Pattern Recognition2 min read

How to play Matrix

A 3×3 grid of pictures follows a pattern, and the last picture is missing. Pick the picture that fits.

Goal

Work out the rules in a 3×3 grid of figures and pick the figure that completes it.

A 3×3 grid shows figures. Each figure has a shape, a number of shapes, a size, a fill and a colour.
Each of those properties follows its own rule across the rows and columns. The bottom-right square is missing.
Work out the rule for each property, then pick the option that fits all of them.
After answering, the explanation lists every rule, and shows exactly where a wrong choice breaks the pattern.
On Expert, each puzzle has a 90-second countdown.

If each row goes 1 circle, 2 circles, 3 circles, the missing picture at the end of a row has 3 circles.

Check the other things too, such as colour and size, one at a time.

Look at one property at a time and ignore the others.
A property can stay fixed, depend on the row or column, step up or down by a set amount, use each value once per row and column, or (for the number of shapes) add or subtract across a row.
Predict the missing figure before you look at the options.
Wrong options are near misses that change just one or two properties, so check every property.
On Easy and Medium, a hint removes two wrong options.

Every correct answer is worth 100 points, scaled by difficulty (Easy ×0.8, Medium ×1, Hard ×1.3, Expert ×1.6).
Answering within 3 seconds adds a 25-point speed bonus.
Each answer in a row adds a 15-point streak bonus, up to 10 in a row.
Using a hint halves the points for that answer and skips the bonuses. Hints are only available on Easy and Medium.
Your score, streak and achievements are saved to your account when the game ends.

Classic

A fixed number of rounds, then a results screen.

Endless

Keep playing until you press Quit.

Time Attack

Fit in as many rounds as you can before the clock runs out.

Survival

Play until you run out of lives or make the game-ending mistake.