Controls at a glance
Keyboard
Keys 1 to 4 choose an answer. P pauses, R restarts.
Touch screen
Tap one of the four answer buttons under the plate.
Important: a game, not a medical test
Colour Plates is a game for fun. It is not a medical test, it is not a colour vision test and it cannot diagnose anything. The plates here are original puzzles made by this site, and your score says nothing about your eyes. If you find the plates hard, that tells you nothing on its own, because screens, lighting, brightness and tiredness all change how colours look. If you are curious or concerned about your vision, please speak to an eye care professional.
How to play
Each run has 10 plates. A plate is a circle packed with hundreds of coloured dots. Some of the dots form a bold shape or number, such as a circle, triangle, star, arrow or the digits 2, 4 and 7. Look at the plate, then choose what you see from four answers underneath. You get feedback straight away and the next plate follows after a short pause. There is no countdown, although the game tracks your total time as a tie-break.
How the plates get harder
The first plates use strongly different colour pairs, so the hidden shape stands out. Later plates use pairs that sit closer together, including red and green style mixes and blue and yellow style mixes, and the last plates use soft, low contrast colours. Brightness and dot size are mixed up on purpose, so you cannot find the shape just by looking for lighter or bigger dots. Every shape appears at most once in a run.
Scoring and stars
- Your score is how many of the 10 plates you answer correctly.
- You earn 1 star for 6 correct, 2 stars for 8 and 3 stars for 10.
- A perfect 10 out of 10 earns the perfect flag.
- Your total time is shown with the result as a tie-break.
Controls, daily challenge and friends
Tap or click an answer button, or press 1, 2, 3 or 4 on a keyboard. P pauses and R restarts. Daily challenge mode gives everyone the same plates today and builds a streak when you finish. After a run you can copy a challenge link so a friend plays the exact same plates and tries to beat your score.
Tips for a better score
- Sit back a little and let your eyes soften. Details often pop out when you stop hunting.
- Play on a bright screen with night mode and tinted filters turned off, since those change colours.
- Think in outlines: look for a straight edge, a point or a curve rather than one colour.
- Take a short break if the plates start to blur. It is only a game and there is no penalty for time.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a colour blindness test?
No. Colour Plates is a game for fun. It is not a medical test and it cannot diagnose or rule out any colour vision condition. If you are curious or worried about your vision, please speak to an eye care professional.
What if I find the plates hard?
That does not tell you anything on its own. Screen settings, lighting and tiredness all affect how colours look. If you are concerned, an eye care professional is the right person to ask.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up. Your best scores, stars and streaks are saved only on your own device.
Can I use the keyboard?
Yes. Press 1, 2, 3 or 4 to choose an answer. P pauses and R restarts.
What is the daily challenge?
It is the same set of 10 plates for everyone on the same date. Finishing it keeps your daily streak going, and you can share a link so friends play the same plates.
