Earlier

Earlier is played in a terminal window: fixed-width characters, a cursor that blinks after the title, a thin black frame, and two options labeled 'A>' and 'B>'. The question is always the same, 'Which happened earlier?', and the daily edition contains three, clearly announced above the frame ('Question 1 of 3'). No hint, no timer, no visible score during the round.

1. Read the two events in the pair; they are presented without dates or context.
2. Click the one you think came earlier, A or B.
3. Go through the three questions of the edition, counted in the header line.

It's the history game reduced to its bare bones: two options, one click, no decoration. And yet the pair can sting, because you think you know the order of two familiar things until the moment you have to decide. Three questions, and all that's left is to live with it.

The edition counter is visible at all times above the frame, and an anonymous identifier is stored in the browser, with no sign-up required.

Édition du jour

Three numbered pairs, under a puzzle number displayed at the head.

Archive

An Archive link, right next to the day's puzzle number, opens previous editions.

• Three questions and nothing else: no clock on screen, no hints to spend, no reason to click quickly.