Game guide
Match Madness
The classic memory-pairs game with a basketball heart: flip two cards, find two identical players, and try to clear the whole court in as few "shots" as possible. Easy to explain in one sentence, genuinely challenging at the top division.
Divisions
| Division | Pairs | Made for |
|---|---|---|
| Rookie | 6 pairs | Younger players — the round opens with a three-second peek at every card |
| Pro | 8 pairs | Confident matchers who no longer need the peek |
| All-Star | 16 pairs | A full 8×4 court that tests grown-ups too |
The card faces are dealt from a roster of thirty hand-drawn players each round, so no two games open with the same lineup.
Scoring, streaks and stars
- Every matched pair banks 100 points; back-to-back matches multiply that through the On Fire! combo (×2, then ×3).
- A time bonus rewards quick rounds — but time never punishes; only flips count against your stars.
- Three stars means near-perfect recall; the result card can be saved as a shareable certificate.
- Scores can go to the leaderboard under a nickname — the game even suggests a safe, silly one.
Coaching tips
- Flip in a fixed pattern (say, row by row) instead of at random — position memory does half the work.
- Younger kids remember better when they say what they see: “red jersey!”, “headband guy!”.
- Chase pairs you are sure of first to keep the On Fire! streak alive; guesses cost combos.
Quick answers
What does "On Fire!" mean?
Finding matching pairs back-to-back without a miss lights a combo streak: the second consecutive match is worth double points and from the third onward everything counts triple — until a miss cools the streak down.
Can two kids play together?
The game is built for one player, but it makes a lovely turn-taking game: alternate flips, and whoever completes a pair gets the next turn. The shared board keeps both players watching.
What do the stars measure?
Stars come from how few flips you needed — time never lowers a star rating. Finishing fast earns bonus points instead, so careful players and speedy players both get their glory.
Wondering about ages and privacy? The parents' guide has the rundown.