If you have ADHD, you already know the frustration: you know you're capable, but your working memory doesn't always cooperate. You forget the thing you walked into the room for. You lose track of multi-step instructions. Your brain feels like it has too many tabs open.
But here's the good news: working memory is trainable. And one of the most effective (and enjoyable) ways to train it is through pattern memory games — the kind where you watch a sequence and repeat it back, like Simon Says.
Working memory is the brain's ability to hold and manipulate information over short periods. It's what lets you follow a recipe without re-reading each step, keep a phone number in your head long enough to dial it, or remember what someone said at the start of a sentence by the time they finish.
For people with ADHD, working memory is one of the most consistently affected executive functions. Research shows that ADHD brains have differences in the prefrontal cortex — the region responsible for holding information "online" while you use it. This isn't a matter of intelligence or effort; it's neurology.
A growing body of peer-reviewed research supports using structured games to improve working memory in people with ADHD. A systematic review published in Multimodal Technologies and Interaction found that game-based digital interventions significantly improved both visuospatial short-term memory and visuospatial working memory in individuals with ADHD.
Another meta-analysis examining 17 studies on different intervention types found that interactive games produced moderate positive effects on working memory in children with ADHD, with benefits extending to attention and cognitive flexibility.
A 2024 systematic review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research examining serious games for neurodiverse children found significant improvements across multiple executive function domains:
These are precisely the skills that ADHD makes harder — and precisely the skills that pattern memory games exercise.
Games that follow the "watch, remember, repeat" pattern — like Simon Says — are particularly well-suited for working memory training because they:
Games like Simon Says encourage children to adjust their responses based on changing rules or new information, and help practice focusing on tasks — a skill that is often impaired in ADHD.
Not all games are created equal when it comes to ADHD. Many commercial games use aggressive timers, flashing effects, and high-pressure scoring that can trigger overwhelm rather than flow.
Pattern Builder was designed with ADHD brains in mind:
The goal isn't to add more stimulation to an already overstimulated brain. It's to create a space where your brain can practice focus in a way that actually feels good.
Pattern memory games won't cure ADHD — nothing will, because ADHD isn't something that needs "curing." But consistent practice with structured memory exercises can meaningfully improve the working memory skills that ADHD makes harder.
Think of it like physical exercise: a single workout won't transform your body, but regular practice builds real, lasting capacity. The same is true for your brain.
The best part? It only takes a few minutes a day. And unlike many brain-training apps, Pattern Builder is completely free, requires no account, and works right in your browser.
Try Pattern Builder