25+ Executive Function Games to Boost Brain Skills
Get a copy of our Free 10+ Powerful Executive Function Games Guide to help you teach, build, and support executive function skills for kids and teens.
Executive function skills are vital cognitive abilities that allow both children and adults to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. These functions are fundamental for success in school, work, and day-to-day life. Training these skills can be a rich and rewarding experience, and one effective method of doing so is through the use of specially designed games. These games are not only enjoyable but also serve a dual purpose: they engage players in fun activities while concurrently strengthening various aspects of executive function.
Introducing games into the development process for executive function can be especially beneficial for young learners. Games that aim to improve skills like memory, flexible thinking, and self-control can provide a solid foundation for young adults and teens as they navigate complex educational and social landscapes. For adults, games designed to bolster executive function can also provide an edge in professional environments or assist in maintaining cognitive flexibility.
Key Takeaways
- Games offer an enjoyable approach to enhance executive function skills for all ages.
- Consistent play can improve cognitive abilities integral to academic and personal success.
- Selection and integration of appropriate games into everyday routine optimize executive function training.
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Understanding Executive Functions
Executive functions (EF) are like the CEO of your brain, directing your thoughts, actions, and emotions to help you succeed in everyday tasks and challenges. Below, you'll find a more detailed look at what these functions entail and how particular types of games can foster their development.
What Are Executive Functions?
Executive functions are a set of cognitive skills essential for controlling and managing your thoughts, actions, and emotions. They enable you to:
- Plan and organize your day-to-day tasks
- Prioritize what's most important
- Focus your attention and avoid distractions
- Remember instructions and information (working memory)
- Regulate your emotions and control impulses (impulse control and self-control)
- Adapt to new situations (flexibility)
These skills are fundamental for academic success, social interaction, and overall independent living.
Keep Reading to Get Your Free 10+ Powerful Executive Function Games Guide!
Please keep reading to get a copy of our Free 10+ Powerful Executive Function Games Guide to help you teach, build, and support executive function skills for kids and teens.

The Role of Games in EF Development
Games, especially ones designed with your EF skills in mind, can be powerful tools for strengthening these capabilities. Through gameplay, you can practice and enhance various components of executive functions, such as:
- Attention: Games often require concentration and the ability to filter out distractions.
- Memory: Remembering rules, strategies, and previous turns exercises your working memory.
- Flexibility: Adapting to new rules or unexpected game developments helps you practice flexibility.
- Impulse Control: Waiting for your turn and thinking before acting cultivates self-control and impulse regulation.
Incorporating game-based learning into your routine can support EF development in an engaging and enjoyable way. Whether you're a child or an adult, games can offer a structured environment to practice and improve these vital skills.
Types of Executive Function Games
Discovering a variety of games that challenge and enhance your executive function skills can be both fun and beneficial. Whether you prefer a tactile experience with physical pieces, the convenience of digital platforms, or the classic feel of cards and boards, there's something tailored for everyone's taste and developmental goals.
Board Games
- Strategy Games: Engage in games like chess which require you to think ahead and plan your moves, effectively bolstering your problem-solving and planning abilities.
- Memory Chess Game: Enhance working memory and attention to detail by recalling moves and positions in Memory Chess.
- No Stress Chess: Learn chess without the pressure, which supports task initiation and flexibility in thinking as you become familiar with different pieces and their moves.
Card Games
- Sudoku and Pictionary: Sharpen your working memory and improve impulse control as you match numbers in Sudoku or sketch rapidly in a pressure-driven round of Pictionary.
- Quiddler: This card game challenges you to create words from the letters you're dealt with, boosting your linguistic processing and strategic planning skills.
Physical Games
- Jenga: Carefully removing blocks to maintain the tower's integrity in Jenga can significantly enhance your hand-eye coordination and impulse control.
- Sports: Participating in team sports or activities requires the rapid execution of complex physical and mental tasks, improving your overall executive function.
Digital Games
- Brain Training Apps: Utilize the convenience of your smartphone or tablet with apps designed to train different aspects of executive functioning, like inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility.
- Online Puzzles: Completing digital puzzles, solving online riddles, or playing interactive strategy games can bolster your executive function skills in an entertaining and engaging way.
