100+ Web Games & Tools to Stretch Your Mind Without Moving a Muscle

Posted by Site Administrator in Learning Dec 30th, 2008

With all the recent reports in the news touting the benefits of keeping your mind sharp to help fend off the effects of aging like dementia, its a good idea to do what you can to keep your mind in shape. The good news is that you don’t even have to leave your comfortable chair to perform these mental exercises. The following list provides you with over 100 web games and tools that will help you keep your mind in top form. Select from brain games, crossword puzzles, classic games, tools to help you learn new things, improve your English language skills or to help you learn a new language, and a few other great mental stretches as well.

Online Brain Games

These games are specially designed to keep your brain in shape with activities such as memory games, jigsaw puzzles, and games designed by scientists just for mental acuity.

1. Sharp Brains Brain Teasers and Games. These 50 games are especially meant to help exercise and sharpen your mind.
2. Freedom Years Games. These brain games include jigsaw puzzles, memory game, Sudoku, and more.
3. Games for the Brain. With popular brain games like Mastermind, chess, and Sudoku, you are sure to find plenty of games to stretch your brain.
4. Brain Bashers. With 5 new games added each week, you can always find lots of video game fun to sharpen your mental acuity here.
5. Puzzability Sampler. The puzzles here include both interactive and non-interactive versions of word games like Hangman, Acrostic, and Slider.
6. Thinks.com Jigsaw Puzzles. Work these jigsaw puzzles for a great online workout for your mind.
7. Braingle. Brain teasers, riddles, trivia, and brain exercises are some of the fun activities on this website.
8. Fit Brains. Play the free brain games here that are developed by scientists with the goal of providing the best fitness for your brain. To play all the games, you will need to purchase a membership.
9. HAPPYneuron. Brain fitness becomes a science with the fun games and activities here. Paying members can also get fitness programs and coaches to make sure they are in top brain health.
10. BrainTraining 101. The brain games here include many different logic, puzzle, memory, classic, and action games.
11. BrainCurls. Exercise your brain with the games at this site that include jigsaws, memory games, and games that sharpen your observation skills.

Crossword Puzzles

Crossword puzzles have long been known as a great way to exercise your mind. You no longer have to wait for the daily paper, then fight the rest of the family for the crossword. Try these free crossword puzzles online.

12. LA Times Daily Crossword. Play any of the archived puzzles or the current daily one and select from one of two solving modes–one highlights wrong answers and the other doesn’t.
13. Classic New York Times Crossword Puzzle. Get a free daily crossword puzzle from these renowned puzzlers. If you want more, sign up for the premium membership and have access to the current puzzle and beat the clock or challenge a friend.
14. USA Today Crossword. Choose today’s puzzle or one from the archives and solve these free puzzles right on your computer.
15. WebCrosswords.com. Set up like the LA Times puzzles, these daily puzzles allow for plenty of solving options, including printing the puzzle, in case you need to take it on the go.
16. Boatload of Crosswords. Select your puzzles from 40,000 different crossword puzzles at this free site.
17. Crossword Puzzles. Choose from American, educational, cryptic, themed, and other crossword puzzles at this free site.
18. BestCrosswords.com. Opt for American or British puzzles and even sign up for a free membership to track your scores.
19. OnlineCrosswords.net. This site lets you choose your level of difficulty for the puzzles and will soon offer puzzles in French and Spanish.
20. WordLords. Play the crosswords here and get the option to save your game, have the solution emailed to you, and more.
21. Instant Online Crossword Puzzle Maker. If you would like to get on the other side of the puzzles, use this simple tool to create your own crossword puzzles instantly.

Other Word Games

Crossword puzzles aren’t the only word games that help keep you thinking. These games range from Sudoku to logic puzzle to games from Merriam-Webster.

22. Web Sudoku. Play free Sudoku games here that include varying levels of difficulty and several different variations.
23. Online Sudoku. A little different version, this Sudoku game allows you to choose difficulty, save, reload, get hints, and check how you are doing.
24. Free Online Word Search Puzzles. Solve word search puzzles from one of several categories. Many of these puzzles also contain hidden messages revealed when the puzzle is solved.
25. Logic Puzzles. Solve these free logic puzzles that provide an easy-to-use solving grid and also time your completion.
26. word games. Choose from one of eight different types of word games including cryptoquote, storyman, and codeword at this site.
27. The Word Playground. All of the games at this site are developed in-house, so you know you are getting totally original games here.
28. Merriam-Webster Online Word Games. What better place to find word games than an online dictionary. Play the game of the day or select from a favorite.
29. PlayWithYourMind.com. With almost 100 original word games at this site, you are sure to find a new favorite to help stretch your mind.
30. Wordplays.com. Games like Boggler, anagrams, word jumble, and word morph, you will find lots of fun word games here.
31. A Game A Day. Visit this site and click on either Level I or Level II and get a new word game every week day.
32. The Letterbox Game. Compete against the computer with this game that requires you to make as many three and four-letter words as possible.

