Researchers are now trying to change the concept of how games are perceived. From a form of escape to an enhancement of audio-visual motor and problem-solving skills.
There are now active startups working on games that act as a catalyst for improving problem-solving skills or what we call reinforcement learning/logic-based learning. Anything from puzzles, pictograms, riddles, jigsaw, and others, all have some sort of problem-solving elements existing in them.
All these games are now available online and on mobile.
Active Problem-Solving Areas Include:
- Active listening
- Analysis
- Research
- Creativity
- Communication
- Dependability
- Decision making
- Team-building
Experts believe that these problem-solving skills can be improved through the board and video games. Many games exist that are already reinforcing their learning, and many new games are in active development.
Games that Improve your Problem-Solving Skills
- Sound Bingo
The game is designed for preschoolers so that they can learn to distinguish different sounds and match them to the correct entity on their boards. It is made in consultation with researchers and available on paper and on websites and tablets.
Children listen to various sounds, and then they get three or four options of closely similar objects. They have to match each sound with the right option from the list. Sound Bingo is a perfect game for people who are trying to homeschool their children. It not only improves user behavior but also enhances auditory functions.
- Monopoly
Anyone looking to enhance their analytical skills can play Monopoly. It is a transactional analysis board game now available on the web and mobile.
The game teaches young adults money management and financial planning. It was introduced with the purpose of bringing small children to the world of asset management. Monopoly is one of the most widely played games online and is known to improve problem-solving skills related to transactional management.
- Chess
Another great game that comes under the ‘Analysis’ problem-solving domain.
Chess is also called the ‘war analysis’ game. We already have Chess tournaments happening around the world, so it is quite a famous game, and people play it in leisure. Many are in favor that Chess is a ‘killer instinct’ game where players try to win ruthlessly by destroying the other person. They come up with different strategies that can sabotage the other person’s campaigns, and so on.
- Count Faster
All of us know the importance of maths in our daily lives and what could be better than to comprehend numbers quickly. Count Faster by airG MiniMe 500c allows to do just that. The quick calculations in the given time frame make our brains sharp.
It allows us to get more efficient in solving day to day problems. Mental math also greatly improves a person’s number sense, allowing you to solve complex problems in a go. Once you get the hang of accurate calculations, you can unlock the complexities of many real-world scenarios that involve computations.
- Dr. Parking
Dr. Parking is a car parking online mobile game. You are a valet for a mall, and you have to park various types of cars in the garage and other parking areas available near it. Dr. Parking starts easy and slow but gets challenging with time. This is where the creativity instinct kicks in. It directly focuses on user behavior and how gracefully they can complete each level within the given time. Dr. Parking has many versions available, and the current one is Dr. Parking 4.
- PUBG
Communication is the key to survival in all multiplayer online games. Take Dota, CS Go, GTA, or any other game that people love to play online; even if the player is using a mmr boost dota 2 service to improve at a higher bracket, they still need to be effective at communicating when playing to continue improving. An addition to these best games is PUBG. It is an open-world multiplayer online game where you battle in squads.
Each squad has four players, and all of them have to interact with each other to win the game as a team. In these games, communication plays an important role because players plan each of their moves and conduct coordinated strikes to win the game. Without their communication, they can’t win the game and get the chicken dinner.
PUBG is highly famous around the world and is played daily by almost 50 million players.
- League of Legends
Another online multiplayer game where cooperation and communication is key. Players control teams of up to 4 characters and try to destroy the core of the opposing team’s base. League’s problem-solving comes in the form of the characters you can choose for your team, such as lux or teemo, and the tools you give them. These characters have unique skills that make them very different to fight with or against. Players need to analyze their competition and decide the best setups to help them win.
In addition, League teaches patience and responsibility. Games can take up to an hour with many twists and turns. Situations change and it is up to the players to think of a new strategy and solution to ensure they win.
- SIM Basin
Another great game related to problem-solving is SIM Basin. The game is kid-friendly but requires a higher level of intellect. It is a perfect game for anyone who would like to know more about the earth and how various environmental issues impact it daily. They can also connect the dots of how these environmental issues emerge in the first place through the negligence of human beings on multiple levels.
SIM Basin is not just one game of decision-making, the purpose of mentioning it is because it covers everything one would need to improve their decision-making. It also helps with reward vs. consequence through an interactive gaming environment.
- CS GO
Another problem-solving skill, ‘dependability’ is best taught through Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO). CS GO is a fast-paced game in which you play as a team. The game only lasts for 3 to 4 minutes, and you either play as the counter-terrorist or the terrorist. You have to kill all the players on the other team to win it. There are a lot of strategies involved so check it out here.
In each team, there is one sniper, two rifle specialists, and one SMG specialist. All team members depend on one another to win the game. Without their combined efforts, each one of them will lose. CS GO is a great game to enhance team dependability and communication. It is played in E-Sports events as well, where teams who win CS GO games get prizes worth in millions.
Bottom-line
Games are fun and easy to play. People learn more through games than through anything else. Kids today are spending more time in front of the computer than anywhere else. So, if you want to improve the problem-solving skills of your children, this is the right time to make them play these games.