I first noticed LinkedIn had games sometime last year when they quietly launched in May 2024. But I never really stopped to see what they were all about—until recently. And now that I have? I’m kind of impressed.
These aren’t your typical time-wasters. They’re quick, strategic, and genuinely good brain fuel.
Not Candy Crush. Not FarmVille. Think Wordle, but in a business casual blazer. And I have to admit. It’s giving big Yahoo! Games forum energy, and I’m totally here for it.
Each game is quick, sneakily strategic, and just nostalgic enough to feel like a throwback to early-internet brain boosters (minus the pop-up ads). And bonus: brain breaks like these have been shown to improve focus and cognitive performance by up to 50%, according to research. So yes, technically, this does count as professional development. You’re welcome. (No, TCEA can’t give you CPE credit for it… but hey, pencil in a Lunch and Learn and you’re all set.)
Let’s break down each game LinkedIn currently has.
Plot the Path. Hit Every Number. Try Not to Get Stuck in a Corner.
Zip. It’s a visual logic game where you plot a path through a grid, hitting each numbered circle in order—without retracing your steps or boxing yourself in. Sounds straightforward, and it is… for the first few days.
Then the grid gets more complex, the angles tighter, and suddenly you’re four moves in with nowhere left to go. It’s part strategy, part spatial awareness, and part “wait, why did I think I could zig there?”
It’s oddly satisfying when you get it right—and just frustrating enough to make you want to try again when you don’t.
All Hail the Logic Queen
Queens. This one’s for the overachievers who liked Sudoku but wished it had more drama. Your mission: place exactly one queen in each row, column, and color-coded region. But wait—queens can’t touch. Not even diagonally.
You tap once to place a queen, tap twice to block a spot, and then sit back and question your spatial reasoning. It’s strategic. It’s ruthless. And yes, you will audibly gasp when you realize you backed yourself into a royal corner.
A Little Game of “What Do These Have in Common?”
Pinpoint. You get five clues, revealed one by one, and your goal is to figure out what they all have in common. The fewer clues you need, the smarter you feel. Ha!
Seems simple, right? Then you’re handed “Cheddar” and “Basketball” and suddenly your brain goes straight to snacks. Is it cheese? Game-day food? Orange-colored things?
It’s like Connections, but flipped. You’re not grouping the words. You’re guessing the label. And by clue three, you’re either shouting the answer…or shouting at your screen and suddenly craving nachos.
Build the Ladder. One Letter at a Time.
Crossclimb. You’re solving a word ladder, changing just one letter at a time to build a smooth path from start to finish. But here’s the twist: you can’t touch the top or bottom words until the rest of the ladder is complete. So the real challenge? Solving the middle and hoping it unlocks the final pieces.
It sounds simple enough… until you’re staring at “WOOD” and wondering if you’ve ever actually used the English language before. But when it clicks? Pure, brain-tingly satisfaction.
A Puzzle That Looks Peaceful…Until It Isn’t
Tango. This one looks simple. It’s just a grid of moons and suns but it can be a quiet little brain-burner the more you play. Your goal: fill every cell with either a moon or a sun, following a few specific rules. You can’t have more than two of the same symbol in a row, and every row and column has to contain an equal number of each. Oh, and some squares have to match—or differ—based on little symbols between them.
It’s all deduction, no guessing. Every move matters, and sometimes the smallest decision is the one that gets you unstuck.
TL;DR: Why I’m Not Mad About It
They’re fast. They’re fun. They give your brain a workout without feeling like work.
And sure, it might look like you’re just clicking around moons and ladders and queens—but you’re actually sharpening logic, memory, and problem-solving skills. All while technically being on LinkedIn.
You don’t have to post your score, you don’t need a strategy guide, and you definitely don’t need to feel guilty about a five-minute brain break. Especially when it comes with a little mental reset (and maybe a side of humble pie).
Ready to see if you’re better at puzzles than your coworkers…or me? You can try them all right here at LinkedIn Games.
