Simon Says Memory Game
Watch the pads light up in order, then tap them back in the same sequence — each round adds one more step.
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Level
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Best
Press Start to play.
Tip: the pads are numbered 1–4 — you can also play with the number keys.
Runs entirely in your browser — your best level is saved on this device only.
How it works
- Press Start; the four pads flash a short sequence one at a time, each with its own tone, beginning with a single step.
- Repeat the sequence by tapping the pads in the same order, or press the number keys 1 to 4 on a keyboard.
- Clear a round and the game adds one more step and speeds up slightly; miss a step and it shows the sequence again, or restarts if strict mode is on.
Frequently asked questions
- How does the Simon Says memory game work?
- The game builds a random sequence of pad flashes, adding one new step each round. After it plays the sequence, you repeat it by tapping the pads in the exact same order. Every correct round extends the sequence by one and nudges the playback speed up, so the challenge grows steadily as your recall is tested.
- What does strict mode change?
- With strict mode off, a single mistake simply replays the current sequence so you can try the same level again without losing progress. With strict mode on, one wrong tap ends the game and sends you back to level one. Strict mode is the classic, unforgiving rule that makes reaching a high level far more demanding.
- How is the best level saved and is it private?
- Your best level is stored in your browser using localStorage, so it stays after you close the tab and reload the page. It is kept only on your device and is never uploaded anywhere — the entire game runs client-side in JavaScript. Clearing your browser data or using a different device or browser resets the record.
- Can I play with the keyboard or without sound?
- Yes. The pads are numbered 1 to 4, and the matching number keys act exactly like tapping each pad, which helps on a laptop or for accessibility. The tones are generated with the Web Audio API and add a helpful memory cue, but they are optional — you can mute your device and still follow the game purely by the colors lighting up.
- What is a good score in Simon Says?
- Most people comfortably reach levels 5 to 9, roughly the span of short-term memory. Getting past level 12 to 15 usually means you are chunking the sequence into groups rather than recalling each step individually. Scores above 20, especially in strict mode, take real focus and practice, since a single lapse ends the run.
About this tool
Simon Says is a classic electronic memory game recreated here as a simple web tool. Four large pads — muted red, green, blue, and yellow — light up one at a time in a sequence that grows by a single step every round. Your job is to watch, remember, and reproduce the order by tapping the pads. Each pad plays its own distinct tone, so you learn the pattern by both sight and sound, exactly like the original handheld toy.
Everything runs locally in your browser. The sequence is generated with a random number generator on your device, the pads are drawn with plain HTML and CSS, and the tones are synthesized live with the Web Audio API rather than loaded as sound files. Nothing is uploaded and no account is needed. Your best level is written to localStorage, so it persists between visits while staying entirely on your machine.
The game is a genuine test of working memory and concentration. Playback speeds up gradually as you advance, which increases the pressure to encode each new step quickly. A strict mode toggle switches between a forgiving rule — a mistake just replays the level — and the classic rule where one error restarts the whole game. Pads are numbered 1 to 4 and respond to the matching keyboard keys, so you can play with a mouse, a touchscreen, or a keyboard.
Beyond being a quick way to pass a few minutes, memory games like this are a common warm-up for focus and a light exercise in the chunking technique, where you group a long sequence into smaller runs that are easier to recall. Try naming the colors aloud as they flash, or breaking the pattern into pairs, and see how many levels you can add to your personal best.