Free Mouse Practice Games
Learn to control a mouse or a laptop touchpad, one skill at a time.
These games are made for a mouse or a laptop touchpad. On a touch screen you can tap and drag, but hovering and right clicking will not work.
Six short games, one for each mouse skill. New to the mouse? Start with game 1 and play them in order. Be quick and accurate to earn three stars.
Six mouse skills, six short games
- Catch the Stars teaches you to move the pointer exactly where you want it.
- Pop the Balloons practises the left click, the button you will use most.
- Open the Boxes practises the double click used to open files and folders.
- Left or Right? teaches you to choose between the left and right buttons.
- Tidy the Desktop practises drag and drop by moving files into folders.
- Find the Key practises scrolling up and down a long list.
The targets start large and get smaller as each game goes on, so your control improves without you noticing. Stars are awarded for finishing quickly with few misses, and your best time is saved on your device.
How to hold a mouse
Rest your hand lightly on top of the mouse with your wrist straight. Your index finger sits on the left button and your middle finger on the right button, with the wheel between them. Your thumb and little finger hold the sides. Move the mouse with your whole arm for big movements and with your fingers for small ones, and do not grip it tightly.
Using a laptop touchpad instead
- Slide one finger to move the pointer.
- Tap once, or press the bottom left corner, to left click.
- Tap with two fingers, or press the bottom right corner, to right click.
- Slide two fingers up or down to scroll.
- Press down and keep pressing while you slide to drag something.
Mouse practice questions
Common questions from people learning to use a mouse.
Are the mouse practice games free?
Yes. All six games are free to play as often as you like. There is no account to create and nothing to download.
I have never used a mouse. Where do I start?
Start with game 1, Catch the Stars. It only asks you to move the pointer, with no clicking at all. When that feels easy, play the games in order. Each one adds one new skill.
Do the games work with a laptop touchpad?
Yes. Slide one finger to move the pointer and tap once to click. Tap with two fingers, or press the bottom right corner, to right click. Slide two fingers up or down to scroll. To drag, press down on the touchpad and keep it pressed while you slide.
What is the difference between a left click and a right click?
A left click chooses or opens the thing you are pointing at, and it is the one you will use most. A right click opens a small menu of extra actions for that item, such as copy, paste or rename.
Why is double clicking so hard?
Two things usually go wrong: the second click comes too slowly, or the mouse moves between the two clicks. Hold the mouse still with your thumb and little finger and press the left button twice in a quick, even rhythm.
Can I play on a phone or tablet?
The games are made for a mouse or a touchpad. On a touch screen you can tap and drag, but hovering and right clicking do not exist there, so use a computer or laptop to practise properly.
Next, learn to type
Guided keyboard lessons, a speed test and a typing game.