FOCUS · 1 OF 16 GAMES

ArrowsA flanker task focus game

Look only at the arrow in the middle. Go the way it points.

Practise Arrows or play today's Daily

How to play

  1. Look only at the arrow in the middle.
  2. Swipe the way it points, or tap the matching arrow key.

Right and fast scores most. Rounds get harder as you keep getting them right.

About Arrows

Arrows is a focus game based on the flanker task. A row of arrows appears and you answer only the direction of the one in the middle.

The arrows around it, the flankers, often point the other way to drag your answer with them. Later rounds add up and down as well as left and right.

Tips for a higher score

  • Fix your eyes on the centre of the screen before each card.
  • Ignore the edges. Only the middle arrow counts.
  • Swipe or use the arrow keys, whichever feels quicker.

More focus games

Ink A colour word painted in another colour. Tap the paint, not the word. Odd One Everything looks the same except one. Find it and tap it. Count Shapes flash up. Count only the ones in the colour shown.

All focus games All 16 games

Arrows: questions

How do you play Arrows?

Look only at the arrow in the middle. Swipe the way it points, or tap the matching arrow key.

Is Arrows free to play?

Yes. Play Arrows free in your browser, with no sign-up and no download. It is also in the free Sharpday app for Android.

What is the flanker task?

A classic attention test from psychology: respond to a central target while nearby items push you toward the wrong answer. Arrows turns it into a quick game.