About Shadow Match
Shadow Match is a calm, clever puzzle for children from 3 to 6. Black shadows sit at the top and colourful pictures of animals, fruit, vehicles and everyday things wait at the bottom; the job is to put every picture on the shadow that fits it exactly. When a picture lands in the right place it snaps in, lights up and its name is read out. Dropped in the wrong place, it slides gently back with no harsh sound.
There are 4 themes with 8 levels each, starting with just two pictures and growing to six. Later levels get trickier in smart ways: the shadows look alike (a cat, a dog and a bunny), an extra shadow has no picture, and a turned or mirrored shadow of the same picture appears, so children must look at shape and direction, not just colour.
The game builds observation, visual discrimination and focus, skills children need before reading and writing. Kids who can't drag yet can tap a picture and then tap a shadow. Each level gives stars based on mistakes, and stars and unlocked levels are saved on your device so your child can carry on where they left off.
How to play
- Press Let's play to continue from your last level, or pick a theme and a level.
- Look at the black shadows at the top and the colourful pictures at the bottom.
- Drag each picture to the shadow that matches it, or tap the picture and then the shadow.
- When every picture is in place you earn your stars and the next level opens.
Controls
| Keyboard | Move between pictures and shadows with Tab, press Enter on a picture to pick it, then Enter on its shadow. |
|---|---|
| Mouse | Drag a picture and drop it on its shadow, or click the picture and then click the shadow. |
| Touch | Drag a picture with your finger to its shadow, or tap the picture and then tap the shadow if dragging is hard. |
Tips to win
- Look for special edges: a bunny's long ears, a giraffe's neck, a chick's little tail.
- In the hard levels one shadow is turned around; check that the picture and the shadow face the same way.
- Start with the picture that looks least like the others and leave look-alikes for last.
- When your child gets one right, ask what it is called and what colour it is to learn new words.
Shadow Match: questions and answers
What age is this shadow game for?
It is made for ages 3 to 6. The first two levels are easy enough for a 3-year-old, and the last levels with look-alike and turned shadows are a nice challenge for 5 and 6-year-olds.
Why are shadow matching games good for kids?
They teach children to notice shape, outline and direction. This visual discrimination later helps them tell letters and numbers apart when they learn to read.
My child can't drag yet. What can they do?
Tap a picture once to pick it, then tap the shadow that matches, and it moves there by itself. Both ways work on every level.
Is progress saved?
Yes. Stars and unlocked levels are saved in your browser on this device with no sign-up, and the game is completely free.