💪 Brain Gym

Free brain games for every age

Brain Gym is a free collection of short exercises for memory, concentration, numbers and words. There's a new three-part workout each day, or you can just pick any exercise you feel like. Each one takes a minute or two, so it's easy to fit into a coffee break. There's no sign-up, no subscription and no fees, and it works on computers, tablets and phones.

Brain games for seniors

Many online brain games are fast, small and fussy. Brain Gym has a calm mode made for anyone who wants things a little easier on the eyes: older adults, people using a tablet at arm's length, and younger children too. Tick the box on the first screen to get bigger text and bigger buttons, more time to study what's on the screen and no speed goals. You keep the setting until you turn it off. Every exercise starts with a simple explanation, and nothing bad happens if you make a mistake. There are no lives to lose and nothing to buy. A grown-up child or carer can set it up in a moment, because there's nothing to install or sign up for.

The eight exercises

Number Memory shows you a string of numbers to remember and tap back. Square Memory lights up a pattern on a grid for you to repeat. Colour Clash shows colour names printed in a different colour of ink, and asks for the ink, a famous test of attention known as the Stroop effect. Quick Sums gives you simple mental arithmetic. Same as Before? asks if each shape matches the one before it. Quick Tap checks your reactions: wait for green, then tap. Number Hunt asks you to find the numbers from 1 upward in a jumbled grid, a concentration exercise often called a Schulte table. Odd Word Out asks which of four words doesn't belong.

What can brain games do?

We'd like to be straight about this, because the claims around brain training can get carried away. Exercises like these are enjoyable, they give you a little mental workout, and with practice you'll get better at them. Researchers have found it's much less clear whether that improvement carries over to everyday life, and no game can prevent or treat memory problems. In fact, regulators have fined brain-training companies for making claims like that. If you or someone you know is worried about memory, a doctor is the right person to talk to. What we can honestly promise is a few pleasant minutes of keeping your mind busy, and a nice feeling when you beat your score.

What helps your brain most

Health organisations generally point to the same everyday things for looking after your brain: staying physically active, sleeping well, eating a balanced diet, keeping in touch with friends and family, and continuing to learn new things. A daily game can be one small part of that, and it's especially good if you share it. Why not compare stars with a grandchild, or do the day's workout together over a cup of tea?

Daily workout and streaks

Each day, Brain Gym picks three exercises for you, and they're the same for everybody on that date. Finish all three to add a day to your streak. If you miss a day, the streak just starts again, and there's no penalty. Your stars for each exercise are simply your best result, so you can only go up. It's all saved on your own device, and it stays private.

Concentration games for kids too

Children like these exercises as well, especially Quick Tap and Number Hunt, which feel like real games. Colour Clash is fun to try in a group, because everyone is surprised by how hard it is. Teachers can use them as a short, quiet break between lessons, and Number Hunt in particular is a good way to settle a class. Choose calm mode for younger children, so that there's no time pressure.

Tips for getting the most from Brain Gym

Little and often beats long and rarely, so try a workout at the same time each day, perhaps with your morning coffee. Mix things up, because it's the exercises you find hardest that give your mind the most to do. For Number Memory, try saying the numbers quietly to yourself, or grouping them in pairs, like a phone number. For Colour Clash, try blurring your eyes slightly so that you take in the colour before the word. For Number Hunt, keep your eyes in the middle of the grid and try to see the whole board at once. Most of all, keep it light. A score is just a score, and a bad day doesn't mean anything. If you're playing with a parent or grandparent, sharing a laugh over a hard round may well be the best part.

More memory and brain games

For more practice, try the card-matching games on the Memory Games page, the logic of Picture Logic or the patterns of IQ Puzzle Challenge. A daily habit? Try Riddle of the Day. Every puzzle is on the Brain Games page.

Free and safe

Brain Gym is free to play, with no download, no sign-up and nothing to buy. There is no chat, and your progress is saved only on your own device. See the Parents & Safety page for more.

Frequently asked questions