Classic Games

These classic games are available online and will keep you thinking with such favorites as Scrabble, mahjong, and backgammon.

33. Internet Scrabble Club. Play live online Scrabble against others and select your level and language to compete successfully.
34. Truantduck.com Chinese Checkers. Play this classic game against the droid and practice your strategy skills.
35. Simon Says. Sharpen your memory skills by playing Simon Says online. It’s just like the real thing.
36. Tetris. This classic game will sharpen both eye-hand coordination and quick, logical thinking.
37. Breakout. This classic game requires you to keep the ball in play until it breaks all the blocks at the top.
38. Free Online Mahjong Games. This site has an enormous number of mahjong games for the casual player to the master.
39. ChessHere.com. Compete against others in free real-time or correspondence chess games at this site.
40. Online Checkers. Try to beat the computer in this checkers game. Instructions are included in case you need a refresher.
41. Free Online Backgammon Game. Nabisco brings backgammon to you for free with this online version. Click "Help" for instructions.
42. Bridge Base Online. Bridge players of all levels can watch or play bridge online with this virtual community.

Various Online Games

These games range from strategy to speed to eye-hand coordination games and are sure to keep you on your proverbial toes.

43. Diner Dash. Serve diners with this popular online game where you make sure everyone gets seated, orders, and gets their food without getting angry.
44. Grandparent Games. For those of you with grandchildren, this site is designed to allow grandparents to connect with their grandchildren through interactive games.
45. Escapa. Click and hold the red square and avoid getting hit by the blue squares or hitting a wall with this challenging game.
46. Super Money Ball. Try one of these mini games from Sega to improve your eye-hand coordination.
47. Hit the Dot. This game challenges you to click on each of the dots as they appear to see how many you can get in 30 seconds.
48. The Blue Button Game. Click on the fast-moving blue button to keep playing, but if you click on a red or orange one, the game ends.
49. Game Gecko Racing Games. Play several racing games online at this site. If you aren’t sure which to choose, they have some organized by "Most Played" and "Newest."
50. Dogfight 2. Using your arrow and space bar keys, participate in airplane dogfights with this flying game.
51. Legends of Elveron. Try this fantasy game that is all about strategy and doesn’t require any downloads.
52. Oregon Trail. Get on the Oregon Trail and download this old favorite.

Game Sites

If you would rather have a selection of games so you don’t have to be stuck with just one type of game, then these game sites are definitely worth checking out.

53. MSN Games. MSN Games are fun and easy to play with popular games like Mozaki Blocks, Mah Jong Tiles, and Bespelled.
54. Yahoo! Games. Chess, dominos, and pool rule alongside other fun word games, puzzles, and more at this popular game site.
55. Pop Cap. Play several popular games online including Bejeweled, Bookworm, and Mah Jong.
56. Pogo.com. These fun games are a more gentle variety than some of the popular fighting and war games.
57. Games ~ Grandma Faith’s Website. These family-friendly games are fun and a perfect choice for both the younger and older set.
58. AARP.org Games. These games include strategy games such as chess, puzzles, card games, and multiplayer games.
59. Juggernarts. Choose from a wide variety of games here that include brain games and puzzles, sports games, skill games, and more.
60. Shockwave. Find plenty of games here ranging from action and adventure to puzzle and word games to strategy games.
61. OnlineGames.net. This site offers some different games such as cooking games and dress-up games as well as others like retro games, sports games, and word games.
62. Online Flash Games. Play games like Super Mario 63, skill games, action games, and more at this site.

Tools to Keep Your Mind Organized

Games are one way to keep your mind sharp, but some tools such as these will also help keep you thinking by providing ways to keep your life, work, and studies organized.

