Memory games for adults: 6 challenges to try

To try a memory game, first decide what you want to remember: where something was, which objects appeared, or the order of a short sequence. These six activities cover different tasks and need only paper, a few household objects or ordinary playing cards. Each sample is original to this guide.

Take as long as you want to study the examples. Close the “View or hide” panel before answering, or cover it with paper. Check your response once, then either stop or make a fresh round. Repeating the same example is allowed, but you will already know its contents.

1. Rebuild a small pattern

Draw two empty 3×3 grids. Mark three cells on the first, study it, cover it, then copy the marked positions onto the second. You are remembering locations, not the order in which the marks were drawn.

Recall: Which three cells were marked? Rows run from top to bottom and columns from left to right.

For a new round, move one mark. Change the pattern size only if you want more to remember.

2. Remember an object tray

Put four safe, ordinary objects on a tray. Look at them, cover the tray with a cloth and list the objects in any order. For solo play, prepare the tray yourself; with a partner, let them choose it.

Recall: Name all four objects. Their positions do not matter in this version.

3. Identify a missing card

Use four different cards. Study the hand, turn away while a partner removes one, then identify what is missing. A solo version works with the covered example below.

Recall: The remaining cards are king of spades, 2 of hearts and 9 of diamonds. Which card disappeared?

4. Find matching pairs

Take six cards: two aces, two twos and two threes. Define a match as the same rank, regardless of suit. Shuffle them face down in two rows of three. Turn over two per turn, keep a matching pair face up, and turn a mismatch face down again.

Sample turn: You saw an ace at top left and a three at bottom middle, then covered both. On your next turn you reveal an ace at top right. Where should you look for its partner?

5. Repeat an action sequence

A partner performs three simple actions once. Repeat them in the same order after they stop. Use hand gestures instead of sounds if that suits you, and agree on the actions before starting.

Recall: Reproduce the four actions in order.

6. Recall a short word list

Write five familiar nouns, read them once at your chosen pace, then hide them and write down as many as you remember. Agree in advance whether order counts. Here it does not.

Which format suits you?

Choose patterns for positions, trays for objects, pairs for identity-plus-location, and action sequences for order. Adjust one thing at a time: add an object, enlarge the grid or lengthen the sequence. There is no need to race or assign yourself a memory score.

If you prefer prepared rounds, Recall asks you to reproduce highlighted grid positions and Vanish asks which card disappeared from a hand. Both Puzzle Lantern games have timed previews, a visible elapsed clock and time as a final ranking tie-breaker. They do not offer the tray, sequence or word-list activities above. Choose the paper versions if you want complete control over viewing time.