Cognitive

Self-Control

When you really want to tap, can you hold back?

Circles flash one at a time in the middle of the screen. If it's green, tap fast. If it's red, don't tap. Hold back! Your accuracy shows how well you can react quickly and still know when to stop.

Play now →

No install, no sign-up — starts right away

At a glance

Players: 1 player
Ages: 5 and up
Play time: About 30 seconds
Levels · Modes: One mode (14 tries; each circle shows for 1 second)

How to play

Tap Start. Circles will appear 14 times in all.
When a circle appears, check its color.
If it's green, tap it as fast as you can before it disappears.
If it's red, don't tap. Just wait. When all the tries are done, you'll see your accuracy.

Tips

Most circles are green (about 3 out of 4), so your finger easily jumps ahead on its own. Beating that habit is what this game is all about.
If you don't tap a green circle in time, it counts as a miss. Being too careful will lower your score, too.
Each circle stays on screen for 1 second. It's short, but there's enough time to check the color, so look at the color first.

What it practices

Inhibitory controlPractice stopping yourself and holding back.

Selective responseDecide quickly whether to tap based on what you see.

Staying focusedIt's short, but you have to stay alert until the very end.

Great for

Anyone who wants to break the habit of tapping too fast
Kids who love "red light, green light" games
Anyone who wants to practice balancing speed and accuracy

Good to know

The results screen shows your accuracy along with your average reaction time for green circles and how many times you tapped by mistake. See whether accuracy or speed needs more work, and set a goal for your next round.

Self-Control · Play now →