Brain Age
Nintendo video game series based on Ryuta Kawashima's brain research.
Brain Age, known as Dr Kawashima's Brain Training in PAL regions, is a series of video games developed and published by Nintendo, based on the work of Ryuta Kawashima. The games are presented as a set of mini-games designed to help improve mental processes, informed by the Japanese neuroscientist Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, and aimed to stimulate multiple parts of the brain to combat normal aging effects.
- field
- Video games / Brain training
- known_for
- Brain Age series of mini-games based on neuroscientific principles
- first_release
- Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!
- platforms
- Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch
- developer_publisher
- Nintendo
- total_sales_first_two_games
- 33 million units combined
Lore & Background
The Brain Age series began with Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! for the Nintendo DS, featuring Quick Play, Daily Training, and Sudoku modes, and competitive play for up to 16 players via Download Play. A sequel, Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!, added new puzzles while retaining the same modes. For the Nintendo DSi, three downloadable games called Brain Age Express (Math, Arts & Letters, and Sudoku) were released, but following the closure of the DSi Shop in 2017, these are no longer obtainable through legal means. A Nintendo 3DS title, Brain Age: Concentration Training, shifted focus to concentration, introducing a Devilish Training mode and Supplemental Training mode for working memory speed, alongside a Brain Training mode with new minigames. The latest entry, Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch, released in Japan on December 27, 2019, and in Europe and Australia on January 3, 2020, uses the Switch's gyroscope and infrared camera for input, and a Switch-compatible stylus was released in Japan that day.
Reader's Guide
The Brain Age series is significant for popularizing the concept of 'brain training' through video games, leveraging the research of neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima to create activities intended to improve mental processes and combat normal aging effects. The games' core mechanic involves completing mini-games—such as calculations and Stroop tests—as quickly and accurately as possible, with the system estimating a 'brain age' based on performance. The series tracked user progress over time to demonstrate the effects of daily play. With combined sales of 33 million units for the first two games, Brain Age became a cultural phenomenon, influencing a broader interest in cognitive training. The series also expanded to other media, including a book titled Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain and its sequel, and inspired a Kinect-based game for Xbox 360, Body and Brain Connection, developed by Namco Bandai Games. The inclusion of Sudoku in many versions added a classic puzzle element, with features like notification penalties and handwritten number input. The series' legacy endures through its adaptation to new hardware, such as the Nintendo Switch, demonstrating its lasting appeal in the realm of mental fitness gaming.
Did You Know?
- The first two Brain Age games combined sold 33 million units globally.
- Brain Age Express games for DSi are no longer obtainable through legal means after the DSi Shop closed in 2017.
- The Nintendo Switch version uses the Joy-Con's gyroscope and infrared camera for input.
- A book based on Kawashima's work, Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain, was released.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brain Age?
Brain Age is a Nintendo mini-game series built around the neuroscience research of Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, where players complete short mental exercises aimed at stimulating various regions of the brain. In PAL regions it is sold under the title Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training.
Who is behind Brain Age?
Nintendo both developed and published the series, drawing on the work of Japanese neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima, whose brain-training concepts form the foundation of every title. The first entry, Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!, launched on the Nintendo DS.
Does Brain Age have a story or ending?
There is no traditional narrative or plot to follow; each game is structured as a rotating set of short mini-games rather than a continuous story. Players simply cycle through exercises like arithmetic, word puzzles, and breathing routines.
What platforms can I play Brain Age on?
The series has appeared on the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch. Each new platform entry typically refreshes the mini-game lineup while keeping the core brain-training format.
How commercially successful is Brain Age?
The first two titles in the series sold a combined 33 million units, making it one of Nintendo's best-selling franchises outside its core character brands. Its longevity across four hardware generations speaks to its broad appeal.
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