Games for Different Age Groups
When you're looking to boost executive functions across different age groups, choosing age-appropriate and engaging activities is key. Here’s a roundup of games that cater to various developmental stages, ensuring fun while enhancing cognitive skills.
Games for Kids
For younger children, games should focus on multipurpose activities combining fun with cognitive development. A classic choice is Simon Says, which promotes impulse control and attention. For kids who enjoy a digital approach, memory games based on a computer or tablet offer a dynamic way to improve working memory and concentration.
- Hand clapping games: improve coordination and memory
- Board games like Chutes and Ladders: assist in learning about consequences and encourage turn-taking
Younger Kids (Ages 3-6)
- Simon Says – Focuses on attention and self-control.
- Hopscotch – Improves planning and sequencing skills.
- Happy Salmon – Enhances attention, speed, and the ability to switch tasks.
- Feed the Woozle – Develops fine motor skills, counting, and turn-taking.
- Snug as a Bug in a Rug – Encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and using strategies.
- Outfoxed! – A cooperative game that develops logic and deduction.
School-Aged Kids (Ages 6-10)
- Zingo – A bingo-style game that boosts language and matching skills.
- Dragonwood – Enhances strategic thinking and probability evaluation.
- Rush Hour –
- Qwirkle – Improves strategic planning and pattern recognition.
- Magic Maze – Enhances spatial awareness and cooperative problem-solving.
Executive Function Toys for Kids
- Tangram Sets – Develop spatial awareness and problem-solving skills.
- Bop It! – Improves memory, motor skills, and auditory processing.
- Balance Beans – Introduces logic, physics, and math in a fun way.
- Color Code – Enhances visual perception, planning, and problem-solving.
- Kanoodle – Builds upon spatial reasoning and critical thinking through puzzles.
Check out our Free Executive Function Games Guide to help you build and support executive function skills with your child or teen.

Games for Teens
Teenagers will benefit from games that require strategy and planning. Consider introducing card games like spades or bridge, which necessitate foresight and adaptability. Also, video games that are more complex, involving mission completions and strategy, can help enhance their problem-solving and organizational skills.
- Strategy-based video games: boost planning and problem-solving abilities
- Sudoku or crossword puzzles: sharpen focus and working memory
Middle Schoolers (Ages 11-13)
- Forbidden Island – Develops strategic planning and cooperative problem-solving.
- Cortex Challenge – Tests memory, speed, and tactile challenges.
- Suspend – A balancing game that improves strategic thinking and hand-eye coordination.
- Rory's Story Cubes – Stimulates imagination and narrative skills, enhancing creative and critical thinking.
- Labyrinth – Enhances planning and problem-solving abilities.
- Head Rush – Helps improve social interactions and problem solving skills.
Teens (Ages 14+)
- Pandemic – Encourages teamwork, strategic planning, and problem-solving.
- Ultimate Werewolf – Enhances critical thinking, social cues interpretation, and strategic planning.
- Spyfall – Develops questioning, critical thinking, and deductive reasoning skills.
- 7 Wonders – Builds upon strategic planning, resource management, and decision-making skills.
- Codenames – Enhances language skills, teamwork, and strategic thinking.
Games for Young Adults
Young adults often enjoy games that challenge their intellect and social skills. Escape rooms, whether virtual or physical, encourage teamwork, strategic planning, and time management. Additionally, more complex tabletop games like Settlers of Catan can offer an enticing mix of social interaction, strategy, and critical thinking.
- Escape rooms: real-life problem-solving with a fun narrative
- Tabletop games: enjoy socializing while engaging in complex strategic gameplay
Games for Adults
For adults looking to enhance their executive functions, the focus may shift to activities that can be integrated into their routine. Chess, with its intricate strategy and foresight, remains a timeless choice. Online brain training platforms offer a variety of games that target specific cognitive skills and can be conveniently played during breaks or downtime.
- Chess: a timeless, strategic game to enhance foresight and problem-solving
- Brain training apps: personalized games to keep your cognitive skills sharp
Improving Specific Executive Functions
These games and activities are designed to sharpen critical aspects of executive functioning. By incorporating fun and challenging elements, you'll hardly notice you're giving your brain a major workout.
