Keyboard, Mouse or Touch: Choosing How to Play Browser Games

One of the nice things about browser games is that they follow you from device to device. But not every game suits every way of playing. A little thought about controls makes the difference between a frustrating session and a good one.

Games that shine on touch screens

Anything built around tapping or swiping feels natural on a phone: one-button games like Sky Hopper, tap-the-target games and most card and board games. Portrait games in particular are designed with a phone held in one hand in mind.

Games that prefer a keyboard

Games that need quick, precise direction changes are usually easier with arrow keys. A snake game is a good example: swiping works, but a key press is faster and more exact.

Where a mouse helps

Paddle and aiming games benefit from the smooth, continuous movement of a mouse or trackpad. Right-click is handy too — in a mine-clearing game it places a flag without switching mode.

Check before you play

Every game page on this site has a How to play section listing the controls for keyboard, mouse and touch, along with whether the game supports desktop and mobile. If a game is designed for a different kind of device than the one you are using, the player tells you before it loads.