Rules & quick reference
| Board | 3 × 3 |
|---|---|
| Highlight | 450 ms per step with a 200 ms gap |
| Sequence | Previous order plus one new position each round |
| Score | Length of the last sequence fully repeated |
Watch first, then repeat
Start the sequence and wait while the board lights up. The cells are disabled during playback. Once the message asks for your response, select the same positions in the same order. The first round has one step. After a successful response, choose Play next sequence to hear no audio but see the previous steps followed by one new step. The entire run uses visual cues, so sound settings do not affect the task.
Repeated positions are intentional
Each new step is chosen independently from nine board positions. The same cell can appear twice in succession. A gap between highlights makes that repetition visible, so two flashes on one square mean two selections when you respond. The game checks each response immediately. One wrong position ends the run and saves the length of the last fully correct sequence. Merely watching a longer sequence does not add that length to your score.
A temporal task rather than a static pattern
The challenge is remembering order across time, whereas visual-pattern memory asks you to reconstruct a simultaneously shown set. You can use a spatial route, count repeated positions or rehearse the order verbally. These strategies can produce different results even on the same board. Practice and familiarity influence performance, so this is not a standardized assessment of working-memory capacity. Scores should be compared within this implementation and rule set rather than against unrelated games.
Keep playback visible and deliberate
Wait for the response prompt before selecting cells; presses during playback do not count. Keep the tab visible because browsers can pause or throttle animation in background tabs. An interruption cancels the active run. After a successful round you can pause before requesting the next sequence, which makes the next-level button useful for avoiding accidental input. Start another session if you lose track, and use local history to notice trends over several attempts instead of treating a single mistake as a conclusion about your memory.
Your result stays on this device
Completed game results are saved in this browser when local storage is available. Bests and recent history describe this device’s saved runs, not a public leaderboard. Changing browsers, clearing site data or using private browsing can remove them. Copy score writes only the visible result summary to your clipboard when you request it; sharing is your choice. Clear local game data removes scores, daily completion markers and the saved 2048 board for this origin. No game result is uploaded, and the games remain usable when persistent storage is unavailable. Use the rule table to check what the active mode measures before comparing another session. A changed duration, input method or grid difficulty can change the task even when the displayed score uses the same unit.
Frequently asked questions
Can the same square appear twice?
Yes. Two distinct flashes on one square require two selections of that square.
Can I click during playback?
No. Board input is disabled until the response prompt appears.
Does an error allow a retry?
An error ends this run. Select New run for a fresh sequence.
What is the saved score?
The length of the last sequence repeated completely and correctly.
Built by Mihai · Reviewed 2026-10-24 · Read the related technical guide · Testing policy