Keeping the mind sharp is crucial to a long and prosperous life. As time goes on, we all find that our brain isn't as strong as it used to be, but that's no reason to let it continue to weaken. The good news it that training your brain through the use of apps has been proven to improve cognitive ability, and often they are very simple to get started with.
These are the best iPhone apps that will help you to improve your mind and memory.
1. Memory Classic
Memory Classic is a card matching game where you have to tap on various cards, which display pictures of animals. After tapping two, you gain points if they are a match, and the cards reset if not. You are timed on how long it takes you to complete each puzzle. There are dozens of levels that increase in difficulty, adding a higher number of cards to each level.
The game comes with a list of Achievements and Leaderboards to compare progress against your friends. You can share your results to Facebook, Twitter, and through Mail.
Download: Memory Classic (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Memory Games with Animals
Memory Games with Animals is very similar to Memory Classic, with tiles that display different animals that you have to match up in pairs to complete levels. There are three levels available, each with varying difficulties that you control through the Options tab. You can also change the images you get, and choose whether or not to have sound.
The app uses Game Center to sync up with Leaderboards amongst you and your friends on the iOS game service. While Memory Games with Animals is a little simpler than Memory Classic, it is easy to use and suitable for those who want a light experience that they can replay constantly.
Download: Memory Games with Animals (Free, in-app purchases available)
3. Memory Match
Memory Match, by Picup Inc., is very highly rated and popular on the App Store, and it's not hard to see why. Abandoning the animal gimmick, it comes across as more sophisticated and mature. So, if that appeals to you, then this is the app you want.
You can change the board from 5x5 all the way up to 9x9, with varying levels for each. When you begin a level, some tiles on the board will turn blue before quickly resetting, you must then tap all the tiles that went blue in order to pass the level. There are limited options available in terms of Settings. For instance, you can't change the colors of the tiles or anything like that, but the app succeeds in its core job of testing your memory retention.
Download: Memory Match (Free)
4. iSays Memory Game (Lite)
iSays Memory Game (Lite) is a different type of memory retention game. Primary colors light up, and then you have to repeat the sequence they lit up in. There are four colors: green, red, yellow, and blue, but unfortunately there is no option to add more colors to the wheel. You are scored on each game, with a Best score displayed in the top-left corner for you to have something to work towards.
Through the Settings, you can change the Game Speed between Easy, Medium, and Hard on the free version, with Insane possible on the full version. You can also change the Sound Theme to your choosing for extra customization.
Download: iSays Memory Game (Lite) (Free, in-app purchases available)
5. MindPal
MindPal is the most popular app featured on this list and seems to be the most comprehensive out of the lot. When first opening the app, you can choose which skills you'd like to improve: recall information better, calculate faster, react quickly, and so on. Then enter some personal details to determine which type of activities the app gives you as it generates a "personal workout."
MindPal has different games that target the skills you'd like to improve, and they are very sleek and responsive. The variety offered throughout these games makes it difficult to get bored, and gives you free choice over what type of mental exercise you want to do on any given day.
Through the Stats tab you can analyze how you've been doing across these different games, measured across aspects such as Speed, Memory, and Attention. On the More tab, you can read a mini-article on the science behind brain training, set Alarm Reminders to maintain your consistency, and enable or disable Sound Effects and Background Music.
Download: MindPal (Free, subscription available)
6. Brain Puzzle Games for Adults
Brain Puzzle Games for Adults is a sleek app with a complementary color scheme. Similar to MindPal, it offers many games that train your brain in different ways, with an entire section of games dedicated to memory retention.
Through the Burger menu, you can enable or disable Reminders, Sound Effects, and Music to customize the app to your pleasure.
Unfortunately, there are no stat-tracking capabilities in the app, but it fulfills the core job of training your brain in a variety of ways that are fresh, exciting, and varied. Be sure to detox after brain workouts with some calming apps to clear your mind.
Download: Brain Puzzle Games for Adults (Free, subscription available)
7. Sudoku.com
The Sudoku.com app features loads of Sudoku challenges, which will train your brain in loads of different ways. Memory doesn't play a massive part in Sudoku games, but you will find yourself working to remember which numbers you already tried in each position, and these games will boost your brain in other ways, too.
The app is a simple way to play Sudoku on your phone, with four difficulties: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert.
There are Daily Challenges available on the respective tab. You can also use the Statistics tab to analyze your stats such as Games Started and Games Won, Wins with No Mistakes. What's doubly helpful is that the Statistics are filtered via difficulty. Combining Sudoku with focus and attention apps will improve your brain's capabilities in no time.
Download: Sudoku.com (Free, in-app purchases available)
Train Your Brain
These apps should help you to improve your memory retention abilities while making it a fun, gamified experience. If these apps serve you well, then it may be worth trying out other, broader brain training games, including popular options like Peak, Elevate, and Luminosity.