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Are you looking for unique and creative ways to make your own memory games? There are plenty of memory games on the market, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy them.
By using simple materials or everyday items, you can bring a personal touch to the games you create.
Learning to make your own memory games, especially for adults over 50, has its benefits.
For one thing, it’s the perfect way to stimulate the mind while having fun. It’s also a great exercise to do with children or older adults on days when you can’t get outside.
In this post, I’m going to explain creative ways to make your own memory games with common items you probably already have in your home!
Why Create Memory Games?
Memory games are excellent tools for maintaining cognitive health, improving focus, and reducing the risk of memory-related issues like dementia.
They provide mental stimulation while being enjoyable and engaging.
Tailored Content
A personalized memory game allows you the opportunity to tailor the content to match the interests, skill levels, or even physical needs of older adults.
For example, thing about adding your own images or themes that are meaningful to your target audience.
For people suffering from dementia, memory games often spark memories and conversations about past experiences. This makes the game even more engaging. It’s a great way to evoke sweet memories of our lives.
Combat Loneliness
Whether played with family, friends, or in community settings, memory games create opportunities for connection and reduce feelings of loneliness.
Loneliness is a growing epidemic. In fact, statistics show that almost 30% of older adults live alone. About 1 in 3 seniors report feeling a lack of companionship.
Source: Elderly Loneliness Statistics 2024: Latest in Senior Care.
By using matching cards or familiar images, you can create a comforting experience that fosters emotional well-being and social interaction.
Therapeutic Goals
Memory games can support therapeutic goals, such as aiding in stroke recovery or assisting those dealing with cognitive impairments like vascular dementia.
Studies show that these activities can help rebuild neural pathways and enhance memory retention, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
These exercises could include:
- Playing card games
- Matching card pairs
- Interactive whiteboards with digital tools designed for cognitive therapy
Brain Health Benefits
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on memory games.
Simple memory games can significantly aid brain health by promoting cognitive functions.
Cognitive functions are essential for everyday activities. In fact, here are some examples of everyday situations that require cognitive skills:
- Cooking or preparing meals
- Managing finances
- Driving
- Socializing
- Grocery shopping
- Managing a calendar or schedule
- Reading or watching media
- Exercising
- Problem-solving in daily tasks
9 Fun & Creative Ways to Make Your Own Memory Games
I’ve only included 9 ways to make your own memory games, but there are hundreds more. Instead of word game cards, you could use a combination of numbers or symbals, for example.
The goal, of course, is to see how much someone can remember. The following games test recall under the pressure of a stopwatch. Of course, rules were made to be broken.
Let’s say you’re playing a memory game with someone who has dementia. They might easily become discouraged or frustrated. In that case, just adjust the game as required. Make it easier!
Creating a personalized memory game using your favorite photos is a wonderful way to relive cherished moments while engaging your brain.
Matching Card Games
Matching pair photos can be used to create a fun and nostalgic game that challenges memory recall.
How to Make The Game
All you need to make this game is card stock (or sturdy paper) and printouts of personal photos.
You could also grab some magazine cutouts of popular images or use digitally printed images.
For a personal touch, choose meaningful pictures, such as family portraits, vacation snapshots, or photos of pets, and turn them into matching cards for a memory game.
How to Play
There are a few ways to play this game depending on the level of complexity you need.
For someone with advanced dementia, keep it simple. Just shuffle the deck of cards and have the person flip a card.
That flipped card then becomes a talking point, sparking conversation and recollection. It’s a great time to reminisce and engage.
To make it more challenging, you could:
- Add more cards: Increase the number of photo pairs to make the game more difficult and improve attention and focus.
- Introduce themes: Organize cards into categories (e.g., holidays, family, pets) and challenge players to match images from the same theme.
- Pair photos with words: For a more advanced challenge, match photos to words or phrases that describe the image.
- Time limit: Add a timer for each turn to increase the game’s pace and challenge short-term memory.
Once the game is made, it becomes a treasured keepsake that can be enjoyed by all ages.
