AARP Games: Fun and Challenging Puzzles for Seniors HBR, November 7, 2023 Are you over 50 and looking to keep your mind sharp? You’re in luck. AARP offers free games and puzzles on their website designed specifically for older adults. Whether you prefer word games, logic puzzles, or math brain teasers, AARP has you covered. Their collection of over 60 games provides hours of challenging and engaging entertainment. You can start with some classic puzzles like crosswords, sudoku, or mahjongg. Feeling more adventurous? Try your hand at code cracker where you decipher secret messages using logic and deduction. If you’re a wordsmith, you’ll love games like Words with Friends and Scrabble Cubes where you build words from random letters. AARP’s games are designed to exercise your brain by stimulating areas involved in memory, problem-solving, and cognitive functions. Studies show that mental activities like puzzles can help maintain and even improve brain health as you age. Introduction to AARP’s Wide Variety of Online Games AARP Games offers a wide variety of free online games to challenge your mind and keep you entertained for hours. With over 100 games to choose from, you’re sure to find some old favorites as well as discover new addictions. They have all the classics like solitaire, sudoku, crosswords and jigsaw puzzles. But they also feature unique brain games designed specifically for older adults to help maintain cognitive abilities as we age. Some of the most popular games are: Mahjongg Dimensions – The classic tile matching game in 3D. Clear the board by matching tiles in groups of 3 or more. With many layouts and levels of difficulty, it provides hours of entertainment. Word Roundup – For the wordsmiths, this Boggle-like game has you create as many words as possible from a grid of letters before the timer runs out. Compete against others to get the highest score. Sudoku – The number puzzle phenomenon. Place the numbers 1 through 9 in each row, column and 3×3 box. With multiple difficulty levels, everyone from beginners to experts can enjoy a good Sudoku session. In addition to the games, AARP Games has leaderboards to see how you rank against other players, badges and rewards to earn, and a lively community forum to share tips, make new friends and talk strategy. With AARP Games, you’ll never run out of fun and challenging puzzles and brain games to help you stay sharp. And since they’re available on your computer, tablet or mobile device, you can play whenever and wherever the mood strikes. Why not give some a try today? Your brain will thank you! Top Puzzle Games on AARP Like Sudoku and Crosswords Some of the top games on AARP are classic puzzles that provide hours of challenging fun for the mind. Sudoku Sudoku is a logic-based number puzzle where you fill in the blanks of a 9×9 grid with the numbers 1 through 9 without repeating any in a row, column, or 3×3 box. Start with the easiest levels and work your way up as your skills improve. The satisfaction of solving a difficult Sudoku puzzle is incredibly rewarding. Crossword Puzzles Crosswords are word puzzles where you fill in blanks with words that intersect each other. AARP offers crosswords in a range of difficulties from easy to hard. Crossword puzzles exercise your brain by improving vocabulary, enhancing memory, and boosting problem-solving skills. They provide intellectual stimulation and entertainment for puzzle solvers of all skill levels. Jigsaw Puzzles Digital jigsaw puzzles on AARP challenge you to assemble pieces into a complete picture. They improve eye-hand coordination, enhance short-term memory, and cultivate patience. Start with larger pieces geared toward beginners before moving on to more advanced puzzles with smaller, irregular pieces. The stunning photographs and works of art will captivate you for hours. Word Searches Word searches or word finds contain hidden words, phrases or messages within a grid of letters. They boost language skills, enhance concentration, and stimulate your mind. Word searches come in a variety of themes to suit different interests. Start with smaller grids and shorter word lists before progressing to more challenging puzzles. With such an array of puzzle games, AARP has options for every skill level and area of interest. Exercise your brain and have fun while you play. The mental challenges will keep you sharp as you age. Card Games on AARP Like Solitaire and Mahjong AARP Games offers a variety of fun and challenging card games for seniors to play on their website or mobile app. Two of the most popular options are solitaire and mahjong. Solitaire Solitaire, also known as patience, is a single-player card game. The goal is to build four piles of cards of the same suit in ascending rank from ace to king. You accomplish this by drawing cards from a deck and discarding them onto the piles. AARP Games offers over a dozen different versions of solitaire to choose from, like Klondike, Spider, and FreeCell. No matter which type you prefer, solitaire provides an enjoyable mental challenge that exercises your problem-solving skills and memory. The pace is also perfect for older adults, as you can take as long as you like to make each move. Mahjong Mahjong is a tile-based game that originated in China. The objective is to match open pairs of identical tiles