Holdback

Pass the crates that match today's mark, and let the lookalikes roll by.

Focus & speed · All ages

Pass a crate only when its mark matches today’s mark.

About this game

Holdback is a game about holding back. Crates roll past, each carrying a mark, and you tap to pass only the ones that match today's mark. The lookalikes are there to tempt you.

It is based on the go/no-go task, a classic way to study response inhibition, the ability to stop yourself from acting on impulse. You need to act quickly on the right ones and hold still on the rest.

How to play

Look at today's mark at the top of the screen.
Tap Pass crate when a crate carries that exact mark.
Let all the other crates roll by. Being right means both passing and not passing.

Tips

Look at the mark before deciding to pass a crate.
Don't tap just because crates are moving. Wait for the match.
If you get carried away, take a breath and slow down for a few crates.

How it adapts

Kids get slower crates and clearer differences between marks. Teens and adults get faster crates and lookalikes that are closer to the target. The pace adjusts to how you play.

Questions

What is a go/no-go task?

It is a task where you respond to some items (go) and hold back on others (no-go), which shows how well you can control impulses.

Why isn't tapping everything a good strategy?

Because passing the wrong crate counts against you, and the score rewards both passing the right ones and holding back on the rest.

Is it just about speed?

No. It is about being quick and careful at the same time.

The research behind it

Go/no-go tasks are widely used to study response inhibition. Practice makes you better at this game's version of it; we make no promise about self-control in daily life.