Pong Games

Pong games all trace back to the paddle classic: a ball travels back and forth across the screen and you slide your bar up and down to return it before it gets past. Atari put it out as an arcade machine in 1972, and hundreds of copies and spin-offs have followed. This section has more than 60.

How it plays

Your paddle moves up and down along one side of the screen, using the mouse, the arrow keys or your finger, depending on the game. If the ball slips by, the point goes to your opponent, and the first to reach the target score usually wins. The odd thing is that there's nothing else: no power-ups, no levels, just you, the ball and a pace that keeps picking up.

Which versions to try

Plain Pong is in Atari Pong, Pong 1970, Super Pong and Mr Pong, with simple graphics and the original rules. Others change the look, like Mario vs Luigi Pong or Battle Pong, and Air Hockey Game moves the same idea onto an air hockey table.

Brick breakers are here too, since they grew out of the same idea. In Bricks Breaker, Break or Destroy Blocks, the paddle sits at the bottom and the ball bounces into a wall of blocks that you knock out one by one. A few titles on the list only borrow the bouncing ball, so try a couple before you settle on one.

Tips for longer rallies

Don't chase the ball with your paddle. Watch where it's heading and get in position before it arrives. In many versions, the part of the paddle that hits the ball changes the angle: the edge sends it back sharper and harder to reach, the center sends it straight.

When the ball speeds up, the natural reaction is to move the paddle more and miss. Do the opposite: short movements, and get into place early. Against the computer, very sharp angles are often its weak spot. And if you'd rather play a real person, look for Multiplayer Pong Challenge.