Memory Match
Flip the cards, remember where everything is, and find more pairs than your opponent. Every match earns a point and another turn.
What is Memory Match?
Memory Match is a card game you play by remembering. All the cards start face down. On your turn you flip two. If the pictures are the same, you keep the pair. If not, they flip back and the other player gets a go.
Other names for it are Concentration, Pairs and Pelmanism. People have played it with paper cards for a very long time, and it works just as well on a screen.
Here the cards carry emojis, so there is nothing to read and nothing to learn. Children can play against grandparents. Two friends can play for a few minutes between other things. Both players share one phone, tablet or laptop and take turns.
At a glance
Players: 2, on one screen.
Boards: 4 × 4, 4 × 5 or 6 × 6.
Pairs: 8, 10 or 18.
Time: a few minutes on the small board, longer on 6 × 6.
Cost: free, no account.
Three simple steps
Pass the screen or sit side by side. Players take turns on the same device.
Flip two cards
Tap any two cards to reveal the emojis hiding underneath. If you flip a wrong pair, you get a moment to look before they turn back.
Find a match
Got a pair? You score a point, the cards stay face up, and you go again. If not, the turn passes to the other player.
Win the board
When every pair is found, the player with the most pairs wins. If you both have the same number, it is a tie.
Which board should you pick?
The size changes how hard the game feels. The number below is the chance of a lucky match when you flip a second card blind, with no memory to help you.
4 × 4 (easy)
16 cards, 8 pairs. A blind second flip matches 1 time in 15, about 7%. Good for kids, warm-up rounds and quick games.
4 × 5
20 cards, 10 pairs. A blind second flip matches 1 time in 19, about 5%. A step up that still finishes quickly.
6 × 6 (hard)
36 cards, 18 pairs. A blind second flip matches 1 time in 35, about 3%. Luck counts for little here, so memory decides it.
Tips for finding more pairs
Pay attention to your opponent’s flips. Every card they turn over is information. Half of winning is remembering what the other player revealed, not just what you saw yourself.
Start your turn with a card nobody has seen. If your first flip is a card you already know, you have nothing to match it against. A new card could match something already on the board.
Use place, not just picture. Remember cards as “the rocket, second row, third from the left”. A picture alone is hard to hold. A picture with a place sticks.
Think before a risky flip. A blind second flip rarely matches, and it shows the other player a new card. When you already know one half of a pair, take it. When you do not, ask whether the new card helps them more than you.
Count what is left near the end. With a few pairs remaining, you can work out which cards must be pairs. That is often where the game is won.
Ways to play it differently
The game itself keeps score for you. These are simple house rules you can add if you want a change.
Best of three
Play three boards and count the wins instead of one board. It evens out lucky starts.
Handicap game
If one player is much stronger, let the other start every board, or give the stronger player a size up.
Quiet round
Nobody speaks while the other flips. It removes hints and makes the game feel sharper.
Family tournament
Play in pairs and rotate opponents. Everyone gets a game, and the player with the most wins takes the round.
Quick answers
How many people can play?
Memory Match is a two-player game. Both players share one screen and take turns. You can type each player’s name above the scores.
Do I need to create an account?
No. The game is free and runs right in your browser, with no downloads or sign-ups.
Which board size should I pick?
Start with 4 × 4 for a quick round. Try 6 × 6 when you want a real memory challenge. The 4 × 5 board sits between the two.
Do I get another turn after a match?
Yes. A match scores a point and you flip again. You only lose the turn when the two cards do not match.
What happens if I change the board size during a game?
The game starts over with a new shuffled board and the scores go back to zero. The New game button does the same on the current size.
Is the board different every time?
Yes. The cards are shuffled each time you start a game, so the pairs land in new places.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The board resizes to fit the screen, including when you turn your phone sideways. Tap cards with a finger. On a computer you can also use the keyboard to move between cards and press Enter or Space to flip.
Is anything saved?
No. Scores and names are not stored. Refreshing the page gives you a fresh game.
Want more games?
Try Mafia, Housie, Spin the Bottle, X & O and more, all free on Relev3n.
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