Simon Says

About

Simon Says is a classic pattern-matching game that came bundled with the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972. Players use a card overlay to track sequences displayed onscreen and click to repeat them back. The challenge grows as the patterns lengthen, testing memory and reflexes in a way that feels surprisingly modern for its era. The lack of score tracking or time limits keeps the focus purely on the rhythm of repetition. Though primitive by today’s standards, Simon Says was a technical showcase for early home consoles. It appears in retro rankings as one of the most enduring titles from the Odyssey’s original 12 games. The simplicity of its design has aged well, proving that some mechanics need no complexity to be engaging. Community archives note its influence on later light-up handhelds, though few games from 1972 still hold players’ attention this consistently.