We’re living in strange times. Everyone in Kuwait is being responsible and practicing #socialdistancing which is amazing. We’re seriously impressed, but we’re also getting a little bit antsy. The prospect of spending the next two weeks at home feels a little claustrophobic, especially for extroverts. But we are stepping away from the fear-mongering Twitter feeds and heading to the app stores to download some games that will keep us sane and entertained for hours.
Before you start thinking that you aren’t a gamer, yes you are. The label makes it feel like an exclusive club that only the most committed people are allowed in. The truth is that video/phone/computer games are accessible to everyone and actually have some benefits. There are thousands of games out there, but we’re sticking to simple ones that you can download and enjoy right away without having to figure out complicated rules or build skills to enjoy.
The Classics
You can’t start without the classic games that have gotten us through hours of boredom. From Solitaire to Minesweeper, there are so many old school games that just work for us. But Tetris is the king, not only has research shown that they can help PTSD patients, after a while the music gets stuck in your head and you can see colored tetrominos (yes, they have a name) in your mind and all negative thoughts are forced out.
Dr. Mario World
We are a little confused about why Mario is suddenly now a doctor, but if anyone can defeat anything it is Mario. The viruses are taking over the world and he has donned a lab coat to bring them all down. Match capsules with viruses and watch them disappear! Simply match three objects of the same color vertically or horizontally to clear them.
SpellTower Plus
This game first came out in 2011, but iPhones weren’t as powerful and screens weren’t as large. A new and improved version was released earlier this year and it is addictive. You start off with a grid of letters and have to connect them to make words. Simple premise, but can be quite challenging. There are different game modes to match your playing and skill level. Give it a shot, you might be amazed at all the words you never realized you knew.
Elevate Brain Games
We promise we are not trying to sneak in veggies in your bowl of ice cream. Elevate is a brain training app, but it is entertaining. Why not up your mental abilities while having some fun? This cognitive training tool was designed to help strengthen communication and analytical skills. You can practice whenever you want and choose from over 35 games that will help you perfect your reading, writing, speaking, and math.
Can you unscramble the letters below to make a word? pic.twitter.com/1XJdPBuANN
— Elevate (@ElevateLabs) March 4, 2020
QuizUp
We might be a group of nerds but we think that trivia games are the best. It is a socially acceptable way to show up how smart you are, or how much random pieces of knowledge are stored in your brain. QuizUp is a free, award-winning multiplayer trivia game. You can challenge your friends in real-time or find like-minded people to play against online.
Family Style: Co-op Kitchen
Kitchen’s are magical places. As humans, we have been huddling in food making spaces since the beginning of time. And now we have a virtual kitchen so you can connect with friends and family while you scramble for space to cook dishes in this hectic party for two to eight friends. It is cooperative, frantic but ultimately rewarding.
In honor of #InternationalWomensDay, we’d like to give a huge shoutout to our AMAZING UI Engineer, Rena 👩🏻🍳 pic.twitter.com/vIeSnBL9Lx
— Family Style: Co-Op Kitchen (@TeamChefParty) March 8, 2020
Classic board games
The classics never go away because they are timeless and easy to play by most people. Even if you don’t have the physical version of a game, you can find all of your favorites for iOS and Android devices. From Scrabble to Battleships and the ruiner of friendships Monopoly. These are great because you don’t need time to figure them out. Anyone aged 7 to 70 knows how to play Snakes and Ladders, Mastermind or the Game of Life.
Puzzles
Another example of things going digital. Puzzles have always been made of cardboard and colorful images, they are now made up of zeros and ones in software. Puzzles are compelling and soothing at the same time. Our brains love getting things done, putting things in order and feeling accomplished. And puzzles can tick many boxes.
Scribblenauts
This game scores high on its innovativeness and entertainment. Help the protagonist Maxwell, solve puzzles and problems by giving him the tools he needs. Just write the name of whatever it is you think will fix the situation and see if it does. The game recognizes tens of thousands of objects and it is always super fun to try the most creative approaches. Will a frog stop a ship from sinking? You never know until you try.
Let us know if we missed your favorite one. Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash.
