N-Back Challenge

In-app purchases
4.0
810 reviews
50K+
Downloads
Content rating
PEGI 3
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About this game

The N-Back Challenge provides a special type of cognitive training, “dual n-back,” that helps you raise your IQ in just a few minutes per day. Sounds implausible? The N-Back Challenge is based on a decade’s worth of scientific studies, published in top peer-reviewed journals, including Nature. (For more details, see https://nbackchallenge.com/science.)

The catch? It’s no fun at all! Indeed, the training is designed to be maximally exhausting. If you are determined enough to make it through 20 sessions, however, science suggests that you stand to reap powerful benefits.

Intelligence is the ultimate cognitive ability: You need it to learn, reason, solve novel problems, and see connections. Higher IQs have been linked to improved academic achievement, professional success, and even better health. Since it will take you just 7 hours, in total, to complete the N-Back Challenge, not much more than the length of a single school day, it may prove to be the best investment of time you’ve ever made!

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SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND: Not only has the dual n-back paradigm been validated in top peer-reviewed journals, but our two founders – both PhDs, one with a focus on neuroscience, the other with a focus on higher education – have taken particular care to thoroughly align the app with the prevailing scientific research.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: In order to help you stay motivated, the N-Back Challenge allows you to visually monitor your progress over time, build up “streaks,” and compare yourself against other learners across various stats.

COMPETE AGAINST YOUR FRIENDS: Perhaps the most powerful way of making sure you remain motivated to complete the Challenge is to tackle it together with friends or colleagues. To make it more fun, we’ve provided leaderboards that allow you to compete based on who has completed the most sessions, racked up the longest streak, and more.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE: The N-Back Challenge allows you to choose between different voices across multiple languages, turn on notifications, and customize their timing and style. There are advanced settings for turning on instant button feedback, controlling the n-back level, and tweaking the game speed. And if you are too busy to complete one session every day, you may switch to the Weekly Habit, which gives you a full week to complete each session.

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ARE YOU…

… A PARENT? Give your children an edge at school or university by nudging them to complete the N-Back Challenge. Indeed, why not tackle the Challenge together as a family?

… A GRANDCHILD? Help your grandparents (and other older relatives) fight cognitive decline by introducing them to dual n-back. (See https://nbackchallenge.com/decline.)

… A KNOWLEDGE WORKER? Share the N-Back Challenge with your HR department. Dual n-back may well be the single most cost-effective way of making knowledge workers more productive. (See https://nbackchallenge.com/work.)

… A TEACHER? Use dual n-back to enhance students' problem-solving skills. You can have a big impact, with a minimal investment of time! (See https://nbackchallenge.com/class.)

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HOW IT WORKS: The N-Back Challenge is free as long as you stick to the program. When you miss or delay a session, we ask you to support us with a “coffee,” which you can buy in-app or earn — for example, by using the Share link in the Settings to invite friends. (Each of you will receive a free coffee.) You can also unlock unlimited free breaks by becoming a premium subscriber.

CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Do you have any questions or suggestions? Like to say hello? We’re happy to hear from you! Just drop us a note at [email protected].

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: To learn more about dual n-back and the N-Back Challenge, browse our repository of articles at https://nbackchallenge.com/articles.

Privacy Policy: https://nbackchallenge.com/privacy-policy
Terms of Use: https://nbackchallenge.com/terms-of-use
Updated on
Apr 23, 2025

Data safety

Safety starts with understanding how developers collect and share your data. Data privacy and security practices may vary based on your use, region, and age. The developer provided this information and may update it over time.
No data shared with third parties
Learn more about how developers declare sharing
This app may collect these data types
Location, Personal info and 4 others
Data is encrypted in transit
You can request that data be deleted

Ratings and reviews

4.0
792 reviews
Markus Eberhard
April 15, 2025
Update 04/25: Still the same language problem as last time. When I go to select the voice, it is sometimes in English. I change it back to German and a day later it is back to English. Other times I go to the voice selection and the settings say it is already German (but the voice was English before I went to the settings). I leave the settings without saving and it magically changes back to the German voice.
Did you find this helpful?
Rivuspurus
April 10, 2025
Hi Markus, thank you very much for your review and feedback! We have recently released a new update for N-Back. Could you please update the app and let us know if everything is fine? Thank you!
Rahul
May 21, 2025
It's asking for donation if we break streak. I tried it. This is too tough. I saw one site dualnback dot Co, it has easy version few boxes only. But this one is too tough. It's hard to even understand and get started. U need to improve this app to make it easiest with easiest levels as beginners, instead of tough levels in start.
2 people found this review helpful
Did you find this helpful?
Rivuspurus
March 30, 2025
Hi Rahul, thanks for sharing. Well, you do not usually go to the gym and blame the dumbbells for being heavy. N-Back being hard is exactly what makes it effective. Our app follows the design of the scientific studies, maximizing the likelihood of cognitive gains. We're sorry you don't like N-Back; we wish you success with whatever training you do.
yohannes mulugeta
May 4, 2025
I am enjoying this game. it says in the article that it raises intelligence. well fingers crossed:]. And also i noticed that it kinda helped me stay on a difficult level so i can practice it more i think. which shows its made for a challenge. Great app
Did you find this helpful?
Rivuspurus
May 31, 2025
Thank you very much, we appreciate your kind words! We are glad to hear that N-Back is helpful! And, indeed, dual n-back is a tough exercise. But we hope it's worth it. :) We wish you a lot of success with your training!

What’s new

This update adds a new option in Advanced Settings: you can now swap the “Position” and “Sound” buttons to better suit your preferences. Thanks for your continued support and feedback!