Online attention game

Visual search: find the shape among dozens of look-alikes

Also known as: find the matching shape, visual search task, find the same one, find the hidden object

A sample is shown at the top, and shapes are scattered across the field. Find the exact same one: the same form and the same color. Every level adds more shapes, and decoys that resemble the sample start to appear. A round lasts a minute and a half.

Go to the game ↓

1.5 minutesa 90-second round
Up to 36 shapeson one field
No sign-up10 minutes a day
Progress30-day chart

What it trains

What visual search trains

The exercise works your selective attention: keeping the sample in mind and filtering out everything that doesn’t match. While there are few shapes and all are different, the right one is visible at once. When shapes of the same form but another color, and the same color but another form, show up nearby, you have to check both features.

At the top levels the shapes are also rotated, so you need to recognize the sample in any position. Your results show how many shapes you found, how many misses you had and which level you reached.

It takes you a while to find your keys or phone on the deskWhat you need gets lost among things
You look for a row in a long spreadsheetYour eyes catch on look-alikes
You mix up similar icons and buttonsForm and color both matter
You want a short warm-upA minute and a half, a simple rule

Selective attention

Decoys match the sample in one feature out of two.

Visual search

The field grows from 8 to 36 shapes.

Recognizing rotated shapes

At the top levels the shapes are rotated.

Accuracy

A miss costs a point; two misses on one field lower the level.

Rules

How to play

Start
Press “Start”. The sample appears at the top, with the field of shapes below.
Look at the sample
You need the shape with the same form and the same color as the one in the frame.
Tap it
Found it? A new field appears right away. Each find is worth as many points as your current level.
Misses
A miss costs one point. After a second miss on the same field we show the right shape and the level drops by one.
Results
After 90 seconds we show your points, number of finds, misses and highest level.

Play online

Visual search game online

Find the shape that matches the one in the frame at the top and tap it. Play 10 minutes a day without signing up.

Visual Search

Find the shape on the board that matches the sample: same form, same color. There are more and more shapes, with look-alike decoys nearby.

Free play left today without signing up: 10 min

Method

What the exercise is based on

It’s based on a visual search task with two features. Psychologists distinguish simple search, where the target differs in one striking property, from conjunction search, where you have to check both form and color. The second kind is slower and takes more attention.

The first levels give you simple search; decoys and rotations come in later. A similar task without a sample is “Odd One Out”.

90 sper round45 seconds in Mix

7levelsfrom 8 to 36 shapes

−1per missand up to 7 points per find

Who it’s for

Which ages

Adults

A short attention workout for anyone who works with spreadsheets, diagrams and interfaces.

Kids

Not part of the “Kids” collection. A kids profile has four levels, up to 20 shapes and no rotations. Suitable from age 6.

60+

Not part of the “60+” collection. Worth a try: the first fields are small, and the level drops after misses.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How are points counted?

Each shape you find is worth as many points as your current level, from 1 to 7. A miss costs one point. Your score never goes below zero.

What counts as the same shape?

The same form and the same color as the sample. Rotation at the top levels doesn’t matter: a rotated star is still a star.

Why does my level sometimes drop?

If you tap the wrong spot twice on one field, the game shows the right shape and lowers the level by one. Two fields in a row without misses raise the level.

Do I need to sign up?

No, you can play 10 minutes a day right away. Free sign-up lets you keep playing, save your results, track your progress and unlock the daily workout.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes, the game runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer. There’s nothing to install.

Save your results and track your progress

Free sign-up: round history, a chart by skill and a daily workout of 5 exercises. No credit card needed.

All trainers

Visual search: find the shape among dozens of look-alikes