The Pen Game

About The Pen Game

The Pen Game takes the old habit of flipping a pencil across a desk and turns it into a browser-based skill game. The task is easy to describe and harder to do: send the pen through the air so it comes to rest on the table without clipping any of the obstacles in its path. Each clean landing adds to your score, and a run continues until you misjudge a throw. Rather than one long ladder of stages, play splits into endless casual runs and a more structured classic track, each holding three modes, so you can settle into a relaxed rhythm or test your timing under tighter conditions. Attempts last only a few seconds, which makes it easy to keep going for one more point without committing to a long session.

How to Play The Pen Game

Everything runs from a single input. Click and hold the mouse button, or tap and hold on a touchscreen, to build the strength of your throw, then release to send the pen flying. The spacebar normally does the same job on a desktop keyboard. Check where the obstacles sit before you commit, since the pen cannot be steered once it leaves your hand, and aim for a flat landing on the table.

Tips and Tricks

• Watch the pen's spin as well as its arc. A throw that clears every obstacle can still fail if the pen comes down on its end rather than flat.
• Aim for the middle of the table instead of the near edge. The extra margin covers a throw that turns out slightly weaker than you intended.
• Learn the obstacle layout in the endless casual modes first, where a mistake costs you less, then move across to the classic modes once landings feel predictable.
• After a miss, change the power by a small amount rather than rethinking the whole throw. Most failed attempts are only just short or just long.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to download or install anything?

No. The Pen Game runs directly in your browser on Dubdoo, with no install, no plugin and no account needed.

What is the difference between the casual and classic modes?

The endless casual side keeps going while you keep landing the pen, building up points, while the classic side plays to a more fixed structure. There are three modes on each side.

Can I play on a phone or tablet?

Yes. Tap and hold on the screen instead of holding the mouse button, then lift your finger to release the throw.

Why does the pen fail even when it misses every obstacle?

The landing angle counts as well as the flight path, so a pen that touches down badly on the table will not register as a clean throw.

How long does a typical session last?

Individual attempts take seconds, so you can stop after a handful of throws or keep chasing a higher score for much longer.

Tags

clicker, skill game, pen flipping, timing, one-button, high score, endless mode, casual, physics, browser game