Consider yourself cleverer than the rest? These games will test that brain of yours.
Growing up, some of us will remember our parents saying that playing too many video games would ‘rot our brains', but it turns out that actually, there are some video games that might do quite the opposite. If you're choosing the right games, that reward you for thinking strategically, utilizing your logic skills, or mastering mental arithmetic, then playing video games could actually be making you smarter.
If you reckon all of your video gaming has made you a bit of a genius, then see how you fair at our pick of the best video games for the brilliantly brainy.
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Poker
There are plenty of games that focus on just one aspect of intelligence, but poker is one of the few games that requires multiple different skills to be able to succeed at the highest level. First of all, it's imperative to have a good memory, if you want to be able to recall hand rankings instantaneously.
As well as this, it's a huge benefit to have a good grasp of mental arithmetic. If you want to be able to bet effectively then you have to be able to use math skills to work out the probability of certain hands becoming available, and bet accordingly.
Finally, if you're playing in-person rather than online then you'll need good social skills too. Being able to pick up on the tells of other players can help you to work out who is bluffing and who isn't.
If you'd like to improve your skills before heading to a tournament then playing online poker in Pennsylvania couldn't be easier. This game is now totally legal to play in five states in America, making it simple to find a safe and secure site to hone your skills on.
Civilization VI
Caption: Create a civilization from just one human in this game
If you're looking for a game that has the flashy graphics that modern games boast, but has the classic strategy of a really tricky game of Risk, then Civilization VI couldn't be a better choice. This game asks you to take a single settler and grow them into a mighty civilization.
Along the way, you'll encounter Barbarians who want to destroy your city, as well as other civilizations who also want to grow to be the mightiest. In order to survive you'll need to have incredible strategic skills, to enable you to maximize your productivity and sneak your way to the top before a jealous civilization catches wind of your plan.
Chess
Chess is a classic choice. This game has been around for centuries, perhaps as many as twenty in fact. This game has stood the test of time so well because it truly pits the logic skills of two players against one another. The game relies on you being able to follow your own strategy, whilst not neglecting to work out and keep an eye on exactly what your opponent is up to.
It's what is known as a game of complete information, which is part of what makes it so fiendishly difficult when you're up against somebody that you're well-matched with.
As both players can see all of the pieces on the board, neither one has an advantage over the other. If you'd like to get a bit of practice in then playing online is a great way to do so before unleashing your skills at a tournament.
Chess.com matches you with a player of equal ability, or lets you play against a machine, so it's the perfect level for learning.