Free Games For the Brainy Gamer
Most of us like to think we’re a little smarter than average, which is statistically absolute nonsense. However, if you want to prove to everyone that you really are in the top 50% then these games could help you to get there. There are plenty of paid-for games that will let you stretch your mental legs and get that gray matter moving, but in the run-up to the holidays, it’s sometimes necessary to save a little money. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up four brilliantly brainy games that will provide you with hours of fun and won’t cost a penny.
Poker
You’d be forgiven for thinking that it was necessary to pay to play poker online, after all, poker is a casino game at heart. However, it’s actually possible to play in some tournaments free of charge. These are known as poker freerolls and this guide to the best poker freerolls includes all the information that you need to get involved. Make sure you’re well acquainted with the rules before entering, as even though it’s free to play, the competition can be fierce. Playing a few games either with friends or online first will ensure you’re prepared for what’s to come. Knowing your hand rankings off by heart is a good place to start, and if you’re mathematically minded then learning about pot odds will stand you in good stead too.
Wordle
Although the New York Times paid $1 million for it earlier this year, you don’t have to pay anything at all to get in on the fun of Wordle. There’s a new puzzle every single day, which makes it the perfect game to build around a habit. If you already browse the New York Times website or complete some of their puzzles, then it’s well worth tacking the daily Wordle on to the end. The way the game works is simple, you need to guess a five-letter word in six turns or less. If you get a letter correct it turns green, correct but in the wrong place it turns yellow, and incorrect it gets greyed out. Completing in 3 or fewer is impressive, but even if you’re regularly completing them in six or fewer then that’s something to be proud of and something your vocabulary will thank you for.
Chess
Chess is the original thinking man’s game, it’s been being played in one form or another since around the 8th century, so there’s been a lot of time for people to spend strategizing. This is part of what makes chess so appealing to logical thinkers. There’s endless information on opening moves, closing strategies, and various other gambits. If YouTube research or a trip to the library is your idea of heaven, then chess could be a great game for you to pick up. Better still, it’s almost always free to play online, with sites like chess.com offering players the ability to play with others of the same ability as them, take part in tournaments and play against the computer to try and beat their personal bests.
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