Activity experts have found benefits to “mind games,” which are puzzles and games that focus on memory, problem-solving, and speed. Solving these problems may help you maintain a more youthful mind and sharpen your brain. Adult puzzle books are beneficial for brain health—they also provide a form of screen-free entertainment, which is something that people of all ages are lacking. To get you started, here are the best puzzle books for adults on the market. The difficulty ranges from medium to hard, and the book is designed to keep the puzzle-solver busy for weeks. However, there are helpful hints on the back of the book to help with obstacles. Price at time of publication: $30 The difficulty of the puzzles gets harder as the book progresses, meaning you’ll have the opportunity to advance your skills as you go. With over 200 pages of word problems, logic puzzles, and more, this book is a great starting option for all ages. Price at time of publication: $13 Edited by Will Shortz, the crossword editor of The New York Times, this puzzle book is appropriate for wordsmiths of all ages. Plus, if you finish this book, there are additional New York Times crossword books that follow. Price at time of publication: $20 There are a variety of puzzle styles featured—Sudoku, Masyu, logic, grids, nonograms, and more—all of which are simple to understand but difficult to complete. Thanks to the diversity of styles, it keeps you on your toes so boredom won’t become an issue. Price at time of publication: $13 These simple math refreshers are great for adults and seniors who want a classroom-like mental workout on their own terms, with puzzles beginning at an easy level and progressing to medium difficulty. Featuring large-print throughout, this book is easy for all ages to see. Price at time of publication: $10 Aside from a creative angle, each puzzle includes at least 45 words to keep you entertained for hours. Thanks to the wide margins, you can easily tear out a page (each page contains two puzzles) and stow it in a purse or backpack for emergency entertainment. Additionally, the book provides access to free online bonus puzzles. Price at time of publication: $13 Designed with wide margins, the book lets you easily tear out a page and take it with you for hassle-free on-the-go entertainment. A free downloadable Sudoku mastery guide is also available with the purchase of the book. Price at time of publication: $12 This format ensures that adults moving through the book can work multiple brain functions, simply by completing the puzzles. Great for anyone over six years of age, the 420-page book enhances cognitive functions for a healthy mind. Price at time of publication: $17 Typed in an easy-to-read, 16-point print, the book’s fun facts range from strange laws to origin stories. If you get stuck, each cryptogram contains five hints to help you solve the problem, making it a good choice for puzzle-lovers of all levels. Price at time of publication: $13 The reader is cast as a faithful sidekick to an amateur murder investigator, and from there, works through a variety of dark, humorous puzzles. A great choice for adults, this one might be too mature for children. Price at time of publication: $17 Each puzzle is accompanied by clues to help the problem-solver move through the book with ease. The large print also makes it an optimal choice for individuals struggling to see smaller prints. While it’s great for those wishing to polish their brain muscles, it might not be challenging enough for veteran crossword puzzle solvers. Price at time of publication: $16
Number of Puzzles
In order to get the best bang for your buck, choose a book that has enough puzzles to keep you busy for weeks to come. The crossword in the Sunday paper is great, but it might not be enough to last the duration of a flight. Find a book with plenty of puzzles so you won’t have to buy another one tomorrow.
Style
Buying a puzzle book is not one size fits all, since there are a wide variety of puzzle styles on the market. Choose a style that’s appealing to you, whether it’s word problems or math equations.
Size
If you want an on-the-go option, you’ll need a puzzle book that can easily fit into your purse or backpack.
Why Trust Verywell Mind
Long-time wellness enthusiast and current health editor, Lily Moe understands the importance of tools that are designed to help you reach your wellness goals, both mental and physical. Most importantly, Lily always looks for research and first-hand reviews when it comes to deciding on a product. Dr. Lakhan describes the brain as a “grand information processing center with circuits connecting different parts." The more of these parts we engage, the stronger, smoother, and more efficient those circuits are.
