Playing word games makes vocabulary stick because they turn learning into...
https://wiki-legion.win/index.php/How_to_Use_New_Vocabulary_in_Writing_Without_Sounding_Awkward
Playing word games makes vocabulary stick because they turn learning into action. When you spot a word like "respawn" during a game, you actively recall its meaning to use it correctly. The immediate feedback you get helps fix the word in your memory