This list of cool math games is here to hunt down the best examples of video games with an extra dash of learning on the Nintendo Switch and mobile, to help out younger players, and those of us still curious to expand the old grey matter with a bit of fun. Some of these games feature a few different types of puzzles, learning, and other tests for your brain, but they all feature a nice little bit of cool math in there somewhere.
If you’re an avid Switch or mobile player, be sure to read through our many other great guides to get some new game ideas. We’ve covered the best games like Diablo, games like Little Nightmares, games like Age of Empires, and the best games like The Sims. Or for some more educational games, check out our list of the best geography games. Have fun finding new games!
Here’s our guide to the best cool math games on Switch and mobile
Cool math games
Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training – Switch
A classic reimagined! Anyone who owned a DS back in the 2000s will remember the kindly polygonal face of Dr Kawashima, and the grip his educational puzzles had on the nation. The Switch sequel brings over many of the same great puzzles, including math puzzles, memory games, and some classic sudoku. It’s also one of the only games where players hold the actual Switch upright like a mobile device and use a stylus, so it gets extra points for that. This is a great one to play regularly. Improving your brain age has now been the basis of addictive games for well over a decade.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain – Switch
If you like your learning a bit more competitive, Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain is the one for you. Once again, a classic DS game brought over for the Switch era, Big Brain Academy is more of a game, with some of the brain-teasing puzzles feeling a bit like something out of Warioware.
Brain vs Brain introduces a great multiplayer mode, where you can either face off against your siblings in local multiplayer to prove who is the ultimate math wizard. Or, play online and battle to get the top spot in the rankings, proving you have the biggest brain of all. This is a fantastic budget title for families and a lovely way to learn. Check out our Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain review for more.
TENS! – Switch and iOS
A simple and relaxing puzzle game, TENS! Is a great one for slightly older players already a bit familiar with basic math. A board shows a series of dice with new dies falling from above, and players must use quick maths to line up the dice until they add up to ten. It’s as simple as that, but things get a bit dicier later on as gameplay gets quicker and more complicated. A nice way to relax that still feels like a workout for the brain.
Numbala – Switch and iOS
A fantastic mixture of gameplay and learning, Numbala is a real adventure game for children where problem-solving involves mathematics. Set off on a mission to rescue your dog while avoiding a giant space whale, and use the power of maths to do it all. Numbala has also won awards for its great marriage of learning and storytelling, so this is a fantastic pick for any budding explorers wanting to burhs up on their basic arithmetic.
Mathland
If you have a young gamer who wants to brush up on their maths, then Mathlands could be perfect. When an evil pirate called Max steals the sacred gems, it’s up to Ray to set out on a grand adventure to bring them back. It’s a cosy adventure wrapped around basic multiplication and addition, that should work really well for ages 5-8 to spruce up some learning. So if they’re finding school work a little boring, Mathland might be the perfect answer.
2048 – iOS and android
A brain-teasing game with a mathematic edge, 2048 took the mobile gaming world by storm for its incredibly addictive gameplay. A simple board is presented with a series of numbers, and all you have to do is swipe the tiles until two of the same number touch. Keep swiping, and eventually reach the 2048 tile! There’s a bit more to it than that, but you’re better off just giving it a go. This is one addictive title that is a great pick-up-and-play game to have on your phone. Download 2048 from the App Store or the Google Play store now.
Orixo – iOS and android
Now this one is a great way to relax. Orixo is a minimalist puzzle game with a lovely, simple block-colour design. Small blocks contain numbers in them, explaining how far they can move to fill out a puzzle. Almost if you built a Picross puzzle from the inside out. You need to pay attention to get things right, and they get particularly tricky later on in the 320 puzzles on offer. Never mind a cool math game, this one is extra chill. Download Orixo from the App Store or Google Play store now.
We hope you enjoyed our cool maths games list folks, and have found a great new way to learn some things while still getting your gaming fix. If you need some more recommendations, be sure to check out our guide to the best Switch games for more great gaming experiences today.
