How to play Whack-a-Mole

Whack-a-Mole is the classic arcade reflex game, and this free online version puts nine holes and a 30-second timer between you and a high score. Moles pop out of random holes — tap or click them before they duck back down to score points. As the round goes on the moles appear faster and stay up for less time, so the final ten seconds are a genuine test of reaction speed. Every regular mole is worth one point, and chaining hits without letting a mole escape builds a combo streak that adds bonus points to each whack.

Watch for the special moles. The glowing golden mole is worth three points, so drop everything and hit it the moment it appears. The bomb, on the other hand, costs you two points and wrecks your combo — train your eye to spot the fuse before your finger commits. Strategy tips: keep your hand (or mouse) hovering over the center of the grid so no corner is ever far away, use quick taps rather than dragging, and prioritize keeping your streak alive over chasing every single mole — a steady combo out-scores frantic flailing. On touch screens, play with two thumbs to cover both sides of the board. Beat your best score and climb your own leaderboard!