Brain Age on the DS is one of those games that somehow makes doing math problems and word puzzles weirdly satisfying. You start off with this little digital Dr. Kawashima testing your "brain age" with quick challenges—stuff like counting syllables in a sentence or solving simple equations against the clock. At first, it feels almost too basic, but then you realize you’re sweating over a 20-second math drill like it’s a boss fight.

The touchscreen and mic make it way more engaging than it sounds. Scribbling numbers with the stylus or yelling "Blue!" at your DS in public will get you some looks, but it’s weirdly addictive. I kept coming back just to shave a second off my high scores. And yeah, the whole "brain training" thing might be a stretch, but it’s a fun way to wake up your brain without feeling like homework.

Just don’t expect it to turn you into a genius—it’s more about the quick-hit satisfaction of beating your own times.