Read the Face: an emotion recognition game
A face appears. Name the emotion it shows. At higher levels the expressions get subtler, flash for a split second, or show only the eyes.
How to play Read the Face
- 1
Look
A face appears. Tap the emotion it shows.
- 2
Be quick
The faster you answer, the more points the face is worth.
- 3
Learn from misses
Wrong answer? The face is shown at full strength and the right name lights up.
- 4
Level up
Emotions get subtler and the choices look more alike. Later a face only flashes briefly, and sometimes only the eyes are visible.
How to tell similar emotions apart
| Emotion | Tell-tale signs |
|---|---|
| Happiness (genuine) | Cheeks lift and the skin around the eyes crinkles. A polite smile often stays in the mouth. |
| Surprise | Brows rise in an arch, eyes widen, jaw drops. |
| Fear | Eyes widen too, but brows pull together and the lips stretch sideways. |
| Anger | Brows lower and draw together, lips tighten. |
| Disgust | Nose wrinkles, upper lip rises. |
| Contempt | One-sided: a single corner of the mouth tightens and lifts. |
How the faces are made
The faces are drawn by the app from the muscle movements that make up each expression, following the Facial Action Coding System researchers use to describe facial movement. That lets the game set exactly how strong an expression is, and show the same emotion on faces of different ages and looks.
7
emotions: six classic ones plus contempt
1
of them shows on just one side of the face
Frequently asked questions
Can you get better at reading facial expressions?
With practice people do get faster and more accurate at recognizing expressions in tasks like this one. Real conversations add context, voice and body language, so treat the game as practice in noticing, not as a test of empathy.
Which emotions are included?
Happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust and contempt, at different intensities.
Is Read the Face free?
It is a Premium game. New players get all Premium games free for the first 7 days, no card needed. Mood Swipe, a quicker game about pleasant and unpleasant expressions, is also Premium.
Play Read the Face in Brainura
One of 26 short brain games with levels that adapt as you improve. Five minutes a day, no ads, no account.
Free to install · no ads · no account needed
Sources
- Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1978). Facial Action Coding System: A technique for the measurement of facial movement. Consulting Psychologists Press.