Running Span — free online memory game
About this game
A stream of digits flashes by, one at a time — and you never know when it stops. When it does, type the last few digits in order. The list length you must recall keeps growing, round after round.
How to play Running Span
- 1Digits flash one by one — you never know when the stream stops.
- 2When it stops, type the LAST few digits in order.
- 3Each round asks for one more digit. One mistake ends the run.
What Running Span trains
Running span is the purest test of memory updating: old digits become worthless the moment a new one arrives, so you must constantly drop and replace. Pollack, Johnson & Kintch found people recall fewer items in running span than fixed lists — the updating itself costs capacity. It is the mental move behind tracking the gist of a conversation while it keeps moving.
Category: Working memory · Scoring: Digits in digits
Tip: Keep updating a mental list of the most recent digits — drop the oldest as you go.
What is the running span task?
A list of unpredictable length is presented, and you recall only the final few items. Because you never know the end is coming, you must always keep the most recent digits fresh — the task that made 'memory updating' a measurable skill.
What is a good running span score?
Holding the last 4–5 digits reliably is typical for adults. If your score starts high and collapses over rounds, that is fatigue in the updating system — short daily sessions train exactly that endurance.
Is Running Span free?
Yes — Running 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.