Playing games is considered a fun activity, perhaps most often associated with children - but playing games as an adult can help to sharpen thinking skills that tend to wane with age including processing speed, planning skills, reaction time, decision making and short term memory.
Research suggests that variety is key - the benefits are less pronounced if you play the same game all the time so, we have gathered together some resources where you can play a huge variety of games. You can play alone or with friends - and all of these games are free!
Our first offering is fungames4casualplayers.com - this site has been created in lockdown by an 80 year old who wanted to put games for people all in one place
Use the links across the top of the page to navigate the site - The games will take you to a list of games that have been listed by number of players needed, complexity and even luck!
Use the Lovely Links option to take you to some information about Board Game Arena - this is a site where you can find a huge range of games to play and link up with other people to play against! You can establish your own groups on the site and play against friends and family...or against other players from across the globe. You could even post a Request on Connect Pembrokeshire seeking other players!!
Just in case anybody out there wants to pick up the idea of online games at Board Games Arena, these I'd commend as good for getting used to it.
- Can't Stop - easy peasy, both as concept ... and to play, in terms of item management during online games
- Lucky Numbers - again, lots of luck, but more decisions to be made
- 6Nimmt - low complexity in layout and concept but takes a little getting used to, as one has to not win cards - strategic thinking helps
- KingDomino - starts to introduce issues relating to choice and placement of pieces
Peter, FunGames4CasualPlayers admin
This is an amazing website designed simply and really easy to follow - check it out by clicking on the image above today!
Our next offering is Arkadium - this is a site with a huge variety of games and, lots of versions of traditional classics. Whether you like card games, tile games, arcade style games - there's something for everyone here!
This site offers games for the individual and does not support multi player games in the same way that Board Game Arena does. Please also note that this site is supported by adverts so you can expect an advert before playing each game. Click on the Arkadium image above to get started!
Perhaps the oldest brain game in the world is chess - plan your strategy, make your moves, vanquish the opposition!
There are lots of places to play chess online but perhaps the simplest to remember is chess.com!
This site allows you to play against others online or, you can choose to play against a variety of bots that are programmed at different levels to test your skills.
Need to learn how? Chess.com has a huge learning section - going from the basics of how to move the pieces to the best openings, strategy, tactics and the end game - simply click 'Learn' from the left hand menu and find the guide for you and your level of playing. Visit the site by clicking the image above.