Active Brain

Active Brain is a collection of bite-sized games designed to train cognitive abilities through playful gameplay, physical movement and social interaction for people interested in healthy ageing. Players face short challenges that exercise memory, attention, speed and logical reasoning using mechanics that mix quick thinking, motor skills and pattern solving. The experience also includes augmented-reality guided breathing and stretching sessions to bring physical stimuli into the routine, plus simple social tools for recording family ties and sharing progress. If you want a game that keeps the mind active with varied levels and gentle body-awareness exercises, Active Brain is an engaging option.

Key Features

⭐ Active Brain’s Market mini-game trains memory by asking players to memorize a shopping list and buy items as quickly as possible.

⭐ Kittens challenges divided attention: players must feed several cats equally while keeping track of multiple targets.

⭐ Jog turns quick typing into a running mechanic where players type fast to run and avoid obstacles, testing speed and motor coordination.

⭐ Garden tasks boost logical reasoning by asking players to move plants to marked areas so they can grow, combining puzzle mechanics with strategy.

⭐ Augmented-reality Exercises guide breathing and stretching routines, providing on-screen instruction and the option to capture a selfie after a session.

⭐ Genogram and social features let players record family members and birthdays and share in-game progress with friends and relatives.

Advantages

✅ Trains multiple cognitive domains—memory, attention, speed and reasoning—within short, game-like sessions.

✅ Gameplay is varied and accessible, with mini-games that feel like everyday tasks rather than abstract drills.

✅ Augmented-reality exercises add a physical component and help players build body awareness alongside mental training.

✅ Social and family-oriented features encourage sharing progress and tracking loved ones, which can boost motivation.

✅ Developed within an academic research context, the project benefits from collaboration between developers and researchers.

Disadvantages

❎ The app is focused on healthy ageing and cognitive training, so players seeking action-packed or highly competitive games may find it too gentle.

❎ Some mini-games (for example Jog) require quick typing and motor responses, which could be challenging for users with limited dexterity.

❎ Social features emphasize personal and family sharing rather than large-scale multiplayer competition, limiting competitive gameplay options.

Development Team

Active Brain was developed by ISGAME as part of a research project financed by FAPESP, with involvement from researchers at multiple universities including UNIFESP, UNICAMP and PUC-Campinas.