2. Design a Matching Memory Game Using Your Own Words
Designing a matching memory game using your own words can be a great way to stimulate the brain while encouraging communication and connection.
By using a list of words related to the player’s interests, you create a personal experience that helps them engage with familiar terms and ideas.
How to Make The Game
To create your own word-based memory game, start by selecting words that are meaningful and relevant to the players’ interests, hobbies, or experiences.
For instance, for someone who enjoys gardening, you might choose words like “flower” or “soil.”
Write each word clearly on a separate card, using a large, easy-to-read font.
Next, create word pairs by matching each word with a related term. For example, if you use the word “dog,” you could match it with “pet” or “animal.”
How to Play
To play the game, shuffle the cards and lay them face down in rows, creating an easy-to-reach grid.
Players take turns flipping over two cards at a time, trying to find matching pairs.
If the cards match, the player keeps the pair; if they don’t match, they turn the cards back over, and the next player takes their turn.
The game continues until all pairs are matched.
To make the game easier, start with just a few pairs of cards rather than a full set.
This makes the game less overwhelming, especially if you’re playing with someone who has memory issues.
3. Object Recall Game
The Object Recall Game is a simple yet effective memory and concentration game.
How to Make The Game
To make the Object Recall Game, you’ll need a variety of everyday objects, such as a pencil, a spoon, a cup, or a ball.
You can choose different cards with corresponding images of these items to increase the challenge.
How to Play
This game can be played solo or with multiple players.
For multiplayer sessions, take turns arranging and recalling objects. The player who recalls the most objects correctly wins that round.
The difficulty level can be adjusted by adding more objects or reducing the time allowed for memorization and recall.
4. Sound Association Games
Sound association games are activities that involve matching sounds with corresponding objects, animals, or actions.
Players listen to various sound effects and try to recall the source. This helps sharpen auditory recognition and memory.
How to Make the Game
To create a sound association game, gather a selection of sound effects that correspond to various objects, animals, or actions.
You can either use pre-recorded sounds from an app or website, or create your own sounds using instruments or household items.
Then, create a list of the objects or actions that match each sound. A timer or stopwatch can be helpful to keep track of time during the game.
How to Play
Start by playing a sound effect for the players to listen to. After each sound is heard, give them a moment to think and then ask them to guess the object or action it corresponds to.
You can increase the difficulty by including more complex sound effects or shortening the time for each guess.
Players can score points based on how quickly and accurately they identify the sound, with the goal being to associate as many sounds correctly as possible within a set time limit.
5. Memory Tray Game
The Memory Tray Game is a fun and interactive activity that helps improve memory and concentration.
Players are shown a tray filled with various objects, which they must memorize within a short period.
After covering the tray, players must recall as many objects as they can. This game works for people of all ages. It’s a great tool to help sharpen memory and cognitive functions.
How to Make the Game
To create the Memory Tray Game, you’ll need a tray and a selection of small objects like coins, toys, buttons, or any items of your choice.
Arrange the objects neatly on the tray so they are clearly visible.
Set a timer for 1–2 minutes, during which players will memorize the items. After the memorization time, cover the tray or remove the objects from view.
How to Play
To play the Memory Tray Game, first allow the players to study the tray filled with objects for a brief period (1–2 minutes).
After the time is up, cover the tray or remove the objects, and challenge the players to recall and list as many items as they can remember.
They can write them down or speak them aloud.
The player who recalls the most items correctly wins. To increase difficulty, you can add more objects or reduce the memorization time, making the game more challenging.
6. Hidden Object Game
The Hidden Object Game is a fun activity where players search for specific items that are hidden within a larger scene or image.
This game enhances attention to detail, visual memory, and problem-solving skills.
It’s particularly beneficial for people over 50, as it helps improve cognitive function and sharpens focus while offering a fun, stress-free mental exercise.
How to Make the Game
To create a Hidden Object Game, you’ll need a large image or a picture with various objects hidden within it.
You can use a photo of a room, a nature scene, or a cluttered table, for example. Once you have your image, choose a few specific objects to hide within the scene (like a key, a book, or a cup).
