SET

How it plays

Twelve cards lie face up. Each shows symbols with four features: shape, color, number, shading. A "set" is three cards where each feature is either identical on all three or different on all three. Spot one, call "Set!" and take the cards – everyone searches simultaneously, nobody waits.

What it trains

SET is concentrated visual analysis: four feature dimensions must be checked in parallel and recombined constantly. That engages selective attention, working memory and flexible hypothesis-building all at once – and since pattern recognition doesn't depend on age, practiced kids beat their parents regularly.