Mirror Axis
Rotation or reflection? Decide fast.
How to play Mirror Axis
Two 3D shapes appear side by side. Decide: MATCH (a rotated copy) or MIRROR (a flipped twin)?
Press ← for Match, → for Mirror — or tap the answer on touch devices. Keep your accuracy up as the shapes get trickier.
What it trains: 3D mental rotation
Mirror Axis poses the classic spatial-reasoning judgment used in mental-rotation research: two polycubes sit side by side, and you have to work out whether one is a turned copy of the other or its mirrored twin.
Mirror pairs can't be distinguished by any single feature — you have to compare the whole shape, fastest by rotating it in your head, which is precisely the skill the game builds run after run.
Mental rotation: the trainable spatial skill →Based on the Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task
In Shepard and Metzler's classic experiment, people saw two drawings of 3D shapes built from cubes and decided whether they showed the same object. The time they needed grew in a straight line with the angle between the two shapes, the finding that made mental rotation a measurable skill. The paper-and-pencil Mental Rotations Test by Vandenberg and Kuse is built from the same figures.
Mirror Axis asks the same question about pairs of cube shapes: is the right one a rotated copy of the left, or its mirror image? The shapes are smaller than the lab figures (4 to 8 cubes instead of 10), harder pairs use any of the 23 possible rotations, and you play against a 60-second timer that correct answers refill. Unlike the lab task, you can also drag a shape to turn it, which trades time for certainty.
Shepard, R. N., & Metzler, J. (1971). Mental rotation of three-dimensional objects. Science, 171(3972), 701–703. doi.org/10.1126/science.171.3972.701
Vandenberg, S. G., & Kuse, A. R. (1978). Mental rotations, a group test of three-dimensional spatial visualization. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 47(2), 599–604. doi.org/10.2466/pms.1978.47.2.599
Scoring & progression
Runs are short and scored — your best run sets your personal record. Strong runs feed your belt progression in the spatial discipline — from white belt toward black — and your place on the global leaderboard.
Mirror Axis FAQ
Is Mirror Axis free to play?
Yes. Mirror Axis runs in your browser with nothing to download, and you can play it without an account. An account only saves your scores, stats and leaderboard place.
How long does a run of Mirror Axis take?
A run starts with 60 seconds on the clock. Good play refills it (up to 60 seconds) and mistakes drain it, so a strong run lasts as long as you can keep the timer topped up.
What do I need to play Mirror Axis?
A modern web browser. A desktop or laptop with keyboard and mouse works best; the game also runs on tablets and phones with touch controls.
Is Mirror Axis the same as the Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task?
Mirror Axis is built on the Shepard and Metzler mental rotation task, with some differences. Mirror Axis asks the same question about pairs of cube shapes: is the right one a rotated copy of the left, or its mirror image? The shapes are smaller than the lab figures (4 to 8 cubes instead of 10), harder pairs use any of the 23 possible rotations, and you play against a 60-second timer that correct answers refill. Unlike the lab task, you can also drag a shape to turn it, which trades time for certainty.