Gaming is a world that should be open to everyone, but there is a feeling among many that you can only play video games if you’ve got good coordination and fast reaction times. Fortunately, though, that isn’t true! Some video games definitely depend on these two skills, but you aren’t permanently locked out of gaming if you don’t feel like these are your fortes.
Today, we’re going to cover the ways you can enjoy gaming without having to depend on frustratingly precise timing. These are the games that challenge your brain, not your fingers.
Poker And Its Cohort
Poker is unquestionably a thinking game, although it’s probably not the first option you think of when you consider video games. Online gambling is massive, though, with games of all kinds coming under this banner, and offering a slew of opportunities for the gamer who wants to strategize. Not every casino game requires you to exercise your mental abilities, but a lot do.
Poker is the most obvious pick here, and there are tons of different variants to suit your tastes. Tri Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Oasis Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, and so many others – you could spend a lifetime honing the skills for these and never get bored!
Other card games can also offer plenty of enjoyment. It doesn’t have to be poker to test the mental muscles out; blackjack offers equal degrees of challenge, although it’s more about mathematics than people-reading. You’ve got to deal with probability and odds here. And this game’s a lot of fun, as this video is testament to!
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The biggest benefit is that you don’t need to think about timing. In a digital game of blackjack in particular, you can take as long as you want to decide whether to hit or stand – no worries whatsoever about reaction speeds.
Turn-Based Games
Being turn-based, Civilization’s many games can be a great option for any gaming enthusiast who wants something really brain-challenging with no reflexes requirement. You can play this with others, or go up against the computer and test your brain against pre-programmed opponents. There are lots of different games within this franchise, allowing you to pick and choose.
Different people will have different preferences, but if you’re not sure where to start, you might find this ranking helpful. There are lots of different elements in the Civilization games, including Wonders to build, troops to manage, diplomacy to handle, and more. This is a great game for the thinkers who aren’t very trigger-happy.
Most of the Final Fantasy franchise is also turn-based (although not all, so do check before playing), and this can provide quite a good balance of open-world, running around, alongside not needing quick reflexes. It’s a nice option for players who would really like to get into deeper 3D worlds without being required to precisely time their sword swings or respond to quick-time events.
Puzzle Options
Puzzle games of all kinds are the tactician’s friend. If you don’t know where to begin, you could pick something like Wordle or one of the many spinoffs focused on countries and other themes. Simple options like digital Scrabble, Sudokus, and even online Jigsaws can work really well for getting your brain going.
But you don’t have to stop puzzle games at the basics. There are some phenomenally challenging puzzle games that will have you scratching your head for hours. Old-but-golden options include Simon the Sorcerer, but if you’re looking for something more modern, Leaf’s Odyssey has generated great enthusiasm. There are some real challenges here, and the ferret you play as couldn’t really be cuter.
Alternatively, if you fancy yourself as a detective, you could try something like No Case Should Remain Unsolved, a 2024 release that requires you to order the testimony you receive from witnesses to a murder case. You’ll spend a lot of time questioning yourself, especially when twists crop up – and ultimately, it’s a real workout for the cranium.
Some of the games in the puzzle-based genre do require a bit of timing and depend on reflexes, but a lot are much more focused on your thinking prowess.
Story-Focused Choices
Fallen London is a game that springs quickly to mind here; set in a dark and decidedly unsettling world, this is a text-based adventure that has seemingly endless law and invites you to make decision after decision, unfolding the story as you go. It will also unite steampunk lovers and those who delight in the bizarre, because it mixes both into a very unique flavor.
It’s gained surprising popularity for a game that is text-based in a world of rich graphics, but that’s partly thanks to how well written it is. There are other picks in a similar vein, of course, but this one undoubtedly stands out. For aspiring gamers who just want to enjoy a fantasy world without too much consequence, this is a great option – and it’s certainly not focused on reflexes or your ability to mash buttons.