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Have you ever noticed how completing a daily word puzzle leaves you feeling sharper and calmer at the same time? As Smartle developers we are at the same time very dedicated players, and we certainly have noticed it for ourselves. Plus, many players tell us that tackling a Sprint in the morning clears their mind, while playing a daily word puzzle in the quiet evening helps them decompress.
We often describe Smartle as a free daily word game you can enjoy in just a few minutes, but we won’t stop repeating that there’s more behind just the enjoyment. Beyond the fun word games like Smartle actually train your brain. Scientific research is now catching up to what puzzle lovers have known for years: the right puzzles can strengthen cognitive skills and lift your mood.
In 2024, researchers from Texas A&M University studied older adults with mild cognitive impairment and found that those who frequently engaged in word games, puzzles and hobbies had higher memory, working memory, attention and processing speed than those who didn’t. Even mid‑level participation, such as solving a daily word puzzle three or four times a week, improved working memory and attention. The study concluded that mentally stimulating leisure activities like puzzles and daily word games can help maintain cognitive function and the authors encourage healthcare providers to recommend them to patients. It’s a comforting thought. A simple daily word puzzle routine might be building cognitive reserve for the long term.
It's interesting that the benefits aren’t limited to logic problems. Psychology Today recently reported that crossword puzzles gave older adults an advantage over digital brain games in sharpening memory and processing speed. French researchers, cited in the same article, followed participants over twenty years and found that board game players had a fifteen percent lower risk of developing dementia than non‑players and showed less cognitive decline and depression. These findings suggest that mixing word puzzles with other games may offer protective benefits for your brain. We think it’s great news!
An article on SuperAgingNews explains why variety matters: regular engagement with word games, crosswords, Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles and strategy games can build what neuroscientists call cognitive reserve. In an International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry study, adults over fifty who regularly worked on word and number puzzles performed as though they were ten years younger on tests of short‑term memory and problem‑solving speed. Different puzzle types challenge different neural circuits: crosswords and word searches strengthen verbal fluency and memory, number puzzles like Sudoku improve working memory and logical reasoning, while strategy games enhance planning and social skills. That variety is one of many reasons why we created Hex Sense, our Minesweeper‑like logic game. To complement your daily word puzzles routine. Adding Hex Sense to your “playlist” of puzzles keeps your brain guessing and builds cognitive reserve without sacrificing the simplicity and pleasure of gaming.
Beyond all the “healthy” metrics, puzzles can make us just feel better. The same article on SuperAgingNews highlights holistic benefits such as a sense of accomplishment, stress relief and social connection. Many players tell us they use Smartle’s daily word puzzle to unwind, quiet the mind and ease into a restful night. In other words, solving a word puzzle becomes a form of self‑care. Getting lost in a letter grid redirects your attention from worries and encourages a calm focused state. When you share a board game or crossword with friends, it becomes a social ritual, strengthening your friendship.
All of this science makes us even more excited about the games that we’re building. Smartle word game and Hex Sense’s logic puzzle were designed to make peoples life a little bit better and to be free and fun to play for everyone. We now know they may help protect memory, improve attention and provide a mental refuge when life feels a bit too hectic. So, next time you play your favourite daily games, remember you’re not just finding words, you’re exercising your brain and improving your well‑being.