Puzzle Games

Brain exercise and brain training type puzzle games are becoming increasing popular, not to mention more fun and pretty inventive.
Scientific studies have shown that keeping the brain active by doing puzzles, whether they are on a computer, video game or newspapers and magazines, can improve memory, general problem solving abilities and increase certain types of intelligence in both adults and children.
Crossword puzzle games, hangman games and other word puzzles can increase vocabulary and enhance language skills and word recognition. But logic puzzles can improve your brain in many others ways, depending on the types of logic puzzles you do. The most popular are picture logic puzzles like nonograms and number logic puzzles like Sudoku and Mathdoku.
Mathdoku is similar to Sudoku in the way that there are numbers on a grid, but there is also a level of arithmetic involved. Mathdoku is also known as KenKen, KEN-KEN and KenDoku™ although these names are all trademarks of Nextoy LLC. Most puzzle companies are now using the name mathdoku as there is no trademark.
How do you play mathdoku puzzles? The numbers in each outlined set of cells (called cages) must combine (in any sequence) to the answer shown in the top left hand corner of the cage using the mathematical operation indicated. (eg: for a cage containing 3 cells with the answer "12+" the value of each cell in the cage when added together in any order must equal 12, for a cage containing 2 cells with the answer "3-" the value of one cell subtracted from the other must equal 3.)
A number can be repeated within a cage, but they must not repeat a number in any row or any column.
Who can play mathdoku puzzles? Mathdoku can be played by anyone, at any age and any ability.
There are varying levels of grid size; from small grids usually 3x3, all of the way up to the largest grids 9x9. Then there are varying levels of difficulty; starting off easy with simple arithmetic and logic, all of the way up to the most difficult where you need better arithmetic skills and very good logic skills.
For adults; it will keep your brain active. For children; it is great fun as well as educational.
Where can I find mathdoku puzzles? Mathdoku websites are appearing all over the internet and mathdoku puzzles are being added to many of the existing 'play online' puzzle websites. They are available to play online or print out. There are a couple of mathdoku puzzle games now available for the PC too.
The New York Times and The Times (in the UK) both run daily KenKen puzzles under license to Nextoy LLC and now magazines and puzzle books are starting to include mathdoku puzzles.
If you like the sound of mathdoku, you may also enjoy these other logic puzzle games: Latin squares, Sudoku, Kakuro, Masyu, Hashi (Hashiwokakero), Bridges, Futoshiki, Link Letter, Shuffle 15, Suji Moji, cancan, minuplu, Isolate, Hitori and hundreds more.
I love most types of puzzle games and I usually play online. You can play free mathdoku online - give it a try to see if you like it. If, like me you like all types of puzzle game you should check out puzzle games for a great selection of mind and puzzle games.
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