Pattern Lab
Play a free pattern game that goes well beyond a single 'what comes next' quiz shape. Four levels move from simple shape and color repeating patterns (AB, AAB, ABC) through sizes and rotations, up to a mixed challenge that adds number sequences and growing patterns. Three interaction modes — predict the next item, fill a missing or broken piece, and identify the rule — keep the reasoning genuinely different round to round, with no sign-up and nothing saved.
Pattern Lab builds every round from a fresh, seeded generator across five attribute dimensions (shape, color, size, rotation, and combined shape+color) plus number sequences and growing patterns, so no two sessions lean on the same small, memorizable set — and three modes (predict, fill, name the rule) test different kinds of pattern reasoning, not just recognition.
Not a test — nothing is saved after you leave.
Ready to spot a pattern?
Predict what comes next, fill a missing piece, or name the rule.
How to use the pattern lab
- 1Choose a level — it sets which pattern families, types, and modes appear.
- 2Look at the sequence shown for the round.
- 3Depending on the mode, tap what comes next, tap the correct missing or broken piece, or tap the rule that describes it.
- 4Tap New Round for a freshly generated pattern.
When this is useful
Repeating pattern recognition
Practice AB, AAB, ABB, ABC, AABB, and ABCD patterns across shapes, colors, sizes, and rotations.
Rule-based reasoning
Move beyond 'pick the next shape' into naming the actual rule a sequence follows.
Number pattern practice
Level 4 adds constant-step number sequences and visually growing patterns.
Grade-aware progression
Start with simple K-1 shape and color patterns and work up to a mixed Level 4 challenge.
Classroom warm-up
Put a round on the projector and have the class predict the next tile before revealing it.
Examples to try
Level 1: shapes & colors
Simple AB, AAB, and ABB patterns for K-1, with 'what comes next' only.
Level 3: adds the rule
Rotations join the mix, and a new mode asks students to name the pattern's rule directly.
Level 4: numbers & growing patterns
Constant-step number sequences and visually growing patterns join the attribute families.
Tips for better results
Look for the repeating unit
Find the smallest chunk that repeats — that's the pattern's rule, whether it's two shapes or four.
A 'broken' piece isn't the last item
When one shown piece doesn't fit, compare it to the item in the same position in an earlier repeat, not just to its neighbors.
Naming the rule is harder than picking the next item
Level 3 and 4's rule mode asks for the pattern type itself, a step up from simple prediction.
Growing patterns count, they don't repeat
A growing pattern's dots increase by the same amount each time rather than cycling back to the start.
How the pattern lab works
Every pattern is generated fresh from a repeating unit (like AB or AABB) applied to a randomly chosen set of shapes, colors, sizes, or rotations — the same underlying mechanic the Patterns worksheet generator uses, extended across more attributes and three interaction modes.
Number sequences and growing patterns use exact constant-step arithmetic, so a blank or 'what comes next' answer is always derivable by re-applying the same rule shown in the visible sequence.
Wrong-answer choices are drawn from values that genuinely appear elsewhere in the round (a believable near-miss) or from the same pool but unused in this sequence (a fresh but plausible option) — never random noise unrelated to the pattern.
Private by design
- No account and no sign-up. Just open it and start.
- Everything runs on your device, so the answers you choose and your game settings stays with you.
- Nothing you create is uploaded. No values, names, scores, or generated content are sent to our servers.
- We use Google Analytics only for basic, anonymous pageview counts. It never receives what you enter into the tool.
Frequently asked questions
Is this pattern game free?
Yes, completely free, with no account and no limit on how many rounds you play. There are no ads.
What pattern types does it cover?
AB, AAB, ABB, ABC, AABB, and ABCD repeating patterns, applied to shapes, colors, sizes, rotations, and — at Level 4 — combined shape-and-color pairs, number sequences, and growing patterns.
What are the three modes?
Predict the next item in the sequence, fill a missing or 'broken' piece partway through, or identify the rule that describes the whole pattern.
Are the patterns repeated?
No. Each round randomly selects a family, pattern type, value set, and mode, so the exact sequence shown is almost always different.
Does this use AI?
No. Every pattern, blank position, and answer choice is generated by deterministic logic in your browser. It does not use AI.
Does the game work well on a tablet or phone?
Yes. Sequence tiles and answer choices are large tap targets that wrap to fit narrower screens.
Are scores saved?
No. Your score, streak, and session best stay in your browser for the current session and are cleared when you leave the page.
More classroom tools
Patterns Worksheet Generator
Make printable shape pattern worksheets — AB, AAB, ABB, ABC, and AABB — with a "what comes next" answer key.
Open toolNumber Patterns Worksheet Generator
Make printable number pattern and skip counting worksheets with missing numbers and an answer key.
Open toolShapes Worksheet Generator
Make printable 2D shape worksheets — name the shape or count the sides — with real vector shapes and an answer key.
Open toolAlways free · No account needed · Nothing you type ever leaves your device.