Chimp Test — free online memory game
About this game
Numbers are scattered across the board. Click 1 and every number hides — now finish the sequence 2, 3, 4… purely from memory. Each level adds a number, and three misses end the run.
How to play Chimp Test
- 1Memorize where the numbers sit.
- 2Click 1 — the numbers hide — then continue 2, 3, 4…
- 3Each level adds a number. 3 misses end the run.
What Chimp Test trains
The chimp test became famous because young chimpanzees beat adult humans at it in Kyoto University's 2007 study — chimps appear to hold visual snapshots almost instantly. For humans it trains spatial working memory under a hide-and-seek rule: encode positions fast, then walk an invisible path through them in order.
Category: Working memory · Scoring: Level in levels
Why is it called the chimp test?
It is modeled on the Kyoto University task where chimpanzees remembered number positions after a flash better than university students. The chimps' advantage was speed of visual encoding — humans tend to name numbers verbally, which is slower but can be trained.
What is a good chimp test score?
Reaching level 8–10 is a solid first-day result. The step change comes when you stop reading numbers and start placing landmarks: '3 is top-left corner, 4 middle, 5 right edge' survives hiding much better than a spoken string.
Is Chimp Test free?
Yes — Chimp Test is completely free, with no account, no signup and no downloads. Scores are saved privately in your browser, and you can install MemoryGames as an app from your browser menu if you want it on your home screen.