Keyboard, mouse or touch screen: how controls work in browser games

Browser games can be played on a laptop, a desktop computer, a phone or a tablet, and each one gives you a different way to control the game. Knowing the basics makes games feel more natural and helps you fix the most common problem: a game that seems to ignore you.

Keyboard

Many games use the arrow keys or the W, A, S and D keys to move, with the space bar or Enter for the main action. Look at the first screen of a game: most show the keys they use. Puzzle games such as 2048 only need the arrow keys, while action games may also use Shift, Ctrl or number keys.

Mouse

With a mouse you usually click to choose, drag to move things around, and move the pointer to aim. If a game asks you to hold the button, hold it until the action finishes. A mouse is the most precise option for puzzle, shooting and drawing games.

Touch screen

On a phone or tablet, a tap works like a click, a swipe works like a drag, and a long press means holding the button down. Many games are designed for one thumb. If the page scrolls instead of the game reacting, try the Fullscreen button below the game, which gives the game the whole screen.

Gamepads

Some browser games also work with a game controller. Connect it to your device, then press any button while the game is open so the browser notices it. Not every game supports a gamepad, so check the on-screen hints.

When nothing responds

• Click once inside the game window. Keyboard presses only reach a game after it has focus.
• Wait for the loading bar to finish. Large games can show a title screen before they are ready.
• Reset your browser zoom to 100 per cent, because a very zoomed page can push buttons off the screen.
• Try Fullscreen, then close other tabs that might be slowing the page down.
• Reload the page if the game freezes. Your progress in most simple games is not saved, so a reload starts again.