Online memory game

What’s missing: memorize the items on the shelves and find the missing one

Also known as: what’s missing game, Kim’s game, spot what changed

There are items on the shelves of a cabinet. Memorize them: the cabinet closes, and one item disappears. Pick the one that’s missing. A game lasts two minutes, and without signing up you get 10 minutes of play a day.

Go to the game ↓

2 minutesafter the first round
4 → 15 itemsgrows with correct answers
No sign-up10 minutes a day
Progress30-day chart

What it trains

What the “What’s Missing?” game trains

The game works your visual memory for objects: in a few seconds you need to remember what’s in the cabinet, and then notice what’s gone. On the first levels, some of the answer options are items still on the shelves. Later, the shelves hold items from three groups, and the answer options look like the missing item, so a vague “I think I saw that somewhere” won’t get you through.

The difficulty adapts: a correct answer adds items, a mistake removes some. Once you sign up, every game is saved, and your account shows a chart.

You don’t notice when something’s missingThe bag is packed, but the charger is left behind
You search for something you just sawYou know it was there, but not where
You want a game for you and your childRules everyone knows from childhood
You need a quick warm-upTwo minutes, with an unhurried first round

Visual memory

Remember a set of objects in a few seconds.

Attentiveness

Notice what’s gone, which is harder than noticing something new.

Capacity

Every correct answer puts more items on the shelves.

Accuracy

The options look alike: two of the four never left the cabinet.

Rules

How to play

First round
Look at the shelves for as long as you need and press “Got it”. Then the two minutes begin.
Memorize
After that, the cabinet closes on its own after 4–7 seconds: the more items, the longer you see them.
Find what’s missing
The cabinet opens again with one item gone. There are four options below.
Answer
Correct: the next round has more items. Wrong: we show you what was missing, and there will be fewer items.
Points
The more items on the shelves, the more points a correct answer earns: from 1 with four items to 6 with fifteen. Mistakes don’t cost you points.

Play online

What’s Missing? Play online

Press “Start”, memorize the items on the shelves, and pick the one that disappeared.

What’s Missing?

Items sit on the shelves of a cabinet. Remember them: the cabinet closes and one item disappears. Pick what’s missing.

Free play left today without signing up: 10 min

Method

The idea behind the exercise

This is a well-known memory and observation game. It’s often called Kim’s game, after Rudyard Kipling’s novel “Kim”, in which the hero is trained to memorize objects on a tray. The idea is the same: look at a set of items, turn away, and say what changed.

A similar picture game, but about finding pairs, is “Find the Pair”. And if you’d like to work your memory for places rather than objects, try “Remember the Color”.

4 s4 itemsStart: shown for 4 seconds.

5.5 s8 itemsLevel three of six.

7 s15 itemsThe hardest level.

Who it’s for

Which ages

Adults

Two minutes for visual memory and attentiveness. Works well as a short break.

Kids

Kids know this game from kindergarten, and the first round has no time limit. Part of the “Kids” collection. Suitable from age 6. Kids set

60+

Clear rules and an unhurried first round. After a mistake there are fewer items, so the game moves at your pace. Part of the “60+” collection. 60+ set

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How long do I get to memorize?

In the first round, as long as you like: the cabinet closes when you press “Got it”. After that, 4 to 7 seconds depending on the number of items.

What happens after a mistake?

We show you which item was missing, and the next round has fewer items. Mistakes don’t cost you points.

Why are some of the options still in the cabinet?

On the first levels, two of the four options are still on the shelves, and one was never there at all. Then only one stays, and from level five none of the options are on the shelves: all four look like the missing item from the same group. That way the game checks whether you remember the set, not just whether you recognize familiar pictures.

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

What’s missing: memorize the items on the shelves and find the missing one