Enhancing Working Memory
Your working memory is like a mental sticky note, holding onto information temporarily for processing. To give it a boost, try engaging in card games like Uno or Memory. Board games such as chess also challenge you to keep track of various pieces and potential moves, thereby enhancing your memory retention.
Boosting Cognitive Flexibility
Cognitive flexibility allows you to switch between different concepts or adapt to new rules. Games that require you to alter strategies, like Settlers of Catan, can really exercise this skill. Puzzles that change patterns or require multistep problem-solving also push the limits of your mental agility.
Strengthening Inhibitory Control
Inhibitory control is your ability to suppress impulses and resist distractions. To strengthen this aspect of executive function, activities that require patience and a steady pace, such as the classic game Simon Says, are beneficial. Practicing meditation or mindfulness exercises can also enhance your ability to maintain focus and attention without yielding to interruptions.
Games Encouraging Social Interaction

Playing games with others can significantly bolster your social interaction skills. You'll enjoy the camaraderie that comes with team-based activities and the creativity unleashed through role-playing games, both of which are fantastic for developing language and empathy.
Team-Based Games
Scrabble: This classic word game is more than just a test of your vocabulary. When played in teams, Scrabble encourages you to strategize and communicate with your partner to come up with the most point-scoring word combinations.
Snake Oil: In this imaginative party game, you work with teammates to create and pitch wacky products to different customers. It's a delightful way to practice persuasion and quick thinking while interacting and laughing with others.
Role-Playing Games
Role-playing games (RPGs) are a unique blend of storytelling and strategy, inviting you to step into a character's shoes and explore different personalities and outcomes. These games are not only engaging, but they're also a playground for social and language skills growth.
When you engage in RPGs, you navigate complex social scenarios that require understanding and empathy. Negotiating, problem-solving, and character development are all part of the process, making every session a rich experience in human interaction.
Executive Functioning Through Play
When you integrate play into learning, it can transform the process into a more engaging and effective experience. Let's dive into how fun and games can enhance your executive functioning skills without feeling like work.
Learning Through Fun
Games are a fantastic way to strengthen executive functions (EF) such as flexible thinking and impulse control—key components that allow you to manage and direct your cognitive processes. By participating in carefully chosen activities, you get the chance to practice these skills in a low-stress environment. Consider games that challenge your working memory or require complex problem-solving, as they can be particularly beneficial. For example, playing a board game like chess encourages you to plan and strategize, thereby training your brain to focus and think ahead.
The Relationship Between Play and EF
The connection between play and executive function is rooted in the idea that your brain learns best when you're engaged and free from distraction. Engaging, play-based activities encourage the development of EF skills by offering a safe space for you to experiment and learn from trial and error. Whether it's during infancy or adolescence, the practice of these skills through play can lead to improvements in task initiation, organization, and emotional control. By playing, you're not just having fun; you're carving out neural pathways that facilitate lifelong learning and adaptability.
Games and Academic Skills
When you think of sharpening your academic skills, games might not be the first tool that comes to mind. However, strategic games can enhance your math, reasoning, and language abilities in an engaging and entertaining way.
Math and Logic Games
Math and logic games are a fun route to boost your problem-solving skills. These games often require quick thinking and a strategic approach to patterns and numbers. Sudoku is a classic example that challenges you to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, row, and section contain the numbers between 1 to 9. Playing Sudoku can improve your number comprehension and logic skills.
Another engaging game that combines math skills with critical thinking is KenKen, which pushes the envelope a bit further by including basic arithmetic operations within a similar grid-based structure. This not only hones your numerical skills but also reinforces your operational understanding.
- List of Math and Logic Games:
- Sudoku
- KenKen
- Chess
- Tower of Hanoi
- Nonograms
- Minesweeper
Language and Word Games
Language and word games not only improve your vocabulary but also strengthen your reasoning and problem-solving skills. Scrabble is a timeless game where your ability to spot language patterns and use strategic tile placements can lead to victory. This game demands you to make the most out of limited resources (your letter tiles) to score points and outmaneuver your opponents.
If you're looking to boost your word recognition and spelling skills, give Boggle a try. It's a fast-paced game where you search for words in a jumble of letters and get points based on word length. The clock is ticking, so your brain is constantly engaged, looking for the next word.
