Color Rush

About Color Rush

Color Rush is a free online brain game based on a famous psychology experiment called the Stroop effect. A colour word such as RED, BLUE or GREEN appears on screen, but it is painted in an ink colour that may or may not match. You have one simple question to answer each time: does the word match the colour it is written in? Press YES or NO and the next word appears straight away.

It sounds easy, but your brain reads words automatically, so when the word says BLUE and the ink is yellow, it takes real effort to answer correctly. You have 60 seconds to score as many points as you can. Correct answers build a streak that raises your points per answer, and every ten in a row adds three extra seconds to the clock. Wrong answers break your streak and cost two seconds.

How to Play Color Rush

• Press Play to start the 60-second timer.
• Read the word, then look at the colour of its letters.
• Press YES if the word and the ink colour match, NO if they don’t.
• On a keyboard, use the right arrow for Yes and the left arrow for No.
• Correct answers build your streak and multiplier. Mistakes reset it and take two seconds off.
• More colours are added as your score climbs, making it trickier.

Tips for a Higher Score

Try to look at the colour first and the word second. Some players find it helps to slightly blur their focus, so they notice the colour of the letters before they read what they say. Then quickly check whether the word names that colour.

Speed matters, but accuracy matters more. A single mistake costs you your streak multiplier and two seconds, which is worth more than several fast answers. Find a steady rhythm you can keep up without errors, and only speed up once your streak is going. Rest your fingers on the two arrow keys or the two buttons so you never have to look for them.

Game Features

• Fast 60-second rounds.
• Streak multiplier for longer runs of correct answers.
• Time bonus for every ten correct answers in a row.
• More colours unlock as your score rises.
• Accuracy and answer count shown at the end.
• Best score saved in your browser.

Why Play Color Rush Online

The Stroop test is used by researchers to study attention and reaction time, and turning it into a game makes it a quick and fun focus workout. Color Rush works with big buttons on phones and arrow keys on computers, and one round takes just one minute.

FAQ

What is the Stroop effect?

It is the delay people feel when the meaning of a colour word clashes with the colour it is printed in. Your brain wants to read the word, even when you are trying to name the colour.

Is Color Rush good for colour-blind players?

Some colour pairs, such as red and green, may be hard to tell apart for colour-blind players, so the game may feel harder for them.

How can I get more time?

Every ten correct answers in a row adds three seconds to the clock.

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