Caticon: Gentle Memory Game

Your parents have never played games on a phone? They may still enjoy this one. Caticon is a calm memory game that's clear from the first tap. It's a pleasant way to pass the time, and it quietly keeps memory and attention working. Even if your mom is 85 or 90, she can get into it and enjoy it. I'm a retired developer. I built Caticon for myself and for my mom: an enjoyable little puzzle for a few minutes a day, without ads, purchases or anything distracting. It's simple to start and interesting to get better at — for parents, grandparents and anyone who enjoys a calm puzzle. The idea comes from “The Fly”, a classic Soviet attention exercise from 1980s psychological training: a fly starts in the centre of an imaginary 3×3 board, and you say “Stop!” the moment it leaves the board. HOW IT WORKS • Press Take the first step: Caticon disappears, and arrows show where it jumps. • Keep the path in your mind and press Step while it's still on the board. • Press Stop the moment it leaves the board. Too soon is “Too Early!”, too late is “Too Late!”. That's the whole game. One round takes 1 to 3 minutes. A LITTLE CHALLENGE, IF YOU WANT IT Caticon is a spatial memory puzzle: follow the movement, keep it in mind, choose the right moment. Easy is gentle; if you'd like more of a challenge, in Custom you choose the board size yourself, and boards larger than 9×9 take real concentration. (It's a game, not medicine or a medical product, and it makes no health claims.) SIMPLE AND HONEST • No ads — nothing pops up, nothing to tap by mistake • No in-app purchases — one payment, nothing more • Works offline — no Wi-Fi, no account, no sign-up • No data collected — nothing is shared with anyone • Easy from the first tap — simple rules, no menus to get lost in COMFORTABLE FOR EVERYONE • Large buttons that are easy to hit • High-contrast picture that is easy to see • No flashing effects and no loud surprises • Quiet, uncluttered screens YOUR PACE, YOUR PROGRESS There is no countdown clock: you decide when to press Step. On Easy each arrow stays on screen for 2 seconds; in Custom you set the board size and the arrow display time yourself. Every game is saved in Statistics (date, board, moves, Caught or Escaped), so you can follow your progress; it stays on your phone only. Short rounds fit easily into a morning coffee or an evening routine. AS A GIFT Install it on your parent's phone in a minute, play one round together, and that's it. Because there are no ads, no purchases and no internet needed, there are no pop-ups, accidental payments or strange links. GOOD TO KNOW • Paid once — no subscription • No ads, no in-app purchases • Fully offline • Android 7.0 and newer Questions or suggestions? Write to me at [email protected] — I read every message. More at caticon.app