How to play Simon

Simon is the memory game with four colored panels that light up and beep in a sequence. Your job is to repeat the sequence back. Each round adds one more step — how long can you remember? Past about 10 steps it gets surprisingly hard.

Controls

• Click — tap a colored panel to play it
• 1 2 3 4 — press a number to play the corresponding panel
• R — restart

Tips & strategy

• Speak the sequence aloud. Verbalizing the colors (or the tones) doubles your memory channels. Most players who survive past 15 do this.
• Find the rhythm. Each tone has its own pitch — the sequence is also a tune. Hum it back rather than visualizing the colors.
• Chunk the sequence. Memorize in groups of three or four rather than as one long string. It's the same trick that makes phone numbers easier to recall.
• Trust your reflexes. Once a sequence is in your hands, don't second-guess. Hesitation breaks the rhythm.

About Simon

Simon shipped from Milton Bradley in 1978, designed by Ralph Baer (also the inventor of the Magnavox Odyssey, the first home console) and Howard Morrison. It was a Christmas blockbuster, lining shelves with its distinctive disc-shaped four-button design. The name comes from "Simon Says" — the playground game of mimicking commands.

Frequently asked

How do I play Simon? Watch the sequence Simon plays, then click the colored panels in the same order. Each successful round adds one more step.

Is Simon free? Yes — no signup, no downloads, no installs.

How long does Simon get? In theory, until you can't remember. In practice, most players top out somewhere between 14 and 20 steps.

Does my high score save? Yes — your best Simon streak is stored locally in your browser.

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