show you how your skills improve over time, and can even incorporate data on your sleep and walking habits from Apple’s Health app to show you how your mental agility is impacted by rest and exercise.
-
CogniFit Brain Fitness
Another app designed with input from neuroscientists, CogniFit Brain Fitness combines games, progress tracking, and overall insights about brain health in one sleek app. You start by taking an introductory quiz; the app will then adapt the difficulty of each game to your personal profile and offer you recommendations of new games to try based on your results. If you’d like to introduce a little competition into your mental workout, CogniFit also allows you to challenge friends and family at the different games.
-
Eidetic
While most of the options above are multi-purpose apps targeting a host of different brain functions, Eidetic has a much more targeted goal: to help you memorize things. Using a technique called “spaced repetition,” Eidetic trains you to commit to memory just about anything, from important phone numbers to interesting facts. The app uses items that have personal meaning and context, like your bank account details or a quote you love, and tests you on how well you remember them at intervals over time, thus helping you retain the details in your long-term memory.
-
Brain Workout
Offering just four games packaged in a simple and straightforward interface, Brain Workout is probably one of the easiest and most accessible brain-training apps around. As you boost your memory, mental focus, accuracy, and speed, you can challenge yourself by choosing different difficulty levels and by comparing your scores with friends or on the app’s global scoreboard.
-
Happify
As long as you’re training your brain, why not train it to be happier? Research suggests that with practice and commitment, you can actually train yourself to overcome negative thoughts, cope with stress, and develop gratitude and empathy—all of which are essential ingredients for a happy life. Happify helps you do this by using features like quizzes, polls, and journaling options to encourage you to build and maintain life-changing positive habits.