Gist

Bet on the sentences that carry a paragraph's meaning, then squeeze its whole point into a tight word budget.

How to play

Each round has two phases. First you bet which sentences are load-bearing; then the true thesis is revealed and you write a summary under a strict word limit. Your score blends bet accuracy, meaning captured, and budget discipline.

• Phase 1: click the sentences you think carry the thesis, then reveal it
• See how many thesis hits and filler bets you made
• Phase 2: write the gist in the allowed number of words or fewer
• Staying under budget earns a brevity bonus; going over is penalized

Game modes

• Daily: one shared paragraph per day
• Practice: a fresh random paragraph each round

Controls

• Desktop: click sentences to bet, click Reveal thesis, type your summary, then click Score
• Phone & tablet: tap sentences to bet and tap the text box to write your gist

Tips & strategy

• Bet on topic and conclusion sentences — supporting examples rarely carry the thesis
• Write a draft that captures the meaning, then cut filler words to claim the brevity bonus before you score

What you'll learn

Gist is a comprehension game about finding a paragraph's core idea and stating it clearly.

• Skills: reading comprehension, main idea, summarizing
• Best for: roughly grades 4–10 (ages 9–16)
• For parents & teachers: finding and stating the main idea.

About Gist

Gist is an original free browser comprehension game about finding a paragraph's core idea and stating it concisely, pairing a betting mechanic with disciplined summary writing.

A free, original browser game on PlayPendium — no download, no install. Browse all games →