About Whack-a-Mole
Whack a mole is a game of giggles and speed: there are 9 holes in the garden, and every so often a brown mole in a yellow hard hat pops out of one. Bonk it with the red toy hammer before it ducks back down, watch the stars spin round its dizzy head, and score a point.
But be careful: sometimes a white bunny with a pink bow pops up instead, and hitting it costs you two points. That means you have to look closely and tell the two apart before you tap, instead of just tapping everything. A round lasts one minute, and the moles pop up and down faster as the time runs out.
Because it only needs a single tap, it's easy enough for little ones from 4 and still a real test for adults, training reaction speed, focus and hand-eye coordination. It plays online on phones, tablets and computers with nothing to download, and your top score is saved on your device.
How to play
- Press “Start” and the timer counts down from one minute.
- As soon as a mole pops out of any hole, tap it or click it.
- On a computer you can use the number keys: 7 8 9 for the top row, 4 5 6 for the middle and 1 2 3 for the bottom row.
- Don't hit the white bunny, because it takes two points away.
- Score as many points as you can before the time runs out.
Controls
| Keyboard | Numbers 1 to 9 laid out like a calculator (7 8 9 on top), or the letters Q W E, A S D and Z X C. |
|---|---|
| Mouse | Click a mole with the hammer as soon as it pops out of its hole. |
| Touch | Tap a mole with your finger as soon as it pops out of its hole. |
Tips to win
- Keep your eyes on the middle of the garden so you can see all nine holes at once.
- Look at the ears for a split second: the bunny has long ears and a bow, the mole wears a yellow hard hat.
- In the last 20 seconds several moles pop up at once, so get ready and tap fast.
Whack-a-Mole: questions and answers
Is whack a mole a violent game?
Not at all. The hammer is a red and yellow toy, and when a mole is bonked it just gets dizzy with cartoon stars spinning round its head. There's nothing scary.
What age is whack a mole for?
It suits everyone from about 4 up, since all it needs is a tap. Adults enjoy it too when they try to beat the high score.
How do I play whack a mole with a keyboard?
Each hole has a number like a calculator: 7 8 9 on top, 4 5 6 in the middle, 1 2 3 at the bottom. You can also use the letters Q W E, A S D and Z X C.
How long is a round?
A round is just one minute, and in the last 5 seconds you'll hear a countdown beep so you can catch the final moles.