10 Award-Winning Games for Tweens to Boost Brain Skills
Buying gifts for tweens can be a challenge. A large percentage of middle schoolers already have smartphones, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles, making it harder to find games and toys that will keep them entertained. We’ve scoured Amazon to find some of the top award-winning (or nominated) activities and games for tweens that will help keep them engaged while also boosting their cognitive skills.
Here are 10 of our top picks for games for tweens that are under $35, including some of the brain skills they’ll help build:
Shape-Shifting Box ($24.99)
This patented fidget cube uses 36 rare earth magnets to transform into more than 70 shapes. Available in a wide variety of artistic patterns. You can even combine two or more boxes to build larger shapes!
Awards: Finalist for Toy of the Year three years in a row
Cognitive skills: Planning, attention, visual processing, spatial reasoning
The Genius Star ($29.95)
Be the first to fit uniquely shaped puzzle pieces onto a star-shaped grid first with this fun family game. Can also be played solo. Each puzzle can be solved from the 165,888 possible solutions.
Awards: ASTRA “Best Toys for Kids” Award
Cognitive skills: Processing speed, spatial awareness, strategic planning, sequencing, visual processing, attention
Prime Climb ($26.95)
Offering “mind blowing visuals that help master prime number concepts, division, multiplication, and factorization,” this game is suitable for kids 10 and older.
Awards: Mensa Mathematical Education, Tillywig Toy Award, Dr. Toy
Cognitive skills: Visual processing, attention, number patterns, mathematical concepts, logic & reasoning
Suspend Family Game ($18.99)
This wire balance game is designed for 1 to 4 players to help with hand-eye coordination and cognitive skills.
Awards: Best Toys Guide “Best Game”
Cognitive skills: Attention, planning, visual processing, logic & reasoning
Dimension ($24.99)
This 3D fast-paced puzzle game uses colorful spheres that players position on their trays to earn as many points as possible. The task cards indicate how the spheres must be placed.
Awards: Parents’ Choice Silver Honor, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
Cognitive skills: Strategy, planning, visual processing, attention, logic & reasoning
Azul ($23.99)
Plan your moves with tile mosaics to outscore opponents and disrupt their plans.
Awards: Spiel des Jahres Game of the Year Origins Award for Best Family Game and Fan Favorite, Dice Tower Award, Golden Geek Best Family Game of the Year, Cardboard Republic Architect Laurel Winner, As d’Or Best Board Game
Cognitive skills: Strategy, visual processing, planning, logic & reasoning, attention
DIY Pinball Machine Kit ($34.39)
Build your own pinball machine with this step-by-step kit that includes all the pieces you need to assemble and play.
Awards: Toy Foundation STEAM Toy of the Year, ASTRA finalist for Best Toys for Kids
Cognitive skills: Attention, visual processing, planning, working memory, logic & reasoning
Mysterium ($29.99)
Unveil suspects, reveal locations, and discover new objects as you work together to solve the intricate murder mystery at Warwick’s Manor.
Awards: Golden Geek Award for Best Artwork and Presentation; Gen Con’s top games
Cognitive skills: Logic, deductive reasoning, visual processing, attention, working memory
Simon ($19.99)
Can you remember the flashing light sequences and repeat them correctly? This quick-action memory game also includes sounds to work on auditory processing.
Awards: Games magazine’s Top 100 Games, TOTY Award Game of the Year
Cognitive skills: Visual processing, working memory, auditory processing, attention, processing speed
Gravity Maze ($27.99)
Arrange colorful, translucent towers to whisk your marble from starting point to target using engineering, visual perception, and reasoning skills. Offering 60 challenges.
Awards: Toy Industry Association’s Specialty Toy of the Year (finalist), Good Housekeeping’s Best Toy, Parents’ Choice Gold Award
Cognitive skills: Spatial reasoning, planning, visual processing, attention, logic
More Games for Tweens & The Whole Family!
Download our FREE game pack here for some simple activities the whole family can do to boost skills like processing speed, memory, attention, and more.