63. Google Calendar. Use this tool to keep track of meetings, appointments, deadlines, and more. Set up reminders so you will never forget anything.
64. Jotlet. Create an online calendar and share it with others with this tool.
65. Backpack. Make pages, use calendars, post announcements, get email or get text message reminders–all online–with this tool.
66. Joe’s Goals. This simple chart allows you to input your goals or tasks, then you check off each one as you complete them.
67. Remember the Milk. This to-do list tool will keep you on track with your busy life. You can even use it with your cell phone, Google maps, and more.
68. Bla-bla List. For a more simple to-do list, use this tool. You can also email it to yourself or update others via RSS feed.
69. Ta-da Lists. Create lists, check off items as you go, and share with others with this tool.
70. Evernote. Capture an image of whatever you want to remember, then use this tool to make it accessible from your computer or phone with tags.
71. Stickies 6.5a. Just like real stickies, create virtual sticky notes on your computer desktop with this tool. They stay there until you remove them, but unlike the real thing, these can be iconified and remind you of tasks.
72. Jotcloud. Similar to Stickies 6.5a, but with fewer functions, you can write down your notes on virtual stickies with this tool. No download is necessary.

Tools to Help You Learn

From maps to calculators to mind mapping to online classes, these tools will help you learn just about anything you set your mind to.

73. Instructables. Learn how to make anything you can imagine from this fun site.
74. Universal Currency Converter. This handy tool will help you find exchange rates from many different countries.
75. Algebra.help. If you want to brush up on algebra, use this tool that has lessons, calculators, and worksheets.
76. calcoolate.com. This online calculator will help you perform equations and you can even save your history.
77. calcr. It doesn’t get more simple than this tool–just type in your equation and hit return to get an answer.
78. e-Tutor Graphing Calculator. Don’t spend your money on an expensive graphing calculator; use this free online version instead.
79. Martindale’s Calculators On-line Center. Find any type of calculator at all, from a slide rule to the nutrient content of food, with this tool.
80. Create a Graph. Use this tool to custom-make any type of graph quickly and easily.
81. Periodic Table of the Elements. This interactive, full-color periodic table will have you learning those elements in no time.
82. Visible Body. This incredible visualization tool will help you learn about human anatomy from the muscular system to internal organs.
83. Visible Earth. Visible Earth provides you with NASA images of the Earth.
84. Google Maps. With this interactive map program, you can create interactive maps, find places, and even get visual images of locations.
85. Google Earth. Use Google Earth to explore places all over the world without ever leaving your computer.
86. Mindomo. This web-based mind mapping tool will help you organize your thoughts, whether you are writing a novel or planning a school project.
87. Quizlet. Use this interactive tool to help you learn almost any subject from foreign languages to history to math.

Reference and English Language Tools

Whether you want to learn a new vocabulary word every day, need to decode an acronym, want to learn about fine wines, or are curious about how your home state got its name, then you will enjoy using some of these great reference tools.

88. Word of the Day. Expand your vocabulary with this great tool from Dictionary.com.
89. Online Etymology Dictionary. Find out the history of words and phrases with this addictive online reference tool.
90. NetLingo. Find text message and IM shorthand with this tool to help you learn common Internet acronyms.
91. Internet Slang Dictionary. Type in any Internet slang or text message acronym to get a translation into understandable English.
92. Urban Dictionary. Stay on top of the most recent slang words or phrases with this resource where you can even submit your own definitions.
93. Fine Wine Dictionary. If you love learning about wine, then use this tool to find definitions of both common and uncommon wine names, grapes, regions, and more.
94. Law.com Dictionary. Type a legal term into this tool to find out the definition in plain English.
95. Origins of US State Names. Learn how all 50 states got their names and what they mean with this tool.
96. Acronym Finder. Type an acronym, abbreviation, or initialism into this tool to find out what it means.
97. Grandiloquent Dictionary. Find out the meaning of the most obscure words in English with this tool.
98. MedTerms Medical Dictionary. Translate those difficult medical terms into something you can understand with this online tool.

Foreign Language Tools

One of the best ways to keep your mind sharp is by learning a new language. You can use these free tools to help you learn just about any language.

99. Yahoo! Babel Fish. Translate any text or website into English with this tool. If English is your second language, use it the other way around.
100. Google Translate. Enter a phrase or a website and designate the original language to have it translated into English.
101. Google Language Tools. Translate a web page, enter a search term in your native language to have search results you can easily read, or enter a web site to see it in your language with this versatile tool.
102. British to American Translator. This tool offers translations to help you learn the differences between British and American English.
103. Cross-References of English Words Derived from Latin and Greek Elements. Browse this tool to learn the Greek and Latin beginnings of many advanced-English words.

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