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Time: 60Score: 0Combo: ×1

Mallets ready!

Level 1
Q W E / A S D / Z X C · P

Click the moles (or press Q W E / A S D / Z X C) before they hide. Golden moles are worth 5×, and don't bonk the sleepy turtle! P to pause.

Whack-a-Mole

ORIGINAL

Arcade · Bonk the moles, grab the gold, let the turtle nap.

Whack-a-Mole is the classic tap-the-mole game, set on a sunny lake shore: moles pop out of their mud holes and you bonk them with a soft toy mallet before they duck back down. Golden moles are worth extra, the sleepy turtle costs points, and every round lasts 60 seconds. Play free on your phone or computer, take the Daily round, or race a friend online.

How to play

  1. Tap a mole (or click it) while it's out of its hole. On a computer you can also use the keys Q W E, A S D and Z X C, one key per hole, laid out like the holes.
  2. A brown mole is worth 10 points and a golden mole with a crown is worth 50. Golden moles hide faster, so get them first.
  3. Don't bonk the sleepy turtle in the nightcap: it costs 25 points and ends your combo. Just let him sink back down.
  4. Hit moles in a row to build a combo: 5 in a row doubles your points, 10 triples them and 20 makes them four times bigger. If a mole gets away, the combo starts over. Tapping an empty hole costs nothing.
  5. The moles come faster and hide sooner as the 60 seconds tick down. When time's up you get stars for your score: Easy has 6 holes, Medium and Hard have 9.

Tips to win

  • Keep your finger or mallet near the middle of the field: every hole is then a short move away.
  • When two moles are up, hit the one that came up first. It will be the first to hide.
  • Always grab a golden mole first: one is worth five brown moles, more with a combo.
  • Look before you tap when something green pops up. The turtle is wider than a mole and wears a blue nightcap.
  • Your combo matters more than any single mole: a combo of 20 makes every mole worth 40 points.
  • Stuck? Turn on Teach me: Hop points at the next mole before it pops up, warns you about the turtle and slows the round down a little. Coached rounds are practice and don't set a best score.

Guides

Questions

How do you play Whack-a-Mole?

Moles pop out of holes for a moment and you hit them before they hide again. Each mole you hit scores points. On GameLake a round lasts 60 seconds, golden moles are worth 50 points, brown moles 10, and hitting the sleepy turtle costs 25.

Is this Whack-a-Mole game free?

Yes. It's free in your browser on phone, tablet or computer, with no download and no account.

How do you get a high score in Whack-a-Mole?

Build combos. Five hits in a row double your points and twenty in a row make them four times bigger, so not letting any mole get away is worth more than speed alone. Grab every golden mole and never hit the turtle.

What's different on Easy, Medium and Hard?

Easy has 6 holes and slow moles that stay up for almost two seconds. Medium has 9 holes and up to three moles at once. Hard has 9 holes, moles that hide in about half a second by the end, and more turtles.

Can I play Whack-a-Mole with a friend?

Yes. Open the Race tab and send your friend the link, or wait for a quick match. You both get exactly the same moles at the same moments for 60 seconds, you see each other's score live, and the most points wins.

What is the Daily round?

Every day everyone gets the same Medium round, with the same moles popping up in the same holes. Play it to keep your daily streak going and compare scores with friends.

Is there a classic arcade version?

Switch on Classic look under the game for a red arcade-cabinet skin with glowing red digits for your score and time. The rules stay the same.