Dot Chase: a free eye tracking game

How to play

1. Press Start and sit about an arm's length from the screen.
2. Follow the blue dot with your eyes and keep your head still.
3. When the dot turns amber with a white ring, tap the play area or press Space.

Levels and scoring

A game lasts 2 minutes, split into six rounds of 20 seconds. Each round has its own path (a circle, side to side, a figure of eight, up and down, loops and a wandering path) and the dot moves a little faster each time. The time you have to catch a change also shrinks, from 1.4 seconds in round 1 to 0.75 seconds in round 6. A catch scores 10 points, plus up to 10 more the faster you are. Tapping before the dot changes costs 5 points, and a change you miss scores nothing. The end screen shows how many changes you caught, your average catch time and your early taps.

Tips for a high score

• Follow with your eyes, not your finger. Rest your thumb or mouse near the middle of the play area.
• Wait for the amber ring. Early taps cost points, so don't tap on a hunch.
• Keep your head still and let your eyes do the following.
• Mute notifications for two minutes. Pop-ups pull your eyes away at the worst moment.
• If moving shapes make you feel dizzy or queasy, stop and play Shade Hunt instead. If your device asks for reduced motion, the dot moves more slowly.

Take a proper screen break

Dot Chase takes two minutes, a good length for a pause between meetings. A game is a change of task, but your eyes are still on a screen. After a round, try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet (6 metres) away for 20 seconds, and blink fully a few times. Our guide to the 20-20-20 rule explains where it comes from and what a 2022 study found, and screen eye strain: what actually helps covers screen setup, dry air and when to get your eyes checked.

Questions about Dot Chase