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Getting Better at Arcade and Action Games: Practice That Actually Works
By the Nerdania team · · 4 min read
Arcade and action games look like they are all about fast fingers, but the best players are rarely the ones tapping the hardest. They are the ones who see what is coming, stay relaxed, and practise in a smart way. Whether you are trying to beat a high score in Neon Serpent, survive another wave of Star Siege or keep the ball alive in Ricochet Riot, these tips will help you improve.
1. Look ahead, not at your character
Beginners tend to stare at their own ship, snake or hopper. Experienced players look slightly ahead – at the next gap in traffic, the next incoming meteor, the next bend. Your hands react to what your eyes have already noticed, so give your eyes time to notice. In Hop Havoc, watch the lane after the one you are about to enter. In Neon Serpent, plan your next two turns, not just the next one.
2. Stay relaxed
Tension slows you down. When people get nervous they grip their phone, press harder and over-correct. Before a tricky level, take a breath, loosen your hand and let your thumb rest lightly on the screen. Small, smooth movements beat big, jerky ones in almost every action game.
3. Learn the patterns
Most arcade games are less random than they appear. Enemy formations move in set ways, obstacles arrive in rhythms, and power-ups appear at certain moments. In Star Siege, each new wave moves and fires faster, but the formation still marches in a pattern you can learn. In Orbit Rebel, watching where meteors cross your orbit tells you when to reverse direction. The more you play, the more you recognise – and recognition is faster than reaction.
4. Practise deliberately
Playing the same level over and over without thinking produces slow progress. Deliberate practice is different:
- Notice how you fail. Do you always crash at the same point? Hit the same wall? Lose the ball on the left side?
- Focus on one fix at a time. "This round I will keep my paddle closer to the centre."
- Keep sessions short. Ten focused minutes beats an hour of tired, frustrated play. Skills often feel better the next day, after a good night's sleep.
5. Use the edges of the paddle
In brick-breaker games such as Ricochet Riot, where the ball hits the paddle controls its angle. A hit near the centre sends it straight up; a hit near the edge sends it sharply sideways. Use the edges to aim into gaps and send the ball behind rows of bricks, where it can bounce around and clear many at once.
6. Do not chase every power-up
Power-ups are tempting, but diving across the screen to grab one is a common way to lose a life. Collect them when it is safe, and let them go when it is not. Staying alive is always worth more than one bonus.
7. Train your reaction time – fairly
Quickdraw Clock is a pure reaction test: wait for the lamp to turn green, then tap. Tapping early is a false start. It is a good reminder that reaction time is about waiting well as much as moving fast. Keep your eyes on the target, keep your finger ready but relaxed, and resist the urge to guess. Typical human reaction times to a visual signal are around a quarter of a second; with practice and focus most people get a little faster and, more importantly, much more consistent.
Things that genuinely affect reaction time include sleep, tiredness, distraction and screen brightness. If your scores drop late in the evening, it is not your imagination.
8. Set up your screen
- Turn up the brightness so fast-moving objects are easy to see.
- Play in full-screen mode where the game offers it, so your fingers have room.
- Hold your device in a comfortable position, supported by both hands, or rest it on a table.
- On a computer, try the keyboard controls where available – many games support the arrow keys.
9. Know when to take a break
Everyone hits a wall. If your scores are getting worse instead of better, your concentration is spent. Take a five-minute break, move around, get a glass of water, and come back. Arcade skills are like riding a bike: they settle in between sessions.
10. Compete with yourself
High-score tables are fun, but the most useful comparison is with your own past results. Every Nerdania game keeps your progress on your device, so you can see your improvement level by level. Beating your own best score by a little each week is real, measurable progress.
Games to practise with
- Steering and planning: Neon Serpent, Rally Rush
- Timing: Hop Havoc, Orbit Rebel, Quickdraw Clock
- Aim and angles: Ricochet Riot, Meadow Putt
- Steady nerves: TILT Tower Club
Find more in the arcade collection and the target and action games. And if pinball is your thing, read our pinball basics guide.