How to play
The Typing Challenge is a race against scrolling text. Choose a starting speed and press Start. The screen shows the mission, "Type fast and clear", then counts down 3, 2, 1 in time with the music. When the count ends, lines of text begin to scroll up the screen.
Your job is to type each line before it reaches the red deadline at the top. Finish a line and it disappears. Let an unfinished line hit the deadline and you lose a life, and the remaining text drops back two lines to give you a moment to recover. You have three lives, and the run ends when they are gone. If you click away from the text, the game pauses until you come back.
Speed and combo
You pick a starting speed of 15, 30, 50, 70 or 90 WPM. That sets how fast the text scrolls at the start. Every 30 seconds the scroll speeds up by 5%, so even a comfortable start becomes a real test after a few minutes.
Each line you finish adds +1 to your combo. Losing a life breaks it. A long combo means you stayed ahead of the scroll for a long stretch.
Choosing a start speed:
| Start speed | Good if you... |
|---|---|
| 15 WPM | are just starting to type or practicing with kids |
| 30 WPM | are still building speed or want a long, relaxed run |
| 50 WPM | type at an average pace and want a steady challenge |
| 70 WPM | touch type comfortably and want pressure early |
| 90 WPM | are a fast typist looking for a hard run |
A useful starting point is a speed a little below your typing test result. The scroll will catch up with you soon enough.
What you type
The texts are sentences from public-domain literature and well-known quotes. They include capital letters, commas, apostrophes and other punctuation, just like real writing. That makes the Typing Challenge a good way to practice full sentences rather than lists of random words. If punctuation slows you down, Course 4: Capital Letters & Punctuation covers those keys.
Sound
The countdown and scrolling run with music, and there are sound effects for finishing a line and losing a life. Use the speaker icon at any time to mute or unmute, or press M on the start and results screens (during a run, M is just a letter to type). Your choice is remembered for next time.
Tips
- Work on the top line first. It's the one closest to the deadline. Don't start reading lower lines until it's done.
- Don't panic when it speeds up. The 5% steps are small. Panicking causes more errors, and errors cost more time than the speed-up itself.
- Keep your eyes on the text. Looking down to find a key is the fastest way to lose a line.
- Don't stop for every typo. A line finishes when you have typed all of its characters. Mistakes lower your accuracy and break your combo, but the line still clears, so keep your rhythm. You can use Backspace to fix a mistake right away if you have time.
- Start lower than you think. A longer run at a lower start speed often gives you more practice than a quick loss at a high one.
For a game that rewards accuracy over speed, try the Monster Typing Game. To work on the habits behind fast typing, read how to type faster.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Typing Challenge free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with no download and no account.
What does the red line mean?
It's the deadline. Any line that reaches it before you finish costs you one of your three lives.
How fast does it get?
The scroll speeds up by 5% every 30 seconds from the speed you picked. The longer you last, the faster it goes, so every run eventually ends.
Can I mute the music?
Yes. Click the speaker icon, or press M on the start screen.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. Tap the text area and type with your phone keyboard, though a physical keyboard gives the best results.