Dual N-Back

A square moves around a grid while letters are spoken, one step at a time. Your job is to flag when the current position, or the current sound, matches the one from N steps back. This free dual N-back trainer is the classic working-memory exercise, with adjustable difficulty, running in your browser with no sign-up.

Train your working memory with this free dual N-back game. A square moves around a grid while letters are spoken, and you flag when the position or the sound matches the one from N steps back. It is the classic N-back brain training exercise, with difficulty you can raise from 2-back upward as it gets easier. Use it as a memory workout or a daily focus drill, and step up N as your accuracy climbs.

  • No sign-up, ever
  • 100% free
  • Nothing uploaded
  • Works offline after first load
  • Scores stay on your device
Read the guide: What Is Dual N-Back?
Best: —
Dual N-BackFlag when the square position or the spoken letter matches the one 2 steps back. Start at 2-back.

How to use it

  1. 1

    Pick your N

    Start at 2-back: you compare each step with the one two steps earlier. Raise N as it gets easy.

  2. 2

    Watch and listen

    A square lights a position and a letter is spoken each step. Track both at once.

  3. 3

    Flag the matches

    Press the position key when the square repeats from N back, and the sound key when the letter does.

When it comes in handy

Working-memory training

Practise the task most associated with stretching working memory through regular sessions.

Daily focus drill

A short, demanding session that asks you to hold and update two streams at once.

Step up the challenge

Move from 2-back to 3-back and beyond as your accuracy climbs.

Instant & 100% private — nothing is uploaded

Every game runs right here in your browser, and your best scores are kept on your own device. Nothing is sent to a server, so there is no sign-up and no account. Load the page once and it keeps working even if you go offline.

Frequently asked questions

What does "N-back" mean?
N is how many steps back you compare against. At 2-back you flag a match when the current square or sound is the same as the one two steps ago; at 3-back it is three steps ago, and so on. "Dual" means you track two things at once, position and sound.
Where should I start?
Begin at 2-back until you can hold both streams comfortably with good accuracy, then move up. It feels overwhelming at first, which is normal; the task is hard by design, and a few minutes a day is plenty.
Does it really train your brain?
N-back is the exercise most studied for working memory, though researchers still debate how far the benefit carries over to everyday tasks. Treat it as a focused, genuinely challenging workout rather than a guaranteed boost.

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