Edge Spot: a peripheral vision game

How to play

1. Press Start and look at the cross in the middle of the play area.
2. Without moving your eyes, watch for the amber diamond that flashes near an edge.
3. Tap that edge of the play area, or press the matching arrow key.

Levels and scoring

A game is 30 flashes in six levels of five, which takes about 90 seconds. Levels 1 and 2 use only the left and right edges; from level 3 all four edges are in play. Blue circles join as decoys from level 2, up to three at a time, and the flash gets shorter, from 0.7 seconds at level 1 to 0.2 seconds at level 6. You have 2.5 seconds after each flash to answer. A right answer scores 8 points plus 2 for each level, so 10 points at level 1 and 20 at level 6. Wrong or missed answers score nothing.

Tips for a high score

• Keep your gaze on the cross. If your eyes jump to the edge, the flash is usually gone by the time they land.
• Sit centred, so all four edges are about the same distance from your eyes.
• On a large monitor, sit a little further back so the edges are not too far out.
• Look for the colour first: the diamond is amber and the decoys are blue.
• Blink between flashes. Staring without blinking dries your eyes out quickly.

Take a proper screen break

Edge Spot takes about a minute and a half. A game is a change of task, but your eyes are still on a screen. After a round, try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet (6 metres) away for 20 seconds, and blink fully a few times. Our guide to the 20-20-20 rule explains where it comes from and what a 2022 study found, and screen eye strain: what actually helps covers screen setup, dry air and when to get your eyes checked.

Questions about Edge Spot