Do memory games and brain games improve memory?
Brainura team · Updated · 3 min read
Short answer: you get better at the games you practise. Whether that makes your everyday memory better is far less certain, and the honest answer from research is “mostly not much.” Here is what the big studies found, and what works better.
Near transfer vs. far transfer
Researchers separate two kinds of improvement. The difference between them is the whole story of brain training.
Near transfer: reliable
- Higher scores on the game you practise
- Better results on very similar tasks
- Visible within days or weeks
Far transfer: thin evidence
- Remembering names and appointments
- Following a long conversation
- General intelligence or everyday life
So when an app shows your memory score climbing, that progress is real at that task. The open question is whether it spreads to anything else.
What the large studies found
11,430
adults trained online for 6 weeks (2010)
2,832
older adults followed for 10 years (ACTIVE)
2016
major review of brain-training evidence
| Study | What they did | What they found |
|---|---|---|
| Owen et al., 2010 (Nature) | 11,430 adults trained online for six weeks on memory, reasoning and attention tasks | Clear gains on the trained tasks; little or no improvement on untrained tests, even closely related ones |
| ACTIVE trial, 10-year follow-up (2014) | 2,832 adults aged 65+ received memory, reasoning or speed-of-processing training | Reasoning and speed gains on the trained abilities lasted; the memory group's advantage on memory tests faded. All groups reported somewhat less difficulty with daily activities (self-reported) |
| Simons et al., 2016 (review) | Psychologists examined the studies cited by brain-training companies | Extensive evidence for gains on trained tasks, less for related tasks, little that training improves everyday cognition |
So why play at all?
Because a short daily game can be a good habit for its own sake. Just pick it for the right reasons.
- Five minutes of real focus. No notifications, one task, full attention.
- Visible progress. Getting better at something you practise feels good, and it is genuine progress at that skill.
- A daily check-in. Your scores move with sleep, stress and time of day, which tells you something about yourself.
- Fun. A puzzle you enjoy beats scrolling.
What has better evidence for memory
| Habit | Why it helps | Easy way to start |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep | Memory consolidation happens largely during sleep; short sleep hurts attention and learning | Keep a regular bedtime, especially before a day of learning |
| Testing yourself | Recalling information strengthens memory more than rereading it | After reading, close the book and write down what you remember |
| Spacing reviews | Reviewing over several days beats cramming into one session | Review new material after a day, a few days and a week |
| Physical activity | Aerobic exercise is linked with better memory and a larger hippocampus in older adults | A brisk walk most days of the week |
Staying socially active and learning genuinely new skills, like a language or an instrument, are also linked with better cognitive health over the years.
A balanced five-minute routine
If you enjoy brain games, combine them with what has evidence behind it. Here is a simple daily routine.
- 1
Warm up with one game (2 min)
Pick something you enjoy: a memory test, a matching game or a Schulte table.
- 2
Recall something real (2 min)
Without notes, write down three things you learned yesterday. That is retrieval practice.
- 3
Plan one review (1 min)
Note what to revisit in a few days: spacing does the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Do memory games improve memory?
They reliably improve your performance on the games themselves and on very similar tasks. Evidence that they improve memory in everyday life is weak.
Are brain games a waste of time?
Not if you enjoy them and keep expectations realistic. They are a pleasant way to focus for a few minutes. They are not a proven way to boost general intelligence or prevent decline.
What is the best way to improve memory?
Good sleep, testing yourself instead of rereading, spacing out reviews, and staying physically and socially active have stronger support than games alone.
How long should I play brain games each day?
A few minutes is plenty. Short, regular sessions are easier to keep up, and long sessions mostly add fatigue rather than benefit.
Try next
Five minutes of brain games a day
Brainura has 26 short games for memory, attention, speed and logic, with honest expectations and no ads.
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Sources
- Owen, A. M., et al. (2010). Putting brain training to the test. Nature, 465(7299), 775–778.
- Rebok, G. W., et al. (2014). Ten-year effects of the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly cognitive training trial on cognition and everyday functioning in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 62(1), 16–24.
- Simons, D. J., et al. (2016). Do “brain-training” programs work? Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 17(3), 103–186.
- Roediger, H. L., & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-enhanced learning: Taking memory tests improves long-term retention. Psychological Science, 17(3), 249–255.
- Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354–380.
- Diekelmann, S., & Born, J. (2010). The memory function of sleep. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11(2), 114–126.
- Erickson, K. I., et al. (2011). Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(7), 3017–3022.