​Optical illusion: Can you spot 888 in this image​

You're looking at a grid full of 88B—over and over and over again. At first glance, it’s a sea of identical-looking characters. But hidden somewhere in that sea is one oddball: 888. No “B” at the end. Just a clean little trio of eights hanging out, hoping you don’t spot them. So, where’s the hidden number?

This kind of visual puzzle is all about pattern recognition—and how easily our brain can be tricked when there's repetition involved. In this image, almost every group is "88B." Your brain starts expecting that combo, and pretty soon, it auto-fills what you “think” you see. That makes it easier to miss the one group that’s just “888.” That’s the genius of this puzzle. It’s not hard per se, but your eyes need to slow down and break the rhythm.

Here’s the secret: Go row by row, and look at each character carefully, not just as a group. Somewhere in the 11th row (counting from the top), toward the left-hand side, you’ll see it. It’s not in the exact center, which is what makes it tricky. It’s a bit toward the far-right—specifically in the 11th row, 16th column from the left. You’ll spot it when you realize there's no “B” following the two 8s.

Well, it’s got everything to do with how our brain processes visual info:
Pattern familiarity: Once your eyes recognize a repeated pattern (like 88B), your brain starts skipping the “boring” parts and assumes the rest is the same.
Letter shapes: The letter “B” looks just enough like the number 8, especially in certain fonts. It tricks the eye into blending it all together.
Cognitive fatigue: When you're looking at rows of the same thing, your focus starts to slip unless you slow down intentionally.
It’s like those "spot the difference" games—easy when you first start, but your brain gets lazier as the grid goes on.

Believe it or not, spotting things like this isn’t just for fun. It sharpens attention to detail, visual memory, pattern recognition, patience and focus. So, the next time you get tricked by one of these puzzles, don’t get frustrated. See it as a mini gym session for your brain.

And then—you finally see it. That sweet little 888 sitting quietly in the crowd of B’s, as if to say, “Hey, you finally noticed me!” It’s such a satisfying moment. You feel like you’ve outsmarted the image, like your eyes just leveled up. It's a nice little mental workout—and way more entertaining than it has any right to be.

(Image: Times Bull)

Want more puzzles like this one?

​​Optical illusion: Can you spot 363 before you blink?​​