Is Memory Match good for kids?

Yes — it's one of the best games for building memory and concentration, and young children often beat adults.

What's the difference between Memory and Concentration?

Nothing — they're two names for the same matching-pairs game.

What is the trick to winning Memory?

Flip a new card first. If it matches one you've seen, take the pair; if not, use your second flip on a known card so you give away as little as possible.

Do you get another turn in Memory if you make a match?

Yes, in our game and in most house rules.

Is Memory good for kids?

Yes. It practises concentration and short-term memory, and children are often better at it than adults.

How do I play Memory Match online with a friend?

Open Memory Match on multiplayergames.app or in the Multiplayer Games app, choose Online and create a room. Send your friend the room code — they can join from a phone, tablet or computer, and iPhone, Android and web players can all play each other. It's free and you don't need an account.

Can I play Memory Match 2 player on one phone?

Yes. Pick the local 2 player mode and pass the device between turns. It works offline in the app, and there's a computer opponent too if you're on your own.

How to Play Memory Match

2 players
3–5 minutes
Also called Memory, Concentration

Memory Match — also called Concentration or Pairs — tests how well you remember where things are. Flip cards two at a time, find matching pairs and keep track of every card your opponent turns over too.

By the Multiplayer Games team · Updated 27 October 2026 · Rules checked against the sources below

Objective

Find more matching pairs than your opponent.

Setup

All cards are shuffled and laid face down in a grid. Every card has exactly one partner.

Memory Match rules, step by step

Flip two cards. On your turn, turn over any two face-down cards.
Match. If they match, you keep the pair and take another turn.
No match. If they don't, both cards flip back and play passes to your opponent.
Win. When all pairs are found, the player with the most pairs wins.

Memory Match variants, and the rules we use

Memory Match is played slightly differently from place to place. These are the variants you're most likely to meet:

Full deck. All 52 cards, matching by rank — a long, hard game.
Matching colour too. Pairs must match rank and colour, which halves the possible matches.
Solo. Clear the board in as few turns as possible.

How Memory Match works in Multiplayer Games:

4×4 board of 16 cards, 8 pairs.
A match earns another turn.
A tied pair count is a draw.

Memory Match strategy for beginners

Watch your opponent's turns as closely as your own — their misses tell you where cards are.
Flip an unknown card first. If it matches one you've seen, you can pair it straight away.
Work through the grid in a pattern (row by row) so it's easier to remember positions.
Late in the game, avoid flipping cards that show your opponent where the last pairs are.

Common mistakes to avoid

Flipping a known card first, which wastes the chance to discover something new.
Losing focus during your opponent's turn.

Memory Match terms explained

Pair: Two cards with the same picture.
Known card: A card you've already seen face up — the key to good play.

A short history of Memory Match

Memory is the card game Concentration, also called Pairs or Pelmanism — the last name comes from the Pelman Institute, a London memory-training school of the early 1900s. It's played with any deck of cards, laid face down in a grid.

Its popularity grew with the US TV quiz Concentration, first broadcast in 1958, and with picture-card editions for children. It's one of the few games where young kids regularly beat adults.

Memory Match FAQ

Sources

We checked these rules against: