6 Games for the Math Nerd in All of Us

There’s a dirty little secret about video games. While the spectacle and excitement of so many popular genres take center stage, the truth is that a lot of games are really all about math. That’s right, the long-dreaded homework topic is at the heart of countless games and game styles.

How did the much-maligned mathematics make itself so much fun? Here’s a look at a few of the games — new and old, digital and analog — that turned number-crunching into a source of endless entertainment.

12048 and Threes!

Both of these mobile games have quickly attracted legions of fans for the deceptively simple number manipulation. It seems simple enough: connect the tiles, adding them together. In 2048, you’re trying to hit a particular goal number, while Threes! just wants you to get the highest score you can. The two titles have slight deviations in their mechanics, but the basic principle of simple addition has proven surprisingly addictive. Read more...