Methodology
What we measure, what the optional skill test is, and what we explicitly do not claim.
1. What we measure
For every game session, Moyako Games records:
| Game | Tracked metrics |
|---|---|
| All games | Session score, session duration, game completed (yes/no), streak contribution |
| Chess | Win/loss/draw, AI difficulty level, moves made |
| Sudoku | Completion time, mistakes, hints used, difficulty tier |
| Block Puzzle | Lines cleared, top height, pieces placed, difficulty level |
| Word Puzzle | Words found, hints used, time taken, difficulty tier |
| Memory | Pairs matched, flips used, completion time, grid size |
| Backgammon | Win/loss, pip count at end, AI difficulty |
| Maze | Completion time, moves, hints used, maze size |
These are score-tracking metrics only. They describe what you did in the game — not what that means for your cognition.
2. The optional skill test — what it is and isn't
The skill test is a self-administered, voluntary skill test. It is not a clinical instrument, a diagnostic tool, or an IQ test.
- Duration: approximately 10 minutes
- Sections: spatial reasoning, decision speed, pattern recognition, planning
- Scoring: each section produces a raw score converted to a percentile vs. other Moyako users who have taken the test
- Frequency: we suggest retaking every 2 weeks if you're curious — there is no requirement
- What it produces: a snapshot of your performance on those specific question types on that day — nothing more
- What it does not produce: a clinical diagnosis, a validated cognitive profile, or a prediction of real-world performance
3. How your Moyako Game Score is computed
If you have completed at least two different test sections, your dashboard shows a Moyako Game Score (MGS) — a single number that summarises your recent test performance. Here is exactly how it is calculated:
- Most-recent score per section. For each test section (spatial reasoning, decision speed, pattern recognition, planning), we take only your most recent result.
- Recency weighting. Older results matter less. We apply exponential decay with a half-life of 14 days: a score from 14 days ago contributes 50% of its face value; a score from 28 days ago contributes 25%. The formula is:
weight = e−(ln2 × days) / 14. - Weighted average. MGS = sum of (score × weight) across sections, divided by sum of weights. All sections carry equal weight — no section is considered more important than another.
When it appears. MGS is only shown when you have results from at least two distinct test sections. A single-section result is not enough to produce a representative number.
What the trend arrow means. The arrow (↑ / → / ↓) compares your current MGS to the value from your previous visit. It is a directional indicator, not a measurement of cognitive change. An upward arrow means your weighted test average is higher than last time — that is all it means.
What MGS is not. MGS is not a cognitive score. It does not measure intelligence, memory capacity, processing speed, or any other real-world cognitive ability. It is a summary of your performance on our specific test questions on recent dates. Two people can have the same MGS for completely different reasons. MGS is not comparable between users and should not be used to rank yourself against others.
If you prefer not to see MGS, you can turn it off at any time in Settings → Privacy & Legal → Moyako Game Score.
3a. How your Moyako Test Score is computed
The verbatim user-facing definition, per Dashboard v2 spec §7.4 — render this paragraph unchanged on this page and in the dashboard tooltip:
Your Moyako Test Score (MTS) is the average of your scores on five skill tests — Pattern, Reaction, Spatial, Verbal, and Working Memory — each scaled 0 to 100. It describes how you performed on these specific tests on the day you took them. MTS is not a measure of cognitive health, intelligence, or any clinical condition, and Moyako does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease.
How it is calculated. MTS = round((pattern + reaction + spatial + verbal + working_memory) / 5). Equal-weighted mean — no section counts more than another.
When it appears. MTS is shown only when you have completed all five sections in the same skill test session. Until that condition is met, the dashboard tile shows a "Take a test" link instead of a number.
How it differs from MGS. MGS summarises your game performance and uses recency weighting (half-life 14 days). MTS summarises your skill test performance from your latest complete day. They live side by side on the dashboard so you can see whether the two move together — that is the only relationship we surface.
4. What we are NOT claiming
No improvement claim. We do not claim that playing our games will improve your memory, focus, attention, processing speed, or any other cognitive function. Making that claim would require a randomised controlled trial we have not run.
No causal claim. Seeing your game scores and test scores side by side does not mean one causes the other. We show you two sets of numbers; we do not interpret them for you.
No medical claim. Moyako Games is not a medical device, not a clinical tool, and not a diagnostic instrument. Nothing on this platform should be used to assess, diagnose, or treat any medical or cognitive condition.
No outcome guarantee. A higher game score does not mean you have better spatial reasoning. A lower test score one week does not mean your cognition declined. Individual results vary for many reasons unrelated to ability.
If you have concerns about your cognitive health, please speak to a qualified healthcare professional — not an app.
5. How to interpret your scores
The most honest way to use Moyako's numbers:
- Compare yourself to yourself, not to others. Percentile ranks show where you sit vs. other users, but what matters more is your own trend over time.
- Look for big shifts, not small ones. Day-to-day variation in scores reflects fatigue, distraction, and practice effects more than any meaningful change. A consistent direction over weeks is more interesting than a single session.
- Context is everything. If your scores dropped, consider whether you were tired, distracted, or just having an off day before drawing any conclusion.
- The test is a curiosity tool, not a benchmark. Take it if you're curious. Skip it if you're not. The games are the point.
6. Limitations
- Self-selection: users who opt into the skill test may not be representative of all players
- Measurement error: game scores and test scores are influenced by factors unrelated to underlying ability (time of day, fatigue, distraction, practice effects)
- No control group: we have no comparison group of non-players, so we cannot attribute any score change to gameplay
- Test–retest reliability: the skill test has not been externally validated for reliability or construct validity
- Not peer-reviewed: this platform is not a research study. The skill tests are not published, replicated, or externally audited.
Questions? Contact us.