At a glance
- Free to play, with no account, no download and no ads.
- Many picks below have no timer, so you can stop, think and come back.
- Results are saved only in your browser, never on a public leaderboard.
- Works with touch, a mouse or a keyboard.
How we chose these games
We looked for games with a rule you can explain in one sentence, a board that fits on one screen and a clear way to finish. We favored games with no countdown, or whose score does not depend on speed, because a relaxed pace makes a puzzle more enjoyable for many players.
We left out the fastest games, such as Reaction Time and Schulte Table, from this first list. They are fine to try, but they reward quick taps more than careful thinking.
Games to try first
Each game page explains its rules, scoring and tips before you start.
| Game | What you do |
|---|---|
| Word Search 3–8 min | Find eight themed words on a 12×12 board. There is no timer, and a new daily puzzle arrives at midnight UTC. |
| Memory Match 3–6 min | Turn over cards two at a time to find eight pairs. The result counts moves, so there is no need to hurry. |
| Sliding Puzzle 2–5 min | Slide eight numbered tiles into order on a 3×3 board, with no timer. |
| Mini Sudoku 5–12 min | A 6×6 Sudoku with Easy practice boards, notes, undo and explained hints. The daily puzzle is untimed. |
| Word Scramble 3–8 min | Rearrange letter tiles to answer eight clues. Wrong guesses and shuffling are free, and there is no timer. |
| Word Ladder 3–8 min | Change one letter at a time to turn one four-letter word into another, with undo and hints. |
| CalcuDoku 5–12 min | A small 4×4 number puzzle using only 1–4 and simple arithmetic cages, with notes and explained hints. |
| Photographic Memory Test 3–5 min | Look at an everyday scene, such as a garden, then answer questions about what you saw. |
Prefer words? Start with word games. Prefer numbers? See math and number games.
Playing together
- Pick an untimed game such as Word Search or Mini Sudoku, so nobody feels rushed.
- Let one person hold the tablet or mouse while the other reads clues aloud and suggests moves.
- For a group, show the browser on a television or projector and solve one daily puzzle together.
- Stop whenever you like. Untimed daily puzzles keep your progress in this browser, so you can finish later.
Running activities for a care home, library or class? See our page for teachers and caregivers.
Controls and comfort
Every game works with touch or a mouse. You can also press Tab to move between buttons and Enter or Space to choose one. If text looks small, use your browser’s zoom (Ctrl and + on Windows, Command and + on a Mac).
Color Word asks you to tell ink colors apart, so it may not suit players with color-vision differences; a word or number game is a better choice.
Keep it in perspective
These are games for enjoyment and a pleasant break. They are not a test, a treatment or a way to measure memory, and a better score mostly reflects familiarity with a game. If you have concerns about memory or thinking, please speak with a doctor.
Common questions
Do I need an account or an app?
No. Every game opens in an ordinary web browser on a computer, tablet or phone. There is nothing to install and no account to create.
Is it really free? Are there ads?
Yes, every game is free to play, and the site does not show ads.
Where are scores saved?
Completed results are saved only in the browser you play in. They are not uploaded or shared, and they do not follow you to another device. You can clear them on My Progress.
Can these games keep my memory sharp?
We do not make that promise. These are recreational puzzles, and getting better at a game mostly means getting familiar with it. If you are worried about memory or thinking, talk with a doctor.
Written by Brain Workout. Practical notes about our games, for recreational play.