Ensure the objects blend in naturally with the surroundings, making them tricky to find but not impossible. Write down a list of the hidden objects, and you’re ready to play.
How to Play
To play the Hidden Object Game, show the image to the players for a set amount of time (e.g., 1–2 minutes) and then ask them to find and list the hidden objects.
Players can either write down or verbally identify the objects they spot.
The player who finds the most objects or completes the list first wins the game.
To increase difficulty, you can add more items to the scene or reduce the time given to find them.
This game encourages players to focus, sharpen their visual memory, and pay close attention to details.
7. Rhyming Memory Game
In this game, players must recall and pair rhyming words, helping to improve auditory discrimination, recall ability, and language fluency.
It’s especially helpful for people over 50 as it boosts cognitive function, attention, and verbal memory while providing an enjoyable mental workout.
How to Make the Game
To create the Rhyming Memory Game, prepare a set of cards or pieces of paper.
On each card, write a word (e.g., “cat,” “moon,” “cake”). Make sure there are an equal number of cards with words that rhyme with each other (e.g., “bat” for “cat,” “spoon” for “moon,” “fake” for “cake”).
Shuffle the cards and lay them face down in a grid pattern. The objective is for players to find pairs of rhyming words.
8. Flippity Matching Game
The Flippity matching game is an interactive online memory game that you can easily create using Flippity templates.
It allows players to match pairs of cards, whether with images, words, or both. This game is ideal for enhancing memory and attention while offering a fun and customizable learning experience.
With a simple Flippity matching game, you can quickly get started and then personalize it to suit your needs, whether for educational purposes, a fun activity, or a cognitive exercise.
How to Make the Game
To create your own Flippity matching game, start by using the Flippity google sheets templates.
Input your content (words, images, or both) into the sheet, and Flippity will automatically generate the game for you.
You can adjust the game’s difficulty, customize the design, and even add your personal touch to make it fit your specific goals.
How to Play
Once the game is ready, players take turns flipping over two cards at a time, trying to find a matching pair.
If the cards match, the player keeps them. If they don’t match, the cards are flipped back over. The game continues until all pairs are matched.
Players can compete to see who matches the most pairs in the shortest amount of time, making it a fun and engaging challenge.
9. Customize Game Design with the MIT App
The MIT App Inventor is a user-friendly platform designed to help individuals create their own app without needing to write complex code.
For someone interested in making their own memory games, the MIT App Inventor offers several advantages, including:
- Customizable game design (create your own personal twist on a game)
- Simple drag-and-drop interface
- Interactive features
- Mobile accessibility
- Use for therapy and education
- Easily share with friends and family
How to Make Your Own App
Upload your own images for the memory cards, set the game rules, and incorporate a timer or scoring system. This is your chance to create a completely new game!
How to Play
If you make the app, you have complete freedom and the how the game is played.
The rules you create for the game will depend on what you create. For example, you might build a memory matching game or a sound association app.
Looking for more hobbies for over 50 folks?
Learning how to make your own memory games is a great option for helping people sharpen their cognitive skills and beat loneliness.
However, there are several other ways to engage people, especially those who are at various stages of dementia.
Of course, there are perfectly healthy people over 50 who are just looking for a new hobby to try. In any case, I’ve got you covered.
Read: 19 Easy and Fun Hobbies For Couples Over 50
Read: 69 Best Mind-Stimulating Hobbies For Men Over 60
Read: 23 Ultimate Hobbies for People Over 50 to Enjoy
Conclusion
When you make your own memory games, you have the freedom to create what you want. You can make them simple, hard, or even customize the games for your target audience.
The games mentioned in this post can be played at any age. They’re great for keeping memories and cognitive skills sharp.
They can be easily adapted to fit any difficulty level and can even be personalized to suit different interests or age groups.
The beauty of memory games lies in their versatility and adaptability. You can modify them to suit any age or skill level.
For those over 50, these games can serve as an enjoyable way to keep the brain sharp while also providing a social activity.
