One, Two, Buckle my Shoe…

We were all brought up on number games—from the games we’d play as toddlers when first learning to count, to the hours we spent shouting at Minesweeper in the days before smartphones. The popularity of simple number games on mobile devices first came to fruition in the modern age with the success of the addictive Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training game. First released on the Nintendo DS in 2005—when the iPhone was but a mere glimmer in Apple’s eye—the concept of using your hands to interact with simple but genuinely puzzling number games really took off, and resulted in one of Nintendo’s most enduring hits. Fast-forward to a decade later—and with the vast majority of people in possession of a smartphone, number games had truly found their natural habitat.

The Brain Treadmill

Number games are great for keeping your brain active and alert! We have a selection of games here at GamePix to suit mathematicians of every persuasion—from fun and relaxing games designed to waste a few minutes while waiting for a bus or train, to more elaborate and exciting puzzles to give your brain a workout when you’re feeling the need to push yourself. Why fritter away the hours scrolling mindlessly on Instagram when you could be using your time to keep your brain supple and speedy? We promise, spending an hour playing number games will make you feel far better than doomscrolling! If you want ideas for some number games to play, take a look below at just some of the options we have on offer!

• is exactly what it sounds like. This is an online form of the classic puzzle game where you have to fill in the grid with the numbers 1 to 9. The catch is that each number may only appear once in each row, column and box of 9. This version of sudoku is particularly helpful because it highlights whichever number you click on—as well as the row, column and box it appears in—to help you avoid confusion and be sure that every number you place is correct. If you’re an advanced puzzler there are also different difficulty levels to challenge both sudoku novices and experts alike. Pay attention and stretch your brain with this traditional puzzle!
• is not, as its name suggests, some kind of error message. This number game is a tricksy—but deeply satisfying—one which will have you scratching your head… while obsessively wanting more! You begin with two boxes with the number 2 in them, which you can direct to one side of the screen so that they merge to become one number 4. Your goal is to merge numbers into bigger and bigger ones until you eventually reach the big 9007199254740992nd tile! It’s more difficult than it initially appears, because small numbers appear consistently and get in between the bigger numbers that you need to match! The matching of numbers is so satisfying that this number game will have you wanting to try it again and again.
• is slightly less of a thinker than the previous two, perfect for evenings when you’re tired from work! You control a cannon that shoots out little white balls while rows of numbered boxes move slowly down from the top of the screen toward the bottom. Redirect the cannon’s aim to break the boxes before they reach the bottom! This game is an endless one, so you’ll be trying to beat your high score over and over again!

Marvelous Math

The number games fun isn’t just reserved for adults! For children, number games are great—they are fun and also highly educational. The more time kids spend with numbers the more naturally they will take to math and science as young learners. Therefore, when kids play these games, they are gaining a better understanding of math and having fun at the same time—often without realizing it! Win! Here are just a few of our number games that could be great for kids:

• is absolutely perfect for younger children who are just learning about numbers. You select a picture you want to color, at which point the game zooms in to show you the individual squares, which will have different numbers written in them. Each number corresponds to a different color at the bottom of the screen, and when you select that color the game helps you by highlighting the squares with that number. By associating numbers and colors this game is more likely to help speed some little ones on their way to a better understanding of numbers!
• is a little quiz game where your goal is to get as many sums right as you can! However, the more sums that you solve correctly the shorter the timer gets, so that eventually you’re having to do math in your head really quickly! It’s fast, fun and addictive, so any kid picking up this game will be a math whiz in no time!
• is another number game that will test your reflexes as well as your math skill! In this game, lines of animals will appear on the screen, and you have a limited window of time to guess how many there are before the time runs out! It’s a simple and fun concept, but this game is super helpful because it is a visualization of numbers, which means that it will help kids know what numbers of certain things look like in real life. It can help kids who are finding math trickier because they can put meaning to the numbers!

3, 2, 1… Liftoff!

If you only have a few minutes to spare, or you’re looking for a selection of games to ease your kids into the world of numbers, GamePix has you covered. With number games of all different shapes and sizes, we’re certain you will find a game that will have you muttering sums under your breath all day! The best part? All of our number games are completely free to play online! No levels are hidden behind paywalls here at GamePix. What’s more, they are designed to work on any device! As long as you have a browser and an internet connection you’ll be able to launch yourself right into the numerical fun! If you’re looking for the very best number games you’ve come to the right place, so pick up your pencils and get your head-scratching hand ready!

FAQs

What are number games?

Number games are a fun way to train your brain up to be quick and speedy! They often involve solving questions and finding patterns, which helps your brain to make those connections faster in the future.

Do number games help with math skills?

Yes, they do! Math skills aren’t fixed—like any skill you can learn it and improve at it! Because number games are often a more accessible—and fun—way of practicing they can really help improve people’s math skills! If you want to improve yours, all our number games here on GamePix are completely free to play!