Memory test

Your result in each game is the level you reach. Each game trains a slightly different skill: holding digits in mind, remembering an order, or remembering a pattern in space.

A number appears briefly and then disappears. Type it from memory and press Enter. If you get it right, the next number is longer. Longer numbers stay on screen a little longer, so you have time to read them, but you still have to hold every digit in your head.

You can play this game entirely from the keyboard: type the digits and press Enter to confirm. That keeps your eyes on the screen and your hands in one place.

This is the game where technique helps most. Read the number in small groups instead of single digits, the way you read a phone number: 4-0-7-2-9-3-8-1 becomes 407, 293, 81. Three groups are much easier to hold than eight separate digits.

In sequence memory, squares on a 3×3 grid flash one after another. Repeat the order by clicking them. Each round adds one more step, so the sequence you have to hold in mind keeps getting longer. Watch the whole run every time rather than guessing ahead.

In visual memory, several squares light up at the same moment and then go blank. Click every one of them. As you level up, the grid gets bigger and there are more squares to remember. You have three lives, so a slip doesn't end the game right away.

Tip for both: turn the squares into a shape. A sequence can become a path you trace with your eyes, like a letter or a zigzag. In visual memory, look at the whole pattern at once instead of square by square, and notice shapes such as lines, corners or an L.

• Group and name. Chunk digits into pairs or triplets; give patterns a shape or a name.
• Say it silently. Repeating a number in your head while it is visible helps it stick.
• Remove distractions. Close other tabs, silence your phone and play in a quiet spot.
• Play when you are rested. Sleep, stress and time of day all change how well you remember things, so your level can vary from one day to the next.
• Compare like with like. Track your best level per game and look for a trend over several sessions rather than a single lucky round.

These games are for fun and practice. They are not a medical or psychological test and say nothing on their own about your health. A low score after a long day is normal. If you are worried about your memory, talk to a doctor.

Your best level and a top 10 list for each game are saved only in this browser's local storage, so nothing is uploaded and you don't need an account. Create a share card to challenge friends.

Looking for something faster-paced? Try the reaction time test, the aim trainer or the typing speed test.