Every few years, the internet graces us with a game that becomes unexplainably viral. During the prehistoric era of Facebook, we watered each other's crops in Farmville. Pokemon Go had us traveling to random locations in search of legendary creatures. And who can forget HQ Trivia? It was the game that had us pause whatever we were doing, 2x a day, for a chance to win actual money.

Fun times.

Enter Wordle: it's an online game that challenges folks to guess a five-letter word in six tries. Yes, it's that simple. It's also THAT popular. Chances are, you can't go a full 24-hours without seeing little green and yellow squares dominating your social media feeds.

But while catching Charizards and raising livestock is fun, games like Wordle can actually improve your health and cognitive ability. It might seem silly, but here's five ways Wordle is good for both your brain and mental health:

1. Concentrate the Mind

   All word games require concentration. When you concentrate, you're putting your brain to work, focusing on a specific job. Improving your concentration can help with completing tasks and increasing your level of attention.

2. Memory Boost

   When you play word games, you activate a part of the brain responsible for long and short-term memory. Improving your memory will help with retaining and remembering information for a longer period of time!

3. Brain Exercise

   You go to the gym to exercise your body. Think of word games as a way to exercise your mind. Simply put: a healthy brain is an active one. Studies show that games that feature word building have the power of improving brain function and increasing capacity.

4. The Joy of Gaming

   Even if it's for a few minutes each day, playing Wordle is a free and easy way to have fun and decompress. It can help decrease stress, anxiety, and give you a much-needed break from the day-to-day grind.

5. Getting Social

   Playing Wordle is a great way to connect with friends and family. Challenge your crew, talk some smack, share your results on Insta. It’s a simple way to digitally socialize with those that matter most to you.

With that, we say go forth and Wordle, my friends! And if you'd like to test your brain even more, we're big fans of the New York Times mini crossword (it's also free).