Games for the grey cells

Video games can improve cognitive skills and delay the onset of age-related declines

Video games, no, they cannot be good for you.... that is what most of us had our parents telling us. They affect your eyesight, studies and are a big waste of time, we were admonished. But are video games actually all that bad? Studies in the past have revealed how playing video games can do a lot of good to your brain, memory, hand-eye coordination and above all, for stress levels.

In May 2013, the University of Iowa conducted a study which revealed that playing video games can prevent and even reverse deteriorating brain functions such as memory, reasoning and visual processing. The study was conducted among hundreds of people aged 50 and older and revealed that those who played video games were able to improve a range of cognitive skills, and reverse up to seven years of age-related declines. We take a look at a few video games that are actually good for you:

SAFECRACKER

If there's one game that tests your memory and logic, then its Safecracker. Your challenge is to crack 35 safes located inside a mansion. It's a tough game and really puts your memory to test. You not only have to remember where the safes are located, but also make sure that you get the combinations right to crack the safes open.
Available on: Nintendo Wii

TETRIS

An old-time favourite that almost everyone has played it. The best part is that Tetris can be played on your tablet, phone or computer. In Tetris, players move different shapes of blocks into position so they form a single horizontal line that makes them disappear from the screen. Several researches have proved that Tetris sharpens mental processes like memory, visual-spatial awareness and concentration.

Available on: PC, console and mobile

MARIO KART

A go-karting game that is great fun to play, and also challenges your reaction time. You need to concentrate hard in this game as there are several obstacles that have to be overcome. While driving the kart, you could suddenly come across a banana peel or koopa shells. The only way to avoid them is to be on constant alert. Not only does Mario Kart better your powers of concentration but also help in improving your ability to react.
Available on: Playstation and Nintendo Wii

SUDOKU

Sudoku, a numbers game in which you have to fill blank boxes with digits to add up to the same total in various combinations, improves your memory tremendously. It also helps in delaying the effects of ageing. Studies have shown that playing Sudoku stimulates your brain on multiple levels, and can, thus, delay diseases like Alzheimer's.

Available on: Mobile, PC and in print

CALL OF DUTY

One of the most popular games, Call of Duty is a first-person shooter game. It's a fast-paced and extremely well-designed game. Several research papers have proved that playing CoD improves speed of stimulus processing and visual attention. The game play is pretty simple: you have to kill as many enemies without dying. Since the enemies come thick and fast from all corners, you have to have sharp vision to keep track of them. However, it is a violent game and only people above the age of 16 should play it.

Available on: Playstation, XBOX and Wii