[For Seniors] Brain-training puzzle game you can enjoy solo! Perfect pastime for killing time
Enjoyable fun on your own! Are you looking for a relaxing puzzle game that keeps your mind flexible? Activities like matchstick puzzles, Tetris, and Japan map puzzles that skillfully use your fingers and stimulate the brain are reliable companions for making solo time more fulfilling.
This time, we’re introducing enjoyable puzzle games that are easy for older adults to try.
By moving your hands and focusing, you’ll naturally feel refreshed.
Why not give them a try at your own pace?
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Puzzle Games (11–20)
Puzzle
Puzzles you can lose yourself in and forget the time are a classic way to pass the time! Using your fingertips to pick up tiny pieces and searching for the exact spot where each one fits while you think things through makes puzzles great for helping prevent cognitive decline.
Plus, the experience of creating a single finished piece with your own hands builds confidence and lifts your spirits.
Another great thing about puzzles is the excitement of working while picturing the completed image! Choose a puzzle with a moderate difficulty—neither too hard nor too boring—and make your free time more enjoyable.
Three-Color Matching Puzzle
It’s a puzzle game where you match pairs of colors formed by three half-circles attached to wooden sticks.
First, place a round sticker so that it spans two sticks, then cut the sticker down the middle with a utility knife.
Create many sticks by changing the sticker patterns, arrange them randomly, and you’re ready to play.
Carefully observing the colors and trying combinations is key, and tracking the colors with your eyes also helps stimulate the brain.
The more stickers and sticks you add, the higher the difficulty, so once you get used to it, try adding variations.
Number puzzle
It’s a puzzle game where you use slits and folds on a sheet with numbers to line up four of the same number.
There are numbers on both sides of 12 squares—24 numbered faces in total—and there are three slits in the middle.
By cleverly folding and making good use of these slits, you complete square sets of four matching numbers in order, starting from the smallest number.
If you place the numbers incorrectly, the puzzle may become unsolvable, so be very careful to arrange them precisely when you create it.
A puzzle made of cardboard with 3 to 4 layers
Let’s make a bento box! Here’s an idea for a 3–4 layer puzzle made out of cardboard.
Most puzzles are usually finished with one or two layers, right? This time, let’s stack cardboard to create a 3–4 layer puzzle.
What you’ll need: cardboard, construction paper, glue, a craft knife, and a permanent marker.
It sounds fun to spend time making it while thinking about what side dishes to put inside the bento.
Try incorporating cute ideas with a sense of humor!
Mini simple puzzle made with origami
Let’s look for a design you like! Here are some ideas for a simple mini puzzle you can make with origami.
In recent years, origami featuring character themes and beautiful patterns has become available.
This time, let’s make a puzzle using origami and cardstock.
You’ll need two sheets of cardstock, origami paper, glue, and scissors or a craft knife.
Glue your favorite origami paper onto the cardstock, then cut it with scissors or a craft knife.
Once you attach a frame to the backing cardstock, it’s complete! Feel free to adjust the size and number of pieces as you like.
Kongming Puzzle
Do you know the Kongming puzzle? The Kongming puzzle is said to have been developed by the military strategist Zhuge Kongming, who was active during the Three Kingdoms period.
It looks like a set of interlocking bamboo blocks.
The goal is to take all the blocks apart.
In terms of content, it’s similar to a disentanglement puzzle.
There are several variations of the Kongming puzzle, each with a different level of difficulty.
That makes you want to collect more than one, doesn’t it? Fortunately, the price is reasonable, so it’s easy on your wallet.
Quiz, Games, Hobbies (1–10)
Brain training quiz
Brain-training quizzes are said to help prevent dementia.
You often see them on TV shows, right? There are many types of brain-training quizzes, which makes it easy to keep at them without getting bored.
For example, there are recall quizzes where you search for the correct answer based on past events, math quizzes where you solve equations, and linked-compound-word quizzes where you play shiritori using compound words.
It’s said that different quizzes engage different parts of the brain, so choose ones that match your goals.
You can enjoy them through books, apps, or YouTube videos.