What is a memory palace?
A memory palace is one of the oldest memory techniques there is. It’s also called the method of loci, from the Latin for “places”. You picture a building you know well, like your home, and place the things you want to remember at spots along a route through it. To remember them later, you walk the same route in your mind and “see” each item where you left it.
The technique works because our memory for places is very strong. The story goes back to the Greek poet Simonides, and it was taught to students of public speaking in ancient Rome. Today, memory competitors use it to memorise long lists of numbers and whole decks of cards.
How to build your own memory palace
- Pick a place you know well. Your home, your route to work, or your school.
- Choose a route and stops. Front door, hallway mirror, kitchen table, sofa. Always walk them in the same order.
- Make vivid images. To remember “milk, stamps, dentist”, picture milk pouring out of the front door, stamps stuck all over the mirror, and a giant tooth sitting at the kitchen table.
- Walk it back. Replay the route in your head a couple of times, then try recalling the list from memory.
Our game palace is a playful nod to the technique: the more you play, the more your palace grows. For more ways to remember things, see our memory tips and how memory works.
Frequently asked questions
Where is my palace saved?
On this device, in your browser. If you clear your browser data or switch phones, it’s gone, so save it with your email to keep it safe and restore it anywhere.
How long does it take to finish the palace?
A few months of daily play. The first rooms are cheap, and each level costs more than the last, so there’s always something to work toward.
Can I lose Sparks?
No. Sparks only go down when you spend them on your palace.
Why is practice capped?
So the daily game always matters most, and so you can put the phone down once you’re done for the day.