1970s · board games
Simon
Four colored buttons and a sequence that got longer until your brain melted. The beeps were simple, but missing one felt like public failure.
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Image: Shritwod · CC0 · License
◆ Did you have this?
👍 I had this💔 I wanted this- Era
- 70s
- Released
- 1978
- Category
- board games
Before you buy
- For an original edition, compare the model name, packaging, and release details with the seller’s photos.
- Check the condition, included accessories, delivery cost, and return terms on the listing before ordering.
From the archive
Watch the commercial
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The pitch
Simon says follow the pattern! Watch the colored panels flash and beep, then repeat the sequence back. Get one note wrong and Simon buzzes you out. Simple to learn, impossible to put down at sleepovers.
Why people remember it
- It was the cleanest party game before phones existed.
- The tones mapped to colors in a way you could almost sing.
- Carrying the high score in your head was serious business.
Did you know?
- Ralph Baer, inventor of the home video game console, co created Simon with Howard Morrison.
- The design was inspired by the memory game Simon Says and the visual appeal of touch tone phones.
- Milton Bradley launched it at Studio 54 in New York with a giant playable version.
- Simon appeared in American Psycho, Gremlins, and countless nostalgia compilations.
How people search for it
“light up memory game”, “four color beep game”, “repeat the pattern toy”
Questions people ask
- Can you still get Simon?
- Yes. Full-size and pocket versions are still on shelves, often with brighter lights.
- Was Simon the same as Simon Says?
- Same energy, different hardware. This one actually kept score for you.
