Played any word search games lately?

Word search games have always been a go-to choice for many word game enthusiasts and casual players alike. Dating back to the 1960s, these word search games were primarily made as sheets containing a jumble of letters, and you’d have to draw a line or encircle a group of letters vertically, horizontally or diagonally to form words.

Additionally, continuous playing of word search games yielded positive effects on players, making them both entertaining and beneficial.

Speaking of games that are both educational and fun, our free games might have just what you’re looking for! We also have a word game of our own!

Five game insights we think will pique your interest!

Video games in the classroom
As classes resume post-winter break, educators are easing students back into academic life by introducing video games in the classroom. This innovative method, supported by research, especially benefits K-12 learners by making the transition smoother and revitalizing their interest in studies.

Voice Actors Play Pictionary, Address Climate in 'Elemental' Film
Did you watch any animated movies during the holidays? How about the movie “Elemental”? It’s a movie about the relationships between humanoid characters that physically embody their specific elements, like fire, water and more. Interestingly, some of the main voice actors for the movie played the game Pictionary, and it makes for a fun video to watch as they tackle societal issues like global warming and others.

Study Finds Pictionary Boosts English Learning in Students
On the topic of Pictionary, could the game be beneficial in any way for students? Here’s a study detailing how researchers used Pictionary to gauge its effectiveness in helping students learn English in a more entertaining yet conducive way. Their results stated that through their tests, they concluded that there was a significant positive effect on their English skills with the help of Pictionary.

Pocket Poker: Master the Game with a New Apple App!
Looking for a fun card game on the go? Here’s a fun poker game to try out on your Apple devices! Poker has always been a common game to play with a deck of cards due to its easily understandable mechanics. If you feel like you want to learn poker today, try out this application!

Luck or Skill? Navigating the Card Counting Game Conundrum
The funny thing about card games is that while they’re easy to learn, winning consistently can be very difficult. Unlike logic games like Sudoku or Kakuro, most card games are luck-based, and it all depends on what kind of cards you get for your hand. This is why even beginners can beat seasoned card players at times. However, there’s also a thing called “card counting”, which is basically pattern reading for certain card games, though only a select few people can successfully pull off proper card counting.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that life itself is a card game, where nothing is predetermined. Unlike casino Blackjack and other card games, there is no card counting in real life. That’s why it’s important to make the most of everything you have at hand, as François-Marie Arouet, AKA Voltaire, the very well-known French enlightenment writer, philosopher and historian would say:

“Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.”

Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter, and if you have time for it, please check out our new podcast!

When you play cards with friends, regardless if you win or not, what matters is that you have fun with them. So with every card game, always end it with a happy shout of:

Hey, Good Game!

That’s all for this week. See you next Friday!

-The Hey, Good Game Team