Memory games for adults

Memory games for adults are short, absorbing puzzles that ask you to hold something in mind: where a card was, which numbers are still missing, which letters you've already tried. The classic is card matching, which you can play in the free memory game with 12 to 36 cards. They're a good way to take a break and practise focus. They are not, on current evidence, a proven way to prevent memory decline. Here's a selection of free games worth trying, and what to expect from them.

What the research says (honestly)

Brain-training games are often sold with big promises, so it's worth being clear. In October 2014, the Stanford Center on Longevity and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development published a statement signed by around 70 scientists. It said there was no compelling scientific evidence that brain games reduce or reverse age-related cognitive decline. A separate group of researchers later responded that some training studies did show benefits, so the debate isn't closed.

What the evidence does broadly support is simpler: you get better at the games you practise. Whether that spreads to everyday memory, like remembering names or where you left your keys, is far less certain.

So the best reasons to play are the plain ones: they're enjoyable, they give your mind a change from screens full of messages, and they're a calm way to spend ten minutes. If you have real concerns about your memory, talk to a doctor rather than relying on games.

1. Card matching (the classic memory game)

Cards lie face down. Turn over two at a time; if they match, they stay up, and if not, they turn back and you try to remember where they were. Finish with as few moves as you can.

In the free memory game:

• Choose 12, 16, 24 or 36 cards. Sixteen is the default; 36 is a real test.
• Cards show coloured shapes: circles, squares, triangles, diamonds, stars and hearts in yellow, pink, blue and green. A match must be the same shape in the same colour, so a pink star doesn't match a blue star. That's what makes the larger boards tricky.
• Turning over two cards counts as one move. If you don't want to wait for a miss to flip back, just tap your next card.
• Your fewest moves for each board size is saved in your browser, so you have something to beat.

How good is good? We simulated a player with perfect memory using a simple, sensible strategy. On average they needed about 9 moves for 12 cards, 12 for 16, 19 for 24 and 28 to 29 for 36. Luck matters on any one game, but if you're close to those numbers, your memory is doing very well.

Techniques that help:

1. Turn cards over in order, row by row, rather than at random. Positions are easier to remember when you've seen them in a pattern.
2. Name each card silently, like "blue heart, top left". Words stick better than pictures alone for many people.
3. When you turn a card you've seen the match for, take the pair straight away. Don't explore first and risk forgetting.
4. Use the second card wisely. If your first card is new, the second card is a free look at another unknown card.

2. Sudoku: holding several possibilities in mind

Sudoku is about logic more than memory, but it exercises working memory: keeping track of which digits a row, column and box already have while you scan. The free Sudoku game has four levels, notes for pencilling in candidates, and a best time for each level. Easy puzzles are relaxing; Expert needs patience. How to play Sudoku covers the techniques.

3. Word search: scanning and attention

Word search is gentle and good for winding down. You hold a word in mind and scan a grid of letters for it, which trains careful attention rather than recall. The free word search has themed word lists, which makes it pleasant for a quiet break.

4. Mahjong Solitaire: patterns and planning

Clearing the pile means remembering where the copies of each tile are and planning which pair to take first. The free Mahjong Solitaire game has 144 tiles on the classic turtle layout, with hints, undo and shuffle when you get stuck. The Mahjong Solitaire tips explain how to keep track of all four copies.

5. Hangman: vocabulary and recall

Hangman asks you to recall words that fit a pattern of letters, from a topic shown as a clue. It's quick, and a good fit for anyone who enjoys words more than numbers. Try the free hangman game and see how long a streak you can build.

Making memory games for adults a habit

• Short and regular beats long and rare. Ten minutes a day is easier to keep up than an hour once a week.
• Mix the types. A memory game, a logic puzzle and a word game use your attention in different ways and keep things interesting.
• Track something. Fewest moves, best time or a streak gives you a reason to come back.
• Pick a comfortable screen. On a tablet or computer, cards and tiles are bigger and easier to see than on a phone.
• Don't let it replace the rest. Exercise, sleep and time with other people matter a great deal for wellbeing.

All the games here are free, need no account and run in your browser. Scores and best times stay on your device; nothing is sent anywhere. For more options for older players, see brain games for seniors.

Play a round now

Start with 16 cards and see if you can get close to 12 moves. The free memory game is ready in your browser, with no sign-up.