Train your brain with action games and fighting games

You may have heard that playing video games will rot your brain or have other negative consequences. While sitting in front of a screen for hours a day can take time away from other positive activities, the mental stimulation of gaming has proven benefits. Action games, fighting games, and other fast-paced adventures can help your brain.

Studies have shown that playing action games can improve vision sharpness, accuracy, alertness, and response times. One study showed that gamers made correct decisions 25% faster than non-players. Oddly enough, fighting and shooting games have shown more positive effects than strategy games. The fast action provides a high level of stimulation that keeps the brain active and engaged. The ability to focus on a task at hand while ignoring distractions is enhanced by playing these types of games.

Puzzles and games have long been known to be good for older people, with the benefits of improving mental fitness and reducing the cognitive decline of old age. Contrary to popular opinion, research suggests that action video games may be more effective than traditional crossword puzzles or card games. Maybe it’s time to pit Grandma and Grandpa against each other in a fighting game!

Players will be happy to know that these effects increase with the number of games. That is, the more time you spend playing video games, the more of these benefits you will see. Of course, it is still important to exercise moderation. Too much time in the virtual world can result in neglecting things like work, school, family, or physical activity.

So do you need to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive game consoles or computer software? That is certainly an option. However, as the old saying goes, sometimes the best things are free. Players today have more options than ever before, and many of them won’t cost you a dime. From apps on your mobile phone to social media and browser-based Flash, HTML5, or JavaScript games, there are plenty of free options.

Remember, to get the most out of the benefits of brain-stimulating games, you’ll want to opt for fast-paced fighting games and adventures. Now that online gaming is sophisticated enough to compete with traditional console, arcade, and PC software games, it’s easy to find websites that allow you to play directly from a web browser. In fact, there are dozens of great free games available right now.

Play and increase your brain power!