Animal Memory
In Animal Memory you get twenty-four cards, twelve animals, two of each. Match them all in as few moves as you can. Free, no install, no sign-up.
In Animal Memory you turn over two cards at a time. Match the animals. Fewer moves and longer streaks score better.
about 32.6 KB
Works offline after the first visit. No install, no sign-up.
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How to play Animal Memory
Twelve animals, two cards each
Every animal appears exactly twice, so nothing is ever left stranded without a partner and the board can always be cleared completely.
Two cards at a time, and then a pause
Turning over a second card settles it straight away. If they match they stay face up; if they do not, both are turned back down. While those two are still showing, no third card can be turned over — which is what stops the board from ever having three cards open at once.
Matched cards are retired
Once a pair is matched those two cards cannot be turned over again and do not affect your move count. They stay as faint outlines so you can see what is already gone.
Moves are counted in pairs
A move is a pair of cards turned over, not a single card. Turning over one card and stopping is not a move at all.
Streaks are worth more
Matching on consecutive moves builds a streak, and each step up the streak is worth more points than the last. Getting one wrong resets the streak to nothing — but it never deducts anything, so a guess costs you only the move.
The animals are drawn, not photographed
Each animal is built from circles, triangles and ellipses in code. There are no image files and nothing to download beyond the game itself — and the twelve designs differ by shape as well as colour.
Animal Memory Tips and Strategy
Two flips is one move
A move is counted when the second card turns over, so one card on its own costs nothing. That makes it worth opening a single uncertain card and stopping, rather than immediately committing a second. On a 24 card board with twelve pairs, the card you are sure about is worth more than a coin-flip pair.
Combos do not cost a miss
A wrong pair resets the combo counter but never takes points off, so the score you have is safe even when the streak is not. Each step of a streak adds two points on top of the base ten, which means recovering after a miss costs you only the streak. Keep going for a pair you believe in rather than hesitating, since hesitation adds nothing.
Matched cards are safe to ignore
Once a pair is made it stays face up and cannot be opened again, so it is out of play for the rest of the round. With twelve pairs that means more than half the board stops being a risk partway through. Spend your attention on the cards still hidden, and use the cleared space to plan the next pair before you flip.
Animal Memory — Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I not turn over a third card?
Two cards are already showing. They are settled or turned back automatically, and then you can carry on. Three cards can never be open at the same time.
Why was my score not reduced when I got one wrong?
Getting one wrong costs a move and resets your streak, but nothing is deducted. Guessing is a reasonable way to find out where things are.
Is there a time limit?
No. Only the number of moves is counted.
Can a board be impossible to finish?
No. Each animal is on exactly two cards, so a full set of pairs always exists.
Does it need installing or an account?
No. It runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer and works offline after the first visit.