- List of Language and Word Games:
- Scrabble
- Boggle
- Crossword Puzzles
- Bananagrams
- Word Search Puzzles
- Hangman
Incorporating Games into Routine
Integrating games into your daily routine can significantly enhance executive function skills. These structured playtimes serve not only as practice for cognitive growth but also as joyful moments for students, families, and therapy participants.
Games in the Classroom
In your classroom, starting the day with a morning meeting that includes short games can boost attention and set a positive tone. For example, you can use board games that require strategic thinking to foster skills like planning and impulse control. Teachers can pick games that align with the day's lessons, turning potentially monotonous reviews into engaging exercises. Consider designating a “Game Friday” where your class can look forward to practicing executive functions through collaborative play.
Family Game Night
At home, parents can reinforce executive function skills by organizing a family game night. Make it a routine event—perhaps every Wednesday—to play games that require memory or quick decision-making. This not only strengthens family bonds but also continuously and playfully engages skills like emotional control and flexibility in thinking. Choose games that would appeal to all family members to ensure everyone's participation and practice.
Executive Function Family Games
- Dixit – Stimulates creativity and abstract thinking.
- Karuba – Enhances strategic planning and decision-making in a fun, family setting.
- Beat The Parents – A family trivia game that encourages knowledge sharing and bonding.
- Telestrations – Improves communication, creativity, and laughter in a family setting.
- Cooperative Board Games (e.g., Forbidden Desert) – Encourages teamwork, strategic planning, and problem-solving.
Therapy Through Games
Using games in therapy sessions is both effective and enjoyable. If you're a therapist, incorporating tabletop games can help clients work on tasks like emotional regulation and problem-solving. Create a regular book of games that target different executive skills, allowing your clients to choose and empowering them to take charge of their growth. This personal involvement maximizes the therapeutic benefits and keeps the routine fresh and engaging.
Occupational Therapy Executive Function Games
- Traffic Jam – Improves problem-solving, sequencing, and collaborative skills.
- Memory and Sequencing Games – Such as “Simon” to enhance auditory processing and working memory.
- Dexterity Games (e.g., Operation) – Develops fine motor skills, focus, and patience.
Selecting the Right Games

Choosing the right games to enhance executive function is key to effective skill building. Your selections should align with the skill areas you want to improve, such as focus, flexibility, planning, memory, and abstract thinking.
Considerations for Game Selection
When you're picking out games to improve executive functions, think about the specific skills you are aiming to support. For instance, a strategy game might boost planning and flexibility, while a memory chess game could enhance your working memory and strategic planning abilities.
- Skill relevance: Ensure the game challenges the executive function skills you want to develop.
- Age appropriateness: Select games that are suitable for the age and maturity level of the players.
- Engagement factor: A game should be enjoyable to keep you engaged and willing to play repeatedly.
Look for games that require a combination of skills. A game that needs planning, focus, and abstract thinking will offer a comprehensive brain workout as opposed to a game that targets a single skill.
Adapting Games for Different Needs
Every individual's needs and abilities are unique, and games may require some adaptation to be most effective.
- Adjust rules: Simplify or modify game rules to make them more accessible or challenging.
- Use support tools: Implementing tools like timers or visual aids can make it easier for players to keep track of the game and stay engaged.
Remember, the goal is to provide a supportive environment where you can develop executive function skills without getting discouraged. The flexibility of a game to adapt to your needs is crucial for maintaining motivation and progress.
Strategies for Optimizing EF Games
To effectively enhance executive function (EF) skills through games, it's crucial to have targeted strategies and regularly measure progress. These approaches enable you to maximize the benefits of practice through careful planning and prioritizing, fostering problem-solving abilities, and strengthening self-monitoring skills.
Creating a Game Plan
Creating a game plan involves identifying the specific EF skills you aim to improve, such as planning, task initiation, and perseverance. Begin by selecting games known to foster these skills. For example, collaborative games can effectively build skills like critical thinking and working memory.
Next, integrate these games into a routine to encourage consistent practice. Consider the following steps:
- Identify which EF skills you or your students need to develop.
- Choose games based on their potential to improve these targeted skills. Collaborative games, for example, can aid in critical thinking.
- Set clear goals for each gaming session, aligning them with the desired outcomes.
- Allocate specific time periods for playing these games to ensure regular engagement.
