Abstract games: shapes, colors and patterns

No heroes, no scenery, just shapes, colors, lines and patterns: these games get straight to the point. You line up colored pieces, rotate geometric shapes, fill a grid, guide a ball or repeat a sequence. With no story to distract you, all your attention goes to the rule and the solution. Logic, perception of shapes and colors, anticipation and concentration are constantly in use. Young children learn to sort and recognize a square or a triangle; older ones look for challenging brain teasers. Good to know: a short game can serve as a warm-up for the mind before homework.