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Memory Game

Simon Says

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Simon Says

Watch the pattern and repeat it!

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Simon Says plays a growing sequence of colours for you to repeat back. Every round you complete adds another step, and one wrong press ends the run.

It is a direct test of sequential memory, and the honest answer to getting better at it is technique rather than talent: chunking and rehearsal produce far bigger gains than practice alone.

How to play

  1. Watch the sequence play through.
  2. Repeat it back in the same order.
  3. Each successful round extends the sequence by one.

Holding longer sequences

  • Break the sequence into groups of three or four. Chunking is the single most effective technique for sequence recall.
  • Rehearse the sequence to yourself while it plays rather than watching passively.
  • Use the tones as a melody. Musical memory holds sequences longer than abstract order does.
  • Wait for the sequence to finish completely before responding.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as the playground game Simon Says?
No. This is the electronic colour-sequence memory game, not the children's game about following spoken instructions, though they share a name.
How do I remember longer sequences?
Chunk them into groups of three or four and rehearse as the sequence plays. Both techniques reliably outperform simply trying harder to concentrate.
Does it get faster as well as longer?
The sequence grows by one step each round, and the pace typically quickens as you progress, so both length and speed work against you.