Measuring Progress
After establishing a game plan, measuring progress is key to understanding the effectiveness of the games on EF skills. Self-monitoring and metacognition are vital components of this process.
Consider using a progress chart or journal to track:
- Dates and durations of game sessions.
- EF skills practiced in each session.
- Observable improvements, such as enhanced problem-solving abilities or increased perseverance in tasks.
Through these tracking methods, you will see patterns emerge that could inform future planning and prioritizing. By assessing progress and making adjustments to the game plan as necessary, you can ensure that the chosen games are serving their intended purpose and adjust your approaches to optimize cognitive skill development.
Enhancing Cognitive Skills Through Engaging Game Play
In the quest for enriching activities that not only entertain but also stimulate the mind, brain games stand out as a premier choice. These games, designed to challenge and develop various cognitive abilities, offer a fun game experience that's both rewarding and intellectually stimulating. Whether you're facilitating game play in small groups or planning a solo challenge, the benefits of engaging in brain games extend far beyond mere entertainment.
The Power of Problem Solving in Game Play
One of the core advantages of incorporating brain games into your routine is the emphasis on problem solving. These games often present scenarios that require critical thinking, logic, and creativity to navigate. Through game play, participants are not just having fun; they're actively enhancing their problem-solving skills, applying logic to overcome obstacles, and learning to think several steps ahead.
Brain Games for Small Groups: A Pathway to Collaborative Thinking
For small groups, brain games offer a unique opportunity to foster teamwork and collaborative problem-solving skills. In a group setting, individuals must communicate effectively, share strategies, and sometimes negotiate to advance in the game. This type of game play promotes social skills and emotional intelligence, as participants learn to work together towards a common goal, all while enjoying a fun game that challenges their intellect.
Selecting the Right Brain Games for Your Group
When choosing brain games for small groups, consider the interests and age ranges of the participants to ensure the game is engaging and appropriately challenging for everyone involved. Look for games that encourage strategic thinking, memory enhancement, and flexibility in thinking. The goal is to find a fun game that not only captivates the players but also promotes meaningful cognitive engagement.
The Benefits of Regular Game Play
Incorporating brain games into your regular routine can have lasting benefits on cognitive health. Regular game play can improve attention to detail, enhance memory, and even slow down cognitive decline. Moreover, in the context of small groups, these games can strengthen relationships, build communication skills, and create a sense of community among players.
In conclusion, brain games offer a dynamic and engaging way to enhance cognitive skills through fun game play. Whether in small groups or individually, these games challenge the mind, promote problem solving, and provide a meaningful, enjoyable experience for all ages. By integrating these games into your educational or leisure activities, you're not just providing entertainment; you're fostering an environment where learning and fun go hand in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, you'll find targeted questions and answers to help you understand how games can be used to enhance executive functioning skills for different ages and needs.
What board games are beneficial for enhancing executive functioning skills?
Board games like chess and checkers require strategic planning, while games like Settlers of Catan demand resource management and flexibility, all of which can improve your executive functions. The OT Toolbox offers suggestions on various executive function games that can aid in developing these crucial skills.
Can adults improve their executive functioning with specific activities, and which are most effective?
Yes, adults can enhance their executive functions through activities such as brain teasers, memory games, and strategy-based games. Puzzles such as Sudoku or engaging in a new hobby that requires learning skills can also be effective.
How do video games impact the development of executive functions?
Certain video games that demand quick decision-making, problem-solving, and strategic planning can have a positive impact on executive function development. However, it is important to choose games that are challenging yet age-appropriate to ensure progress in these skills.
Which online resources offer free games designed to improve executive functioning?
Websites like Edutopia provide insights on how games can help students develop executive function skills. They often list free games and activities that are both educational and engaging.
What are some engaging executive function tasks that can appeal to high school students?
High school students often enjoy tasks that involve real-world scenarios and collaborative problem-solving. Project-based learning and simulation games which can be found on websites like Edutopia can significantly appeal to this age group.
Are there any executive function exercises tailored for the developmental needs of 7- to 12-year-olds?
Yes, there are many games designed for this age group that target executive functions, such as memory matching games, Simon Says, or obstacle courses that combine physical activity with mental challenges. The Pathway 2 Success suggests enjoyable games, including BLURT, which can improve self-control and cognitive flexibility.