How to Play Kim's Game

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

Kim's Game is a classic memory game played with a tray of small objects and a keen eye. One player arranges a collection of everyday items on a tray, displays them briefly, then covers them with a cloth. Every other player then writes down as many objects as they can recall. It is simple to set up, needs no special equipment, and scales effortlessly from two players to a full classroom.

The game is a genuine test of observation and concentration rather than luck, which is why it has remained popular at birthday parties, Scouts and Guides meetings, and school playgrounds for generations. It rewards players who develop a system, rewards careful lookers, and is just competitive enough to keep everyone engaged.

A little history

The game takes its name from Rudyard Kipling's 1901 novel Kim, in which the boy spy protagonist is trained in observation by playing a jewel-memorisation exercise called "the Jewel Game." How widely that specific training exercise was practised before Kipling wrote about it is unclear, but the novel popularised the format under the name Kim's Game, and it was subsequently adopted by the Scouting movement as a standard observation exercise in the early twentieth century. Its use in schools and children's parties grew from there.

Setting up

1. Collect between 10 and 20 small, distinct objects. Classic choices include a coin, a pencil, a button, a key, a rubber band, a thimble, a safety pin, a marble, a spoon, and a small toy. Use a consistent number agreed before play begins.
2. Arrange the objects on the tray so they are all visible and not stacked on top of one another.
3. Cover the tray completely with the cloth so no objects can be seen.
4. Give every player a pencil and a piece of paper. Make sure they cannot see the tray until the reveal.
5. Agree in advance on the viewing time (typically 60 seconds for beginners, 30 seconds for experienced players) and whether the list must be written silently and individually.

How to play

1. Gather all players together and seat them so each has a clear, equal view of the tray.
2. The host removes the cloth and starts timing. Players look at the tray in silence for the agreed viewing period. Pointing at objects, mouthing words, or communicating with other players is not permitted during viewing.
3. When the time is up, the host replaces the cloth immediately. Players must stop looking at the tray at this point.
4. Players now have a set writing period, typically two to three minutes, to write down every object they remember. Lists must be written individually and in silence.
5. When the writing period ends, the host removes the cloth and reads out the full list of objects on the tray one by one.
6. Each player checks their own list and counts how many items they recorded correctly. An item scores only if it is named clearly enough to match the actual object. Spelling errors do not disqualify an entry provided the intended object is unambiguous.
7. The player with the highest number of correctly remembered objects wins the round.
8. For multiple rounds, shuffle or entirely replace the objects on the tray between rounds to prevent any advantage from memory of a previous game.

Winning and scoring

The player who correctly lists the most objects from the tray wins. In the event of a tie, the tied players take a sudden-death tiebreaker round with a fresh set of objects and a shorter viewing time, typically 20 seconds. For a longer session, play a fixed number of rounds and award one point per correct object across all rounds; the highest cumulative total wins.

The fine points

The most common dispute is over vague descriptions. If a player writes "coin" but the object is specifically a 2p piece, the host must decide before the game starts whether generic names are acceptable or whether precision is required. Settle this before play begins and apply the rule consistently. Similarly, if two similar objects are on the tray, such as a red button and a blue button, players should name both distinctly to score both points.

A second common issue is objects added or removed secretly as a variation (see Variations below). In that case, the scoring rule changes and players score for correctly identifying what has changed rather than for recalling the full list. This is a different game mode and must be declared as such before the first viewing. Do not mix the two formats mid-session.

How to win more often

• Scan the tray in a systematic order, such as left to right, row by row, rather than letting your eye wander randomly. You are far less likely to miss objects in a corner.
• Group objects mentally into categories as you look: things made of metal, things that write, things you wear. Clusters are easier to recall than isolated items.
• Do not start writing the moment the cloth goes down. Take three seconds to close your eyes and replay the image of the tray before your pen touches paper. The brief pause often surfaces items you would otherwise lose.
• Write quickly and do not edit during the writing period. Get everything down first, then review. Crossing out a correct answer in doubt is one of the most common ways to lose points.
• If you are the host, vary the arrangement of objects across rounds so players cannot rely on positional memory alone. Spreading objects irregularly rather than in a neat grid makes the game harder and fairer.

Variations

What Has Changed?

Players study the tray, then leave the room or close their eyes while the host removes, adds, or swaps one or more objects. Players return, look at the tray again, and write down everything that has changed. This version tests comparative observation rather than pure recall and works well as a harder challenge for older or experienced players.

Timed Championship

Play five rounds with the same number of objects but a shorter viewing window each round, starting at 60 seconds and reducing by ten seconds per round. Cumulative correct answers across all rounds decide the winner. The progressive pressure makes for a competitive session with a clear champion at the end.

Verbal Round

Instead of writing, players take turns calling out one object at a time from memory in a circle. A player who repeats an object already named, hesitates for more than five seconds, or names something not on the tray is eliminated. The last player remaining wins. This works particularly well with younger children who are not yet confident writers.

Themed Tray

Restrict all objects to a single theme, such as things found in a kitchen, items from a pencil case, or objects smaller than a matchbox. Themed trays are useful in educational settings because they naturally extend vocabulary and category awareness while keeping the core observation mechanic intact.

Kim's Game: frequently asked questions