Mind Building Games

Board Games

• Play board games that lean heavily toward strategy. Some date back for centuries, such as Mancala, Go, backgammon and chess. Contemporary games sure to stretch your cerebral cortex include Cranium, Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble. War games and situational games such as Stratego, Risk and Settlers of Catan will get you thinking as well.

Card Games

• While some card games have an easy enough set of rules that playing them can feel mindless after awhile (think solitaire), other card games keep you on your mental feet. Bridge, cribbage, pinochle and gin rummy make good options.

Electronic Games

• Whether you buy games or play them free online, you'll find a wealth of electronic games to challenge your brain. Look for games that address spatial reasoning, such as Tetris, and pattern finding, such as Bejeweled.

Pencil Puzzles

• You don't need a partner to play mind-building puzzles such as logic puzzles, sudoku puzzles, word finds and crossword puzzles. Start with easier puzzles, then challenge yourself to slowly work to more difficult puzzles. Pick up a puzzle book or attempt online versions. One puzzle a day keeps your mind sharp.

Brain Teasers

• Several online websites offer individualized IQ-building games you can play for a few minutes (or longer) each day. Save your progress, and challenge yourself to beat old records. These games aim specifically to increase your mental power and don't cost anything to play. You can also find brain teaser books such as those put out by Mensa International.

Jigsaw Puzzles

• Classic jigsaw puzzles keep that brain working. Puzzles come in a variety of sizes and challenge different skill levels. If you're a beginner, start with an easier puzzle. For experts, seek out those puzzles geared to challenge your advanced skills.

Homemade Games

• You don't have to go to the store to find mind-building games. Get creative and make your own. Build a marble run game and see how slowly you can get the marble to advance down the field. Get a friend or family member in on the action, and race against each other. This provides a great way to get kids working their thinking muscles, but it's still fun for adults.