and remove them from the board. The pairs must be free of other tiles on left and right sides. You win the round by removing all tiles from the board. Mahjong requires tactical thinking, patience, and a bit of luck. While the rules may seem complicated at first, the game is easy to pick up with regular play. Mahjong provides cognitive benefits for seniors such as enhanced memory, logic skills, and visual-spatial reasoning. The versions of solitaire and mahjong on AARP Games have clear instructions and tutorials to get you started. They also include useful features for players of all experience levels like hints, undo buttons, and automatic scoring. Give these classic card games a try for an enjoyable mental workout and hours of entertainment from the comfort of your own home. AARP’s Selection of Fun Brain Games AARP offers a variety of brain games designed to keep your mind sharp as you age. Their selection has something for everyone, whether you prefer word games, logic puzzles or math challenges. Word Games AARP has word games like Scrabble Go and Words with Friends where you build words from random letters. These games exercise your vocabulary and spelling skills. They also offer word search, crossword and sudoku for those who enjoy puzzles. Logic and Reasoning For improving your logic and problem-solving abilities, try games like Lumosity, Elevate and Peak. These present you with challenges like pattern recognition, sequencing and mental rotations that get progressively more difficult as you advance levels. Studies show these types of brain training games can help boost focus, memory and cognitive flexibility. Math Skills Don’t let your math skills get rusty! AARP provides math games ranging from basic addition and subtraction all the way up to advanced geometry and statistics. Try Prodigy Math Game, DragonBox or Math vs. Zombies to strengthen your numerical abilities in an engaging way. These games start at an elementary school level but increase in difficulty to provide mental challenges for all skill levels. Trivia For a fun social experience, play trivia games like Words with Friends 2, SongPop 2 or QuizUp. Compete against friends or match up with random opponents to test your knowledge of movies, music, books and more. AARP trivia games are a great way to stay socially connected while giving your memory a good workout. With such a variety of game options, you’re sure to find some that match your interests and abilities. The best part is AARP brain games are free to play and available whenever you have a few spare minutes. Challenge yourself and stay mentally fit with these fun puzzles and brain teasers. How to Get Started Playing Games on AARP’s Website Getting started with the games on AARP’s website is easy and fun. All you need is an internet connection and a free AARP membership (or trial membership) to access hundreds of challenging and engaging games. Create an account Head to games.aarp.org and click “Free Trial” or “Join Now” to set up your account. Provide some basic info like your name, email, and birthdate. Your trial membership gives you full access to all games for 7 days. If you enjoy the experience, you can become an AARP member to keep playing. Browse the game selection AARP offers classic puzzle and board games, brain teasers, card games, and arcade-style games. There are versions of favorites like solitaire, sudoku, crossword puzzles, mahjong, and word searches. You can also play blackjack, poker, bingo, and more. New games are added regularly to keep things fresh. Pick a game and start playing Once you’ve chosen a game, click “Play Now” to begin. Most games have instructions and tutorials to help you learn the rules and gameplay. Start on an easy level to get the hang of it, then make your way up to more advanced levels as your skills improve. Many games allow you to compete against others or work together cooperatively. Track your stats and win prizes As you play, you can view stats like your total time played, highest score, and level completed for each game. You’ll also earn reward points that can be redeemed for real prizes. AARP frequently runs game tournaments and challenges with opportunities to win big. Playing games on AARP’s website is an enjoyable way for seniors to stay mentally and socially active. The variety of game options means there’s something for everyone at any skill level. Why not give it a try? You’ve got nothing to lose, and your brain will thank you for the stimulation. Conclusion So there you have it, a sampling of the many types of puzzles and brain games offered through AARP Games. Whether you prefer word searches, sudoku, crosswords or something else, there are options for all skill levels and interests. The games are designed specifically with older adults in mind, so you don’t have to worry about strained eyes or frustration from confusing interfaces. Give some of the free samples a try – you’ll likely find a new favorite activity to exercise your mind and pass the time. Who knew staying sharp and entertained in your golden years could be so much fun? AARP Games makes it easy, accessible and – most importantly – challenging. Staying engaged and active is key to healthy aging, so start playing today. Your brain will thank you, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner. Blog