Whilst some of us enjoy whiling away a few mindless hours on a computer game, others want something that’s a little more challenging. If you enjoy thinking deeply about a task, tend to consider yourself something of a perfectionist and always seem to be browsing through the strategy section of the game store, then you’re going to love the selection of games that we’ve picked out. Some will encourage you to think laterally, others to develop a strategy and stick rigorously to it. Some will test your abilities to always be thinking a few steps into the future and the rest will test your ability to keep calm under pressure. If gaming is a relaxing hobby for you, then prepare to be shocked as these games are more of a lesson than a recess.
Civilization
There have been so many versions of the Civilization game now that it’s becoming difficult to keep count, but suffice it to say this game is the favourite strategy game of a lot of people for a very good reason, it’s just great. The premise in all adaptations of the game is to take a small group of people and grow them into a thriving civilization. Along the way, you’ll need to work out ways to house, feed, clothe and take care of your growing population. You’ll research your way through different technologies, from the most basic things like collecting sticks to make a fire, to learning how to smelt metals to make armor. Whilst this game might seem simple at the outset, it quickly becomes clear that the decisions you make have a big effect on how your population grows. Something as simple as growing the wrong crop could kill off a good chunk of your people, so this is certainly a strategy game for those who want to become better at always thinking one step ahead.
Teen Patti
When we think about games that suit deeply strategic players, many of us immediately go to the high detail, open-world, strategy game format, but more traditional games like poker, blackjack, and teen patti are all based entirely around strategy. If you typically head straight for the blockbuster games like those we’ve just mentioned, then trying something with a simpler interface could be rewarding for you. The iGaming industry is vast, so finding a site that has the games you want to play, works correctly in your country, and, hopefully, gives you a signup offer can be tricky unless you know where to look. AsiaBet has compiled a list of the best online casinos in India which is particularly useful for those who are fans of games like teen patti that aren’t usually available to play in Western casinos. As well as independently reviewing and rating each casino, they also detail the bonuses on offer, which could help to save you some money. Teen Patti is particularly good for strategic thinkers, as remembering the values of suits and rankings, as well as keeping up with the nuances of the variation you are playing (there are many) encourages you to use different parts of your brain simultaneously.
Portal 2
The Portal series is a game that really divides people. Some find the world a little too alien to deal with and the gameplay a bit too free. However, if you enjoy having to work things out totally on your own and largely being left to your own devices when it comes to the storyline, then you’re probably going to really enjoy it. You’ll begin the game trapped inside a slightly terrifying laboratory. You’re armed with only your portal gun and your intellect. The game requires you to think several steps ahead, allowing you to peak through portals and work out where to place them in order to stand the best chance of escaping. Interestingly, there’s little evidence to support that this game might actually make you cleverer. A small university study asked a group of students to play either a brain training game (Lumosity) or Portal 2 for a total of eight hours. Despite the fact that Lumosity is specifically designed to train your brain, it was found that half of the subjects who played Portal 2 had a far greater improvement in their cognitive skills than those who had played Lumosity.
Online Chess
Sometimes the oldies are the goodies and there’s not another game that deep thinkers excel at quite like chess. Whilst playing chess on a board has a certain charm to it, the big benefit of playing chess online is that you can match yourself with players of any ability. There’ll be people who are chess whizzes and those who are just setting out, meaning that you can steadily climb up the ranks and challenge yourself every step along the way.
