Backward Digit Span — free online memory game
About this game
Digits appear one at a time, and you type them back in reverse order. Reversing a list sounds like a small twist — it is actually a different, harder cognitive task that clinicians use separately from forward span.
Want your baseline first? Take the Working Memory Test — a 2–3 minute standardized version of this task with a population benchmark, then come back and train on it.
How to play Backward Digit Span
- 1Digits appear one at a time.
- 2Type them BACKWARDS — last digit first.
- 3Each round adds a digit. One mistake ends the run.
What Backward Digit Span trains
Backward span measures working-memory manipulation, not just storage: you must hold the digits AND reorder them at the same time. That transform is what separates working memory from short-term memory in the classic Baddeley model — and every round here forces the full hold-and-flip cycle under pressure.
Category: Working memory · Scoring: Digits in digits
Tip: Rehearse the digits forward, then reverse the list in your head before typing.
Why is backward span harder than forward span?
Forward span only rehearses; backward span must manipulate — hold the list, reverse it, and output it without dropping a digit. Most people score 1–2 fewer digits backwards, and that gap is normal.
What is a good backward digit span?
5–6 digits backwards is a typical adult result. If your forward span is 8 and backward is 6, your manipulation ability is doing well; a bigger gap suggests you need a strategy — rehearse forward, then reverse the list before typing.
Is Backward Digit Span free?
Yes — Backward Digit Span is completely free, with no account, no signup and no downloads. Scores are saved privately in your browser, and you can install MemoryGames as an app from your browser menu if you want it on your home screen.