A memory puzzle shows you something and then takes it away. On Survivor it comes in two forms. Jeff shows a sequence one symbol at a time and you repeat it back, or you study a board and rebuild it from memory. Play both here, including two sequences exactly as they aired.
Repeat the sequence: listen to the symbols, then press each one's number key in the same order. Study the board: press R to hear the board, Enter to hide it, then arrow keys to pick a square and number keys to place a symbol. Backspace clears a square, and Enter looks at the board again. H gives a hint in practice. Space starts a new game.
The memory puzzle has shown up 15 times across 14 seasons, from Africa (season 3) in 2001 to Worlds Apart (season 30) in 2015. Here is every one we could confirm.
Study 9 items, then put each one back in its place from memory.
In the final round Ethan placed 8 of the 9 items, more than anyone else, and won immunity.
Won by Ethan Source for season 3, episode 9 (opens in a new tab)
Study a colored mosaic, then flip your own two-sided pieces to match it.
A mistake put a player out. Each new mosaic was harder, with less time to copy it. Ami lasted longest.
Won by Ami Source for season 9, episode 9 (opens in a new tab)
Memorize 15 pictures in a grid, then rebuild the grid with matching tiles.
Every player had a different grid. After a mistake, a player had to go back across the course to look again.
Won by Tom Source for season 10, episode 13 (opens in a new tab)
Dive to read 7 symbols on a plank, then rebuild them in order on the beach.
Players could sit out and eat hamburgers instead of competing.
Won by Terry Source for season 12, episode 10 (opens in a new tab)
Memorize the 7 symbols on a mask, then build them onto a copy of the mask.
Two teams of five rowed down a river to collect the pieces. The winning team skipped Tribal Council.
Won by Boo, Cassandra, Earl, Edgardo and Yau-Man Source for season 14, episode 9 (opens in a new tab)
Repeat a list of zodiac animals by stabbing their cards in the same order.
One wrong animal put a player out. Four players chose to sit out and eat cheeseburgers, and Peih-Gee beat the other three who played.
Won by Peih-Gee Source for season 15, episode 9 (opens in a new tab)
Swim out to study symbols laid out in a pyramid, then rebuild the pattern on shore.
One player from each team swam out at a time to look at the pattern.
Won by Amanda, Erik, Jason and Ozzy Source for season 16, episode 10 (opens in a new tab)
Repeat a sequence of symbols that Jeff showed, in order.
One wrong symbol put a player out. Brenda was the last one left.
Won by Brenda Source for season 21, episode 9 (opens in a new tab)
Feel the symbols on a shield while blindfolded, then copy them onto a second shield.
Players learned the symbols by touch alone.
Won by Fabio Source for season 21, episode 14 (opens in a new tab)
Repeat a sequence of symbols that Jeff showed, in order.
It was held the night after a Tribal Council. Rob outlasted Ashley and Steve.
Won by Rob Source for season 22, episode 11 (opens in a new tab)
Memorize a pattern of objects, then copy it from a bin of the same objects.
The first player to have it memorized pulled a lever, which dropped the curtain for both players. The first tribe to 5 points won.
Won by Salani Source for season 24, episode 3 (opens in a new tab)
Repeat a sequence of pirate symbols on an answer cube.
The first round had 6 symbols and the second had 7. It came down to Vytas and his brother Aras, and only Vytas got the last symbol right.
Won by Vytas Source for season 27, episode 8 (opens in a new tab)
Repeat a sequence of colored tiles.
The rounds had 4 tiles and then 7. LJ, Tony and Tasha all reached the last tile and gave three different answers. Tasha's blue was right.
Won by Tasha Source for season 28, episode 8 (opens in a new tab)
Repeat a sequence of symbols on an answer cube.
One wrong symbol put a player out. Jeremy was the last one standing.
Won by Jeremy Source for season 29, episode 8 (opens in a new tab)
Memorize a row of items, then lay out the same items in the same order.
A player pulled a lever to drop the curtain once they had it memorized. The first tribe to 3 points won.
Won by Nagarote Source for season 30, episode 6 (opens in a new tab)
If you remember this puzzle from an episode that isn’t listed above, tell us. We check every report against a source before adding it.
Tell us what felt good and what got in the way. We read every note.