Nerdania Guides
Written by the Nerdania team for parents, teachers and players
Our games are free, and so is our advice. These guides explain how to get more out of puzzle, word, memory, number and arcade games, how to choose games for different ages, and how to keep game time healthy and fun. Each guide links to games you can try straight away.
What Memory Games Really Do for Your Brain (and What They Don't)
An honest look at working memory, what practice can and cannot improve, and five memory strategies that help in every game.
👨👩👧For Parents · 4 min readChoosing the Right Online Game for Your Child's Age
What children can typically manage from ages 3 to 12 and beyond, what to look for in a game, and where to start on Nerdania.
⏱️For Parents · 4 min readShort Game Sessions, Happy Kids: A Practical Screen-Time Plan
Routines, level-based limits and calmer game choices that make it easier to start and stop game time without arguments.
🔤Word Games · 4 min readHow to Solve Anagrams and Word Puzzles Faster
Practical strategies for scrambled words, five-letter guessing games, word ladders and category puzzles.
➕Numbers & Math · 3 min readTen Mental Maths Tricks That Make Number Games Easier
Making tens, doubling and halving, the nines trick, counting in groups and spotting number patterns, with worked examples.
🧩Puzzles · 4 min readA Beginner's Method for Logic Puzzles: Sudoku, Queens and Light Switches
Elimination, the most constrained square, backtracking and "chasing the lights" explained step by step.
🎲For Families · 4 min readTwo-Player Games for Family Night: Taking Turns, Winning and Losing Well
How to run a screen-based game night, the best pass-and-play games, simple strategy tips and helping children be good sports.
👾Arcade · 4 min readGetting Better at Arcade and Action Games: Practice That Actually Works
Looking ahead, staying relaxed, learning patterns and deliberate practice for higher scores in arcade games.
🎯Pinball · 4 min readPinball Basics: Flipper Control, Ramps and Keeping the Ball Alive
The parts of a pinball table, flipper timing, catching the ball and reading a table's goals.
🏆About Nerdania · 3 min readInside a 100-Level Campaign: How Nerdania Games Get Harder
Why every game uses levels, how difficulty grows, how puzzles stay fair and where your progress is saved.
🏫For Teachers · 3 min readUsing Free Browser Games in the Classroom and at Home School
Matching games to literacy, numeracy, reasoning and social-emotional goals, with routines that keep game time purposeful.
👵For Families · 4 min readPuzzle Games for Grandparents: Comfortable, Readable and Fun
Making tablets easier to see and use, choosing calm games, and playing with grandchildren near and far.
Looking for something to play? Browse all free games, or read about Nerdania.