Sequence Memory Test
This sequence memory test lights up tiles one at a time. Watch the order, then tap the same tiles in the same order. Each round adds one more step to the sequence.
- Tiles light up one at a time. Watch the order.
- Then tap the same tiles in the same order.
- Each round adds one step. You have 3 lives.
Keys: Tab to a tile, Enter or Space to tap it
This game needs sight: the sequence is shown only as light.
How does the sequence memory test work?
The board is a grid of 3 by 3 tiles. The game lights one tile, and you tap it. Next round, the same tile lights up again, followed by one new tile. You repeat both.
The sequence keeps growing by one step. A wrong tap costs one of your 3 lives, and the game shows the same sequence again. Your score is the longest sequence you repeated.
Where does this kind of test come from?
Psychologists use a similar task called the Corsi block-tapping test. It measures visual memory span: how long a spatial sequence a person can hold in mind. A standard way to give and score it was published with data from 70 healthy adults.
Our game differs in one big way. It grows one sequence instead of showing a new one each time. So its scores cannot be compared with Corsi norms.
What does my sequence score mean?
Your score tells you how far you got on this device, today. It is best used against your own past scores.
Memory research suggests people hold only 3 to 5 chunks at once. A growing sequence gets past that because you learn it bit by bit. Each round, most of the pattern is already familiar.
How can I remember longer sequences?
- Trace the path as a shape, such as a zigzag or an L.
- Give tiles short names, like “top left” or “middle”.
- Say the path to yourself as it plays.
- Tap at a calm, steady pace.
Does this game train your memory?
It trains you at this game. A large review of brain training found that people improve on the tasks they practice. It found little evidence that those gains carry over to other tasks or to daily life.
If you want a measure of reasoning instead, our free IQ test gives a score with a range. Our guide to how accurate IQ tests are explains what any online test can show. The methodology has the details of our scoring.
FAQ
Can I play the sequence memory test with a keyboard?
Yes. Use Tab to move between tiles and Enter or Space to tap one. The sequence itself is shown only as light, so the game needs sight.
What happens when I make a mistake?
You lose one life, and the same sequence plays again. When all lives are gone, you see your score.
Is my score saved?
Your best and your last few results are saved in this browser. When a game ends, its score is also counted anonymously: one number, with no name, account or device details, so the site can show how plays compare once a game has enough of them. The cookie policy lists the storage item.