New research shows that playing video games can increase the brain’s gray matter associated with spatial navigation, perception, memories, and muscle control. As such, video games can boost reaction time and creativity. With that in mind, let’s look here’s a list of ten games that help make you more creative.

Portal 2

Released in April 2011, Portal 2 was developed and published by Valve. Like the original 2007 game Portal, players have to solve puzzles using a portal gun. Portal 2 has some additional features, including paint-like gels, light bridges, lasers, and tractor beams. In the single-player campaign, you’ll take control of Chell. In the new co-op mode, players must solve puzzles together as two robots called P-Body and Atlas.

Minecraft

Developed by a Swedish company called Mojang, Minecraft is 2011 a sandbox game. The player explores a blocky and procedurally-generated 3D world that has infinite terrain. You will find and extract raw materials, various items, and craft tools that you can use to build earthworks and structures. Depending on the game mode, you can compete against or cooperate with other players and fight computer-controlled “mobs.” Minecraft has five game modes that give players a chance to showcase their creativity. They include Creative Mode, Survival Mode, Spectator Mode, Adventure Mode, and Hardcore Mode.

Animal Crossing

This social simulation game series was created by Hisashi Nogami and Katsuya Eguchi. The developer of Animal Crossing is Nintendo. In the game, the player lives in a village inhabited by different types of anthropomorphic animals that carry out various activities. These include fossil hunting, bug catching, and fishing. The gameplay is open-ended, as the player doesn’t have defined objectives. They are encouraged to perform several activities, such as planting plants and collecting items. The game is played in real-time and utilizes the video game console’s calendar and clock to simulate the actual passage of time. Read our in-depth review for Animal Crossing.

Little Big Planet 2

LittleBigPlanet 2 was published by SCE (Sony Computer Entertainment) and developed by Media Molecule. This puzzle-platform game features user-generated content, and it’s a sequel to the 2008 video game LittleBigPlanet. The player continues Sackboy’s journey after the events that took place in the previous game. The Negativitron, an inter-dimensional vacuum cleaner, appears over the skies and starts to suck up the inhabitants of LittleBigPlanet, including Sackboy. Larry Da Vinci comes to Sackboy’s rescue and saves him from the Negativitron. Little Big Planet 2 can enhance your creativity because it has numerous tools that you can use to design perfect levels.

Civilization VI

Civilization 6 is a TBS (turn-based strategy) 4X game that was developed by Firaxis Games. The publisher of the game is 2K Games, and it was distributed by Take-Two Interactive. You will compete alongside computer-controlled artificial intelligence opponents to grow your civilization from a small tribe and become a world power, controlling the world across several periods of development.

Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty

Set several years after the events that took place in 1998’s Brood War, Wings of Liberty is a sci-fi RTS (real-time strategy) game. Blizzard Entertainment, formerly known as Silicon & Synapse, is the publisher and developer of Wings of Liberty. Like its predecessor, Wings of Liberty revolves around three species: The Protoss, Zerg, and Terrans. The Terran campaign places you in a mercenary-style campaign. Terran rebel group Raynor’s Raiders have to raise funds by taking jobs from outsiders. The game will make boost your creativity, as you’ll have to think to make real-time strategies.

Destiny

This online-only multiplayer FPS (first-person shooter) game was developed by Bungie. It was released on September 9, 2014 for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. The player controls the Guardian, protector of the last safe city on Earth. The player is tasked with reviving the Traveler, a celestial being. They have to journey across different planets to investigate and kill aliens to save humanity.

City Skylines

Highly regarded as the best city-creator going, City Skylines boasts some of the most impressive creativity tools for a game of its genre, enabling players to design their perfect city. Crafting mirandering roads with parks and buildings is where the fun begins. Thrown into the mix are scenarios and events that also deliver challenge and strategy. This is a great game with plenty of community-made creations available for add-ons.

SimCity

Not as good as the above mention, but still worthy of a mention, SimCity, an open-ended city-building game series, was originally designed by Will Wright. In the SimCity games, you’ll have to build a city from a piece of undeveloped land. You will control where to place infrastructures, development zones, and public services. You’ll also determine the social policy, budget, and tax rate. The most interesting thing about this game is the fact that you can only create a town once. You’ll then have to be creative and make something unique and better than what you had built before.

Planet Coaster

Ever dreamt about creating the scariest and weirdest rollercoasters? Regarded as the best theme park creator, Planet Coaster has some great tools available, enabling you to delve into fine detail when creating coasters and rides. See how the guests react to your creations, some will find your rides too extreme, so perfecting your coasters will take time, skill and strategy.

XCom: Enemy Unknown

This TBT (turn-based tactical) game is a remake of UFO: Enemy Unknown and a reboot of the X-COM series. The player takes control of XCOM, an elite multinational paramilitary organization. You have to direct your soldiers to fight against alien enemies. You’ll also have to direct XCOM’s research and engineering divisions to create new technologies and improve the organization’s base of operations. Additionally, you have to manage the organization’s finances.

Overwatch

Set in the mid-2070s, Overwatch is a 2016 team-based multiplayer FPS published and developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The players are assigned into two teams that consist of six people. Before the game starts, players select one of the many pre-made hero characters. Each hero has unique abilities, and you can change your hero during a match. Each team has to work together to complete map-specific objectives. Overwatch features game modes for competitive ranked play and casual play. It also features game modes for supporting eSports contests, including Blizzard’s Overwatch League (OWL).

The Sims

It’s a franchise that is like no other. You get to create the perfect house for Sims to live and interact and the tools available make it simple and easy to generate different environments. From wallpapering and wall selection, to dropping items down into the home, such as couches, gym equipment and garden furniture. Your creativity can run wild with this series from EA.