Straight answers about the n-back task, what the training does (and doesn't) do, and how to play. Free in your browser, no account needed.
Dual N-Back is a free working-memory training game built on the classic n-back task. A stream of stimuli appears one at a time, and you tap when the current one matches the one shown N steps earlier. "Dual" means you track two independent streams at once — for example a square's position in a 3×3 grid and a spoken letter.
Each trial shows a stimulus, and you decide whether it matches the one from N trials ago — responding only on a match. As N rises, the load grows, because you have to hold and continuously update more items in mind. The app runs three streams — position, audio (a spoken consonant), and color — that you can enable independently for single, dual, or triple n-back.
Practice reliably improves your performance on the n-back task itself, and it's a genuinely demanding workout for working memory and sustained attention. Whether that transfers to broad gains in general intelligence is still debated: some studies — notably Jaeggi and colleagues — reported improvements in fluid intelligence, while later research found the far-transfer effect smaller or inconsistent. Our honest take: enjoy it as focused brain training, not a guaranteed IQ boost.
Yes — completely free, with no ads, no subscriptions, and no in-app purchases.
No account or sign-up. The game works fully offline and your training history stays on your device. The app uses privacy-respecting analytics to understand feature usage — details are in the privacy policy.
Yes. You can play free in any modern browser with nothing to install, and there's also a native iOS app.
Yes — Dual N-Back: Brain Trainer is on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. It's free, and the same game also runs in your browser, so you can train on whichever you prefer.
Single tracks one stream, dual tracks two at once, and triple tracks three. More streams mean more to hold simultaneously, so triple is much harder than dual at the same N. Toggle position, audio, and color to choose.
In adaptive mode, N adjusts to your accuracy after each session (Jaeggi-style): do well and it steps up, struggle and it eases down — keeping you near the edge of your ability. You can set the promote/demote thresholds yourself, or lock N manually from 1 to 9.
A block is short — usually a few minutes — and you choose the trial count and speed. One focused session a day is a common routine; consistency beats marathon sessions.
Don't memorize a long list — update a small rolling window of the last N items as each stimulus arrives. Keep a steady rhythm, stay relaxed, and accept some misses; nudging up a level slightly before you feel ready is where most of the gains come from.
Modern desktop and mobile browsers, plus a native iOS app. Audio mode needs sound on; an optional on-screen caption shows the spoken letter for accessibility or muted play.