Air Hockey
Slide your mallet, smack the puck and score in the goal at the far end. Play against a computer opponent on Easy, Medium or Hard, or share one phone or tablet with a friend, one player at each end of the table. First to 7 goals wins.
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Move your mallet with the mouse or a finger. Keyboard: arrow keys. P pauses.
Your record vs the computer
| Difficulty | Wins | Losses | Best margin |
|---|
How to use the Air Hockey
- Choose a mode: vs Computer (pick Easy, Medium or Hard) or 2 players.
- Press Start game. The puck is placed in one half of the table; the player on that side strikes first.
- Move your mallet (green, bottom) by moving the mouse or dragging a finger in the bottom half. The arrow keys work too.
- Hit the puck while your mallet is moving. A fast swing gives a fast shot, and the contact point sets the angle. Bank shots off the side walls are allowed.
- Score in the top goal and defend the bottom one. In 2-player mode the top player touches the top half or uses W A S D. First to 7 wins; press P to pause.
How the puck physics works
The puck glides with very little friction, just like on a real table where air jets lift it off the surface. It loses about 12% of its speed per second and about 8% each time it hits a side wall. When a mallet hits the puck, the game compares the speed of the mallet and the puck along the line between their centres and reflects the puck off the mallet, adding the mallet's own motion. That means:
- A still mallet acts like a wall: the puck bounces off it and keeps most of its speed.
- A mallet moving into the puck adds speed, so swinging through the puck produces a hard shot.
- Hitting the puck off centre sends it away at an angle, which is how bank shots are made.
Shots and defense
| Shot | How to do it | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Straight shot | Line up behind the puck and push straight through it toward the goal | Fastest route, but easy to block if the opponent is centred |
| Bank shot | Hit the puck toward a side wall at roughly the middle of the table | It changes direction late and arrives at the corner of the goal |
| Double bank | Hit at a steep angle so it bounces off both side walls | Slower, but hard to read |
| Defensive block | Keep your mallet between the puck and the middle of your goal, a little in front of the goal line | Covers both corners without leaving a gap |
A common beginner mistake is chasing the puck all over your half. Stay home, block, and strike only when the puck is slow or coming straight at you.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play air hockey?
Each player has a mallet and defends the goal at their end of the table. You hit a sliding puck with your mallet and try to knock it into your opponent's goal. You may not move your mallet past the center line. In this game the first player to score 7 goals wins.
How do I control the mallet?
On a computer, your mallet follows the mouse inside the bottom half of the table, and you can also use the arrow keys or W, A, S and D. On a phone or tablet, drag your finger anywhere in the bottom half. The mallet has a top speed, so very fast flicks are smoothed a little.
Can two people play on one phone or tablet?
Yes. Choose 2 players and lay the device flat between you. Each player drags a finger in their own half of the table, and both mallets can move at the same time. On a keyboard, player 1 uses the arrow keys and player 2 uses W, A, S and D.
How do I hit harder shots?
Shot speed comes from how fast your mallet is moving when it meets the puck, not from how hard you press. Pull back slightly, then move through the puck quickly. Hitting the puck off-center sends it at an angle, which is useful for bank shots off the side walls.
How good is the computer?
Easy moves slowly, reacts late and often stays back. Medium attacks loose pucks in its half and defends the middle of its goal. Hard reacts almost instantly, moves fast and aims its shots at your goal, but it can still be beaten with bank shots and fast angled strikes.
What is the official winning score?
Many air hockey tables and leagues play games to 7 points, which is what this game uses. Casual games are often played to whatever score the players agree on.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.