Give your brain a workout with these Android apps

Sometimes you need to give your brain a workout. I find it just as satisfying to figure out a difficult puzzle as it is to advance to the next level in most action games. If you are like me and want to regularly challenge your puzzle solving skills, check out these brain games for Android.

River Test Trilogy (Free)

River Test Trilogy is organized in three strangely named parts or tests. Part 1 is called Getting Rich, Part 2 is Getting Girlfriend, and Part 3 is Getting a Family. For each timed test, you need to figure out how to get the characters across the river. You get only one boat and must abide by numerous stipulations. The instructions are available for each test and the game records your high scores. To unlock the solutions, you will need to share your scores on Facebook or Twitter. If you get stuck, you can find video solutions online for each of the tests, but where is the fun in that?

Brain Genius Deluxe (Free)

Glu Mobiles Brain Genius is one of the most complete brain exerciser apps out there. The app is set up so that you should play or work with in-game character Dr. Lababidi. There are four areas you will work on: observations, memory, calculations, and reasoning. Within the app you are free to do your own thing, but it is best to start with the Daily Exercises, where you will do a test in each area. When done, the good doctor will rate your score and graph your results. As you play each day, you will be able to see your progress. If desired, you can work in each area separately or as extra exercises. As you progress the app will unlock bonus games such as Sudoku, jigsaw, and more. The app allows for three profiles so you can share these brain-busters with others.

Download the Appolicious Android app

Brain Exerciser (Free)

Brain Exerciser focuses exclusively on math skills and is broken into three different games. Each game provides its rules and a training section, so you can actually practice before you play. The scored games are broken into levels so as you progress the higher levels up the difficulty.

The first game in the app is called Add Like Mad, where you need to pick numbers from the screen that equals the desired value. The second game is Balloon Solver where you add, subtract, and multiple numbers in the balloon, but need to input the value before the balloon hits the bottom of the screen. Finally there is Number Breaker, where you have a grid of numbers and need to clear the screen quickly. You can only remove numbers if two or more of the same digits are next to each other. As numbers are removed, the numbers on top fall down the column, thus mixing up the numbers in the grid. The app comes with Open Feint support to keep track of high scores.

Brain Age Game (Free)

In Brain Age Game you will find out how old your brain is. The app has three areas that it tests: Memory, Arithmetics, and Concentration. In the Memory test you need to remember and repeat back the order of balls appearing on the screen. In the Arithmetics test you are given an equation and a set of math symbols on the bottom of the screen. You need to remember and pick the correct symbol. In Concentration, you need to remember the circled numbers and touch the circles in ascending order.

You get three attempts for each test, which get harder as you progress. The app also has a Blitz game, in which you get only one attempt. The app also provides a progress bar that, when you complete the tests will provide the age of your brain. There are a number of in-game achievements as well.

Brain Teasers (Free)

Brain Teasers is a real thinking persons app equipped with a plethora of logic, mathematics, numerical, and other puzzles for you to wrap your brain around. Although the app does not feature timed games, memory tests, or leaderboards.

You can take as long as you like to figure out the puzzles and you might want to bust out scrap paper for some of them. Most of the puzzles have a hint button and of course an answer button. You can even share puzzles with friends via social media. Each section comes with a bunch of options. For example, the Logical sections puzzles are broken up into reasoning, crossing river, Einsteins riddles, logic questions, Rebus, Algebra and more.

Are you ready to take some time today and give your brain a workout with one of these Android brain games? How well do you think you will fare? After just a few tests I realized I am not as sharp as I thought I was. Practice most definitely makes perfect.