Digit span memory game
How many numbers can you hold?
Digits appear one at a time. When they stop, type them back. Get it right and the next string is one longer. Two misses at the same length and that is your span for today.
Ready?
Starts at three digits.
How it works
- Watch. Each digit shows for about a second. Do not write anything down.
- Type. Forwards mode wants the same order. Backwards mode wants the last digit first.
- Grow. A correct answer adds a digit. You get two attempts at each length.
- Stop. Two misses in a row at one length ends the round. Your span is the longest string you got right.
Getting a longer span
- Chunk. 4 1 7 9 2 6 is hard. 417 and 926 is two things to remember instead of six.
- Say it in a rhythm. Silently repeating the digits in groups of three, like a phone number, keeps them alive while more arrive.
- Expect backwards to be shorter. Reversing means holding the string and working on it at once, so most people manage fewer digits that way.
- Compare with yourself. Sleep, noise and time of day all move the number. Yesterday’s score is the useful comparison, not someone else’s.
This is a game for practice and curiosity. It is not a clinical test and cannot diagnose a memory problem. If you are worried about your memory, talk to a doctor.
A few minutes a day
Five short puzzles. About six minutes.
Cognilo is a daily puzzle game for adults on iPhone and iPad. Each day it serves the Daily 5: five short brain games picked for your level across memory, focus, logic, numbers, spatial and language.
It is untimed by default, needs no account and works offline. You see a clear result for each round and a practical tip for the next attempt, and your first puzzle starts straight away with no sign-up.
Get Cognilo on the App StoreThe free tier is complete: the Daily 5, all six skills, ratings, the Benchmark and achievements. Cognilo Pro is an optional subscription that adds extra lab modes and reports. Requires iOS 18 or later. Details checked against the App Store listing on November 10, 2026.
Publisher disclosure: Honest Little Apps publishes both Cognilo and this page. This is not an independent review. This page is a separate web companion, not a feature of the app. This digit span game is not one of the app’s puzzles. Cognilo is a game, not a medical or cognitive assessment.
Questions
What is a digit span test?
A memory task where you see or hear a string of digits and repeat it back in order. The string gets longer until you can no longer repeat it correctly; the longest string you manage is your digit span.
What is the difference between forward and backward digit span?
Forward span asks for the digits in the order shown. Backward span asks for them in reverse, which means holding the string in mind while rearranging it, so it is usually shorter.
How can I improve my digit span?
Group digits into chunks of two or three, rehearse them silently in a steady rhythm, and practise briefly and often. Your score will also vary with sleep and distraction.
Is this a real memory test?
It follows the familiar format, but it is a game. It is not standardised or supervised, so it cannot tell you anything clinical about your memory.
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