We’re introducing this Mensa Select series for children that have shown an interest in games that involve strategic thinking. We start with games that focus on pattern recognition and sequential learning and then progress to games that involve multidimensional thinking. Throughout these games, participants will focus on issues of “good sportsmanship” while simultaneously trying to outwit and out-strategize their opponents.

Brain Benders for kids

Smart Mouth

Wonders

So you fancy yourself a word nerd, huh? Well here’s your chance to put your smarts where your mouth is with a game of Smart Mouth. This quick-thinking word skills game reveals two tiles with letters on them and challenges players to be the first to come up with a word that begins and ends with the letters. So, say the first tile is a “C” and the second tile is an “E,” you could shout out “crate,” “correlate” or “coelenterate.” Oh, and just in case you were wondering, coelenterate is any invertebrate animal of the phylum Coelenterata, such as a jellyfish.

Yikerz Magnetic Game

Wonders

Yikerz! is a game of magnet mayhem. Place your Yikerz! pieces down on the board and try to avoid attracting the other pieces already played. The object is to get rid of all your pieces. If Yikerz! collapse together, those pieces are yours to add to your stack. Stand the Yikerz! upright for increased magnetism and danger for your opponent's next turn! But beware, that play could backfire on your next turn. Yikerz! unique 4 interchangeable game board design allows for many different configurations that create a variety of challenges and suits different skill levels.

Dizios

Wonders

If your brain cells are barreling towards oblivion, it might be time to give them a little love and attention. We recommend giving your frontal and occipital lobes workout with Dizios, a domino game with a psychedelic, dizzying twist. Just take turns placing down the glossy, colorful tiles with matching edges to create a flowing piece. Along the way, you’ll refine visual perception skills and improve your brain’s ability to distinguish colors.

Qwirkle

Wonders

Creating rows of matching colors and symbols sounds easy enough, but don’t let the substantial wooden pieces and contrasting colors of Qwirkle fool you. This seemingly simple game requires tactical maneuvering as you add tiles of the same symbol or color to create rows of six. A great game for family members of all ages, Qwirkle is a multi-award winner that will activate your brain’s temporal, parietal and frontal lobes as you play. Where we come from, three or more is a party. Which means there’s a 98% chance that the aforementioned lobes will be donning party hats while you boost your visual perception and critical thinking skills.

Mine Shift

Wonders

It’s a funny thing about games. The simpler the are, they better they get. Which is the case with the boardless game of Mine Shift. The object of the game is to move all four of your jewels through a mine shaft maze made of tiles, but the tiles have walls that block your progress. On your turn, you can move a jewel one space, rotate a tile a quarter turn to open up a pathway or shift a tile to an empty space. The goal of each move is to either get your jewel closer to the other side, or mess with your opponent. With 27 tiles and almost endless combinations, this Mensa Select award winner is never the same game twice.

Eye Know

Wonders

So, you think your general knowledge and visual memory are top-notch. But are you willing to bet your hard-earned title of game night champ on it? In the fun and fast-paced game of Eye Know, players identify images and then answer trivia questions about the image to earn chips. Make a cautious wager with a true/false question and a 1:1 payout, up the ante with a multiple choice question and a 2:1 payout, or go all in with an open-ended question and a 3:1 payout. Win or lose, one thing’s a sure bet: Eye Know will flex your visual perception skills and give your memory a much-needed workout.