Do brain games actually work?

What the research says about brain training, what it can and can't do, and why we built our games the way we did.

Brain-training apps have promised a lot: sharper memory, faster thinking, even protection against dementia. Scientists have been testing those claims for years. The short answer is that brain games make you better at brain games, but there's little good evidence that they make you better at everything else. Here's what that means, and why playing them can still be worthwhile.

What the research found

The most thorough review so far was published in 2016 by a team of psychologists led by Daniel Simons, in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest. They examined the studies cited by brain-training companies and found:

• Extensive evidence that training improves performance on the trained tasks themselves.
• Less evidence that it improves performance on closely related tasks.
• Little evidence that it improves distantly related tasks or everyday thinking, like remembering appointments or doing your job better.

They also found that many studies had design problems, such as small samples or weak comparison groups, which made benefits look bigger than they were.

Scientists don't all agree

In 2014, around 70 scientists signed a statement organized by the Stanford Center on Longevity saying that the marketing of brain games often exaggerated or misled. Soon after, a larger group of researchers published a response arguing that some forms of cognitive training do show real, if modest, benefits.

In 2016, the US Federal Trade Commission settled with the maker of Lumosity over advertising claims that its games could delay age-related decline and improve performance at school and work. The company agreed to pay $2 million.

A 2017 report from the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine looked at what might help prevent cognitive decline. It found encouraging but inconclusive evidence for three things: cognitive training, managing blood pressure, and increasing physical activity. In other words, the question isn't settled, and nobody should promise that a game will protect your brain.

What actually helps your memory

The habits with the strongest support are less exciting than an app, but they work:

• Sleep. Your brain consolidates memories while you sleep, and even one short night weakens working memory.
• Exercise. Regular aerobic exercise is linked to better memory and a healthier hippocampus.
• Learning real skills. A language, an instrument, or a craft gives your brain rich, varied challenges.
• Staying social. Conversation is a surprisingly demanding mental workout.
• Looking after your health. Blood pressure, hearing and mood all affect memory as you age.

For techniques that improve how well you remember specific things, see our memory tips guide.

So why play memory games at all?

Because they're fun, and they're a far better use of five minutes than an endless feed. A good memory game asks you to focus, plan and hold information in mind, which is the opposite of mindless scrolling. They also let you notice how your own memory works: how much sleep matters, which strategies suit you, and how practice changes your scores.

That's the idea behind Daily Recall. There's one puzzle per game each day, and once you're done, you're done. We don't claim the games will make you smarter, and we'd be wary of anyone who does. We just think a daily game that makes you think beats one that doesn't.

How to get the most from brain games

1. Keep it short. A few minutes a day is plenty. Spend the rest of the time on the habits above.
2. Use strategies. Chunking and picturing things are skills you can use outside the game too.
3. Mix it up. Different games use different kinds of memory. Our memory test covers four.
4. Make it social. Challenging a friend or playing in a group adds the conversation and fun that a solo app lacks.

Frequently asked questions