Why we need brain boosting games in the industry

Perhaps the strongest argument for brain-boosting games in the industry is how they cultivate competition and often influence new designs.

10:44 07 June 2024

Keeping ourselves sharp between the ears should be high up on all of our personal agendas – and one of the most effective ways to blow off those neurological cobwebs is to try out some games that concentrate our focus, engage our minds and keep us mentally active. There are many studies that have shown the connection between keeping the brain engaged, mental clarity and lucidity, but if we’re looking at it from an industry perspective – which is what we will be doing today – there’s a whole other set of criteria to examine. 

Cultivating competition

Perhaps the strongest argument for brain-boosting games in the industry is how they cultivate competition and often influence new designs. This doesn’t apply to all games, of course, but several have found success in the industry, and those that involve strategy have driven the digital gaming sector to new heights. 

Casino gaming is one area that continues to draw influence from more traditional types of brain games. However, they also share some mutual variables – most notably the emphasis on strategy and learning how to process odds and chances, and perform quickfire maths in your head. Card-based casino games are the best examples of this. Blackjack is a game that involves elements of strategy and quick calculations to determine whether you should keep your current hand or decide to twist or hit. 

Casino platforms have developed such ferocious competition against each other that a number of them have created blackjack games that deviate from the traditional model in a bid to interest new customers. While this does not always work, it keeps people engaged, has designers consistently seeking out new ways to play and provides fresh gaming ideas, all of which help fuel the industry's success.

A range of options

While video and console games might have a significant variety, millions of people still wish to seek out brain-boosting games online. Many of these games, including crosswords or word search puzzles, were often found in print publications that have taken a huge hit in the wake of the digital and smartphone boom. As the newspaper and magazine industry continues on its downward trend, digital providers have mirrored these games so that you can play them for free online. 

By having these options available and ensuring that they remain cost-effective, it helps the industry not to become too focused on areas that generate a lot of money. Casino gaming is one of these industries, as we discussed in the last section, as is the video and console gaming industry. As two separate entities, these areas of gaming are worth tens of billions of dollars. However, while brain boosting games appeal to a large demographic, a lot of the gamers who seek out these types of games tend to be in a slightly older bracket, as they did not grow up with some of the popular console games we see online today.

So, when we say a range of options, we mean it from a demographic perspective, even more so than simply a base-level choice. While it clearly contributes, there are other factors that might not be apparent at first glance, and any industry that becomes monopolistic or too set on one area instead of its wider industry will ultimately suffer – which again highlights the importance of having a wide selection of games available.

Concentration, focus and knowledge 

Video console games are a great way for people to unwind or socialise with their friends online, but there’s a mixed view within the industry about whether they actually have long-term detrimental effects on people’s brains and concentration. 

While the research provides somewhat of a mixed opinion on this, many video console games fall into repetitive patterns. If you’re somebody who games, you will understand the mental lethargy that can sometimes come with it. 

Brain boosting games offer a totally different avenue to this and are shown to engage the brain, increase focus and help with concentration. In addition, developers are constantly looking to implement new growth areas, whether it be AI or blockchain technology, and combining these elements helps to improve cognitive function by learning new skills and honing your focus.

Summary 

As you can see, there are many reasons why brain boosting games are still playing a vital role in the gaming industry. Ensuring that monopolistic stagnation doesn’t result in a lack of ideas is important for the long-term health of the industry. A range of options helps to keep people immersed in what’s on offer, and by providing proven ways to improve your cognitive function and overall mental focus, that’s a hat-trick of key reasons why brain boosting games are a necessity in the wider gaming landscape.