[For Seniors] Perfect for Passing the Time! A Collection of Recommended Game Apps for the Elderly
With the spread of smartphones and tablets, game apps that can stimulate the brain while being enjoyable are gaining attention.
A wide variety of genres have emerged, including mahjong, brain-training, and action games.
Some apps even let you experience what it’s like to live with a dog or cat, while others use location information to catch Pokémon when you’re out and about—content that brings energy to everyday life.
In this article, we introduce apps that are easy to operate and let you spend your time at a relaxed pace.
Enjoy a selection of appealing games that stimulate your thinking while helping you unwind.
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Puzzle Games (11–20)
Nekomusubi
Nekomusubi is a simple puzzle game.
Panels featuring various cats appear on the screen, and you trace and connect panels with the same cat.
Connected panels disappear.
The rules are easy to understand, so it’s simple to get started—but there’s surprising depth as well.
There are over 200 stages that gradually increase in difficulty, so everyone should find a satisfying challenge.
You can also choose from four difficulty levels, from easy to hard.
Pick the difficulty that suits you best.
Neko Musubi - A casual, fluffy brain-training puzzle gameCategory: Games Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.5443
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Four-character idiom crossword
If you want to build your vocabulary, we recommend “Four-Character Idiom Cross.” It’s like a crossword puzzle but with four-character idioms.
Some idioms have missing characters, and you choose the correct kanji from the options to fill them in.
For idioms you don’t know, you can check the correct answer and meaning afterward.
Even if you’re not familiar with many idioms, you’ll gradually become more knowledgeable.
You can also enjoy puzzle games by selecting different modes.
Try it out and see which mode you like best.
Four-character idiom cross — word puzzle game PopularCategory: Games Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.07585
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Put Number
This is a puzzle game where you place blocks of consecutive numbers into empty spaces, aiming to line up identical numbers and clear them.
Although it uses numbers, placement matters more than calculation, so think ahead to arrange blocks in ways that clear as many as possible at once.
After you use three blocks, the next three appear, so it’s important to anticipate that as you place them.
Because the core action is simply rotating and placing block shapes, it’s a game that really helps sharpen your concentration.
Words of Wonders
It’s a puzzle game where you form words from the given letters to complete a crossword.
The beautiful scenery in the background is also a highlight, and it can sometimes serve as a hint to broaden your thinking as you casually work out the answers.
Since you can only use the given letters and each letter can be used only once, it may seem simple, but there are more patterns than you’d expect, and it can take time to reach the solution.
Brute-forcing by elimination is one way to solve it, but I recommend looking at the entire set of letters and imagining words—this helps activate your brain.
As the number of letters increases, the difficulty rises, putting your ability to draw out words to the test.
Words of Wonders: World Puzzles & CrosswordsCategory: Games Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.57068
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Garden Dream Life
There’s a puzzle game called “Garden Dream Life” that gives you a refreshing sense of satisfaction.
It’s a game where you collect cute, colorful flowers and connect three or more of the same kind.
It starts with easy stages, but the difficulty gradually increases, so there’s plenty of challenge.
Each stage also has different conditions, and clearing them lets you earn higher scores.
It’s great for brain training for seniors, and it sounds fun to compete with those around you over which stage you’re currently on.
Garden Dream Life: Flower Match 3 PuzzleCategory: Games, Free, iOS Universal, Rating: 4.08
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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Word Cross
How about trying a crossword that makes full use of your smartphone’s touch capabilities? Introducing “Tango Cross.” The rules are the same as a standard crossword, but you enter words by tracing blocks labeled with the Japanese syllabary displayed at the bottom of the screen.
As a result, it tests not only your crossword-solving skills, but also your dexterity in tapping quickly and accurately, as well as your decision-making.
By the way, it also features a mode for competing with friends and modes where words appear according to specific genres.
Download on Google PlayJapan Map Puzzle: Learn Through Play
A smartphone app that’s known for helping you learn geography is “Asobite Manaberu: Japan Map Puzzle.” Simply put, it’s a puzzle that uses Japan’s prefectures.
Pieces shaped like prefectures appear one after another at the bottom of the screen, and you fit them into the map of Japan.
You compete on how fast you can complete them all.
However, because the pieces appear randomly, luck is also an important factor for getting a good time.
Keep trying repeatedly and challenge yourself to set a new record.
Japan Map Puzzle: Learn Through PlayCategory: Games Free iOS Universal Rating: 4.31156
iPhone / iPadAndroid
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