Snowflake Memory: free Christmas visual memory game

What is Snowflake Memory?

A snowflake appears for a few seconds, then hides among near-twins that change exactly one detail: the tip, the centre, a plate, or a single side branch longer, wider or moved. Find its exact twin. Twelve rounds in three levels, from 3 flakes to 6, with shorter looks and, at the end, flakes that may be turned.

Snowflake Memory is a free Christmas visual memory game. Every snowflake is drawn from a seed with six-fold symmetry, like the real thing: one arm with its side branches, turned six times around a centre. Each round, one snowflake appears for a few seconds and then hides among near-twins.

Each near-twin changes exactly one detail: a diamond tip becomes a fork, a star centre becomes a ring, or one side branch grows, opens wider or moves. Tap the exact twin. Twelve rounds in three levels bring more flakes, shorter looks and subtler changes, and at the end some flakes are turned. After every pick the game tells you what the near-twin changed.

At a glance

Category

Seasonal

Difficulty

Medium

Play time

2–4 min

Price

Free, in your browser, sign-up optional

How to play

Look

A six-armed snowflake shows for a few seconds. Note its tip, its centre and its side branches.

Find the twin

It hides among near-twins that change exactly one detail. Tap it or press its number.

Three levels

More flakes, shorter looks, subtler changes; at level 3 some flakes are turned.

Score

100 per twin at level 1, 200 at level 2, 300 at level 3, plus up to 50 for a quick pick. 3 lives.

Scoring

Each twin you find scores 100 points at level 1, 200 at level 2 and 300 at level 3, plus up to 50 for picking it within 6 seconds.

Twelve rounds; a wrong pick costs one of your 3 lives. Your best score is kept in this browser.

What it trains

Visual memory

Holding a detailed shape in mind after a few seconds' look.

Noticing details

Telling apart copies that differ in a single tip, centre or branch.

Mental rotation

Recognising the same shape when it's turned, at level 3.

Strategy and tips

Name the details

Say to yourself: "diamond tips, star centre, two branches". Words stick better than a vague picture.

Start from the centre

The hub and the plate are quick to compare and rule out flakes fast.

Count the branches

Count the side branches on one arm, not on the whole flake.

Compare one arm

All six arms are the same, so compare a single arm across the options.

Turned is still a twin

At level 3, ignore the angle of the whole flake and look at its parts.

Why play Snowflake Memory?

Visual memory isn't about taking a photo with your eyes; it's about noticing the few details that tell things apart. Picking a snowflake out of near-identical copies trains you to encode specific features (shape, count, position) in a few seconds, which helps with faces, diagrams and anything you need to recognise again.

Frequently asked questions