Online games are an MP favorite when students are bored in class. Snake, Jump, you name it! However, recently, when I look at the computer screens around me, these playful games are being replaced with more intellectual games. Crosswords, Sudokus, Chess, Wordle, and 2048 are all popular games MP students have turned to to keep themselves entertained during especially draining classes.
When newspapers and magazines served as the primary source of news, the daily crosswords were a particularly popular form of entertainment. However, as online news sources replaced newspapers, crosswords and other puzzles meant to be played on paper were replaced with more high-tech games. Over the past few years, however, these mind games have been switching to online forums. To achieve this, they have had to adapt their classic games to not only appeal to the new generation but also to fit the new medium.
One news source that has jumped on this popular trend is the New York Times. From buying Wordle to creating the New York Times Mini back in 2014, they know how to keep their new audience engaged. Keeping the daily aspect of the puzzle by introducing a new one every day helps to keep people interested, since there is only one puzzle and players can “compete” with their friends. Competition, in fact, could be a large reason these games are re-emerging. Online chess games, which, similar to crosswords, are suddenly popular once again, allow students to compete with their friends. Plus, these puzzles are incredibly addicting. We get a huge dopamine boost when we complete a puzzle, and several small ones as we work towards its completion. It’s this aspect of competition and dopamine rush that keeps so many people returning to their daily puzzles. Personally, I love this new trend because I love competing with my friends to complete puzzles first, and I’m a huge fan of crossword puzzles!
Logic games are more than just a fun pastime, however, whether users know this or not. Psychology reveals that our brains actually benefit from this hobby. According to Progress Lifeline, “working on a puzzle reinforces connections between brain cells, improves mental speed and is an effective way to improve short-term memory”. Additional potential benefits include increased IQ, prevention of cognitive diseases such as Alzhiemer’s and Dementia, lower stress levels, and improved visio-spatial reasoning.
So, this trend is both fun and beneficial.