How to play
- Four pads, up, left, right and down, play a short pattern, each with its own note and rhythm. Saying the directions to yourself (“up, up, left…”) is a great way to remember it.
- When it's your turn, tap the same pads in the same order, keeping the same rhythm.
- Each round adds a note and gets a little faster. A wrong pad costs a heart, and you hear the pattern again.
- From round 7, backwards rounds can appear. You’ll always be warned before one starts: play the pattern from the last note to the first.
Timing is graded Perfect, Great, Good or Off-beat. Perfect and Great build a combo that multiplies your score up to ×4, and a round with every note Perfect earns a Flawless bonus. On a keyboard, use the arrow keys, W A S D, or 1 2 3 4. The daily signal is the same for everyone and resets at midnight.
What this game exercises
Signal combines two things your memory does all the time: holding a sequence in order, and holding it in time. Remembering a melody, a dance step or the rhythm of a phone number all lean on this. Because each pad has its own note, you can remember the pattern by sight, by sound, or both, and most people find using both makes longer patterns much easier. There's more on how this works in How memory works.
As with all our games, treat it as a fun daily challenge rather than brain training: people get better at the games they practice, but that doesn't clearly carry over to other skills.
Tips for longer runs
Hum it. The four notes make a little tune. Remembering the melody is often easier than remembering the colors.
Chunk the rhythm. Group the pattern into short phrases, like "da-da, da-da-da", the same way you'd group a phone number.
For reverse rounds, don't rush. Picture the last pad first, then walk backwards through the tune.
Want to know more? Read our guide to sequence memory.
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Do I need sound on?
It's strongly recommended. The notes are a big part of remembering the pattern. On iPhone, turn off silent mode.
What's a good score?
Clearing 5 to 8 rounds is typical. Past round 10 the patterns are long and fast, and most players rely on humming or chunking the rhythm.
Does the timing have to be exact?
No. Timing only affects your points and combo. As long as you tap the right pads in the right order, you clear the round.
Is it the same for everyone?
Yes. The daily signal plays the same patterns for every player, so scores are directly comparable.