Do the shapes score differently?

No. The disc, the gem, and the tile each score one point. The shapes are only there so the pieces are easy to tell apart.

Does the game speed up?

Yes. Each catch and each miss makes the pieces fall a little faster. Relaxed, Classic, and Quick set the starting pace. It stops getting faster once it reaches the limit for that pace.

How many lives do I have?

Three. Each piece that passes the basket costs one. The run ends at zero.

Where is my best score kept?

In this browser, on this device. Clearing site data for Play Solo removes it. Nothing is sent to a server.

Catch — Free Online

Rules and help

How to play Catch

Pieces fall straight down. Slide the basket so a piece lands in it. A piece that passes the basket costs one life. You start with three lives. The run ends when the last life is lost.

Controls

Move: Arrow keys, or A and D. Hold the key to keep sliding. On a touch screen, hold Left or Right, or drag across the board. The basket follows your finger.
Start: Press Start, or move the basket. Nothing falls until then.
Pause: Space, P, or Pause. Switching away from this tab also pauses. You can still slide the basket while the pieces are paused. Resume continues the same pieces.

Scoring and speed

Each catch scores 1. The disc, the gem, and the tile all score the same. Relaxed, Classic, and Quick set how fast the pieces start, and how soon the next one appears. After every catch and every miss, the pieces fall a little faster, up to a limit for the pace you chose. Changing speed starts a new run. Your best score stays on this device.

A catch and a miss

A piece is caught when its middle reaches the rim inside the basket opening. Anything else falls past and costs a life. Lives do not come back during a run.

Tips

Drag anywhere on the board. The basket lines up under your finger, so you can point at a piece before it arrives.
On a keyboard, hold the arrow. The basket moves at a steady speed and does not jump.
Rest near the middle while you wait for the next piece. Both edges are closer from there.
Relaxed starts slower, and leaves a wider gap, if you want more time on the early pieces.
The first pieces are the slow ones. Line up early; later pieces give you less time.

Playing on a phone or tablet

Drag across the board to place the basket, or hold Left and Right. Pause and New game stay above the board. The rest of the page still scrolls.

Frequently asked questions

Do the shapes score differently?: No. The disc, the gem, and the tile each score one point. The shapes are only there so the pieces are easy to tell apart.
Does the game speed up?: Yes. Each catch and each miss makes the pieces fall a little faster. Relaxed, Classic, and Quick set the starting pace. It stops getting faster once it reaches the limit for that pace.
How many lives do I have?: Three. Each piece that passes the basket costs one. The run ends at zero.
Where is my best score kept?: In this browser, on this device. Clearing site data for Play Solo removes it. Nothing is sent to a server.