How to play Pong

Pong is the original video game — a simple, addictive table tennis arcade classic, and this free online version pits you against a computer opponent in a race to 7 points. You control the left paddle: move it with your mouse, drag your finger on a touchscreen, or use the up and down arrow keys (W and S also work). Click, tap, or press Space to serve. If the ball gets past the CPU's paddle you score a point; if it slips past yours, the CPU scores. First player to reach 7 points wins the match.

Want to play 2 player pong online with a friend on the same device? Switch to 2 Players mode and the right paddle becomes human-controlled: Player 1 moves the left paddle with W and S, Player 2 moves the right paddle with the up and down arrow keys. On a touchscreen, each player simply drags a finger on their own half of the screen — left half for Player 1, right half for Player 2. First to 7 points wins the local match.

Every paddle hit makes the ball a little faster, so long rallies get tense quickly. The angle of your return depends on where the ball meets your paddle: catch it near the top or bottom edge to fire it off at a steep diagonal, or return it flat with a center hit to keep the rally controlled. The CPU tracks the ball but its paddle speed is capped, so sharp angles at high ball speed are the reliable way to score — set up a fast rally, then snap the ball into the far corner. Your best winning score margin is saved in your browser. Simple to learn, hard to put down: that is why Pong has been played for over fifty years.