Every day, devices are competing for our attention. The TV and multiple streaming services, our computers, tablets, phones, and video game consoles all pull us toward their grasp with ads, notifications, communications, and more. But the e-reader is one device that largely lets us metaphorically “unplug” from the noise of other technology and media. When you decide to lie out in the sun with your Kindle, it’s just you and whatever book has its hooks in you. There are no pop-up notifications or alerts on your dedicated Kindle e-readers. The internet browser is often basic, and there’s no interference with errant text messages from family, friends, or aggravating political surveys. The Kindle e-reader is a wondrous device that unshackles us from the world if we let it. So, why not make the most of the tablet, even if it’s to ignore the latest read and test your mental acuity with a rousing game of Sudoku?

Recently, I discovered this nifty site that allows Kindle users to turn their e-readers into a gaming platform. Sometimes, your brain needs to switch gears from reading pages of text to solving a little puzzle on the go. Before you say, “that’s what a phone is for,” why inundate yourself with ads, navigate the Google Store or iTunes, and have to put your e-reader down just to pick up another device? I present to you, KindlePlay.

Screen

7in E Ink, 300ppi, 25 LED illumination, adjustable warm light

Storage

8/32GB

Battery

6 weeks

Dimensions

159 x 141 x 3.4-8.4mm, 188g

That’s right, your Kindle e-reader can actually play games

There’s nothing like a good brain-teaser to pass the time

KindlePlay is a privately created site that offers e-reader users a choice of games, including Minesweeper, Sudoku, Hangman, and a puzzle game called Lost PIN. Sure, you can play these games on any device. But they are specifically optimized for Kindle Paperwhite and Oasis e-readers. The creator suggests using a stylus for the best gameplay. The games use stark black, white, and grayscale colors that are perfect for E-ink displays.

Keep in mind that these games are accessed through the web browser and are not traditional apps. This is what makes switching to these games on the fly so simple. It’s not about turning your Kindle into a game station. It’s a fun alternative available on a simple piece of hardware that usually only has one sole purpose. The gaming options are basic, but they make sense given the limitations one would expect from an E ink display. And believe it or not, these specific games are well-suited for the E ink display. There’s something incredibly retro (and superb) about playing Minesweeper on the e-reader.

Sudoku makes a lot of sense on the Kindle

The Kindle is now a handy traveling puzzle book

As far as accessibility is concerned, the Kindle is a versatile machine that is easy to travel with and use. It can now double as a fun Sudoku puzzle book, and the form factor of the Kindle is perfect for such a puzzle. People used to flip through newspapers or buy dedicated activities/puzzle books, but your Kindle can now double as a fun puzzle book while also holding all your current reads. Sudoku and the Kindle go together like peanut butter and jelly. Add a stylus to the mix, and you have the perfect trifecta.

At the end of the day, no one is going to buy a Kindle for gaming, and that’s not the point. These games aren’t high-end titles with flashy animations. KindlePlay simply offers users a new secondary way to utilize a machine that is likely nearby at all times. And something is appealing about having a device so simple that Minesweeper is the most complicated task it will ever handle. As established, the Kindle helps isolate readers from the noise of other devices and distractions. KindlePlay feeds into that philosophy with the games it offers. Give it a shot. You bought a Kindle because you enjoy reading, but there’s no reason you can’t have a fun option to engage with when you’re ready to put the proverbial book down.

5/5

Storage

16GB

Battery

Up to 12 weeks

Ports

USB-C

Display type

Amazon’s 7-inch Paperwhite display technology with built-in light, 300 ppi, optimized font technology, 16-level gray scale.