Play Or Play

Déjà

An n-back memory game. Seen this symbol N steps ago? Say déjà.

PuzzleCasual

Déjà is an n-back memory game. Symbols show up one at a time, every two seconds. Your only job: tap DÉJÀ when the symbol on the card is the same one you saw N steps back. It starts gentle, at N = 1: same as the one right before. Then you do well, and N goes up.

At 2 back you’re holding two symbols and shuffling them every time a new one lands. At 3 back your head starts to hum. A little memory tape under the card shows the slots you’re holding, blank on purpose, with the one to compare outlined in pink. Three minutes, one button, and a lot of “wait, was that the star?”.

Déjà is part of Unrot, a series of twenty short games that each put one mental skill to the test: memory, attention, speed or logic. This one is the working memory game. Twenty games. Zero brainrot.

How to play

  • Symbols appear one at a time on the card: a circle, a star, a heart and so on.
  • Tap DÉJÀ (or press Space) when the symbol is the same as the one N steps back. Leave it alone when it isn’t.
  • The tape under the card tracks your memory: now, then 1 back, 2 back… The pink-outlined slot is the one to compare.
  • Hit 80% over 20 symbols and N goes up. Fall under 50% and it drops. You have 3 minutes.

Scoring

  • Your score is the highest N you held for a full 20 symbols, with accuracy as the tie-breaker.
  • Catching a match and correctly letting a non-match go count the same, so there’s no shortcut: spamming the button gets you nowhere.
  • Play the Daily for one scored run on the same symbols as everyone else, and keep your Unrot streak alive.

Tips

  • Say it in your head. “Star, heart, moon” is easier to hold than three pictures. Drop the oldest word every time a new symbol arrives.
  • Most symbols are not matches (about 7 in 10). When in doubt, let it slide.
  • Watch the meter over the card: it tells you how close you are to the next N.
  • When N goes up, the tape clears and reloads. Use those first few symbols to settle into the new rhythm.

FAQ

Is Déjà free?

Yes. Déjà is free to play in your browser on desktop and mobile, with no download and no account.

What is an n-back test?

Symbols appear one at a time, and you say when the current one is the same as the one N steps back. At N = 1 that's the one right before. At N = 3 you're holding the last three in your head and updating them with every new symbol. Déjà turns that into a 3-minute game where N moves with you.

Is Déjà a dual n-back?

No. Déjà is a single n-back: one stream of symbols and one button. A dual n-back runs two streams at once, for example positions and sounds. One stream is plenty once N hits 3.

How does N go up or down?

Déjà looks at your last 20 symbols. Score 80% or more and N goes up by one. Drop under 50% and it goes back down. The score counts matches you caught and non-matches you left alone equally, so tapping on everything or on nothing both land at exactly 50%.

How is my score counted?

Your score is the highest N you held: a full 20-symbol stretch at that N above 50%. Accuracy breaks ties. Three minutes is enough to hold 4 back if you're flawless, so 3 is a very good run.

More games