Orbit Dash

Orbit Dash is a free one-button reflex game set in space. A bright marker circles a glowing core on one of two orbits, the inner or the outer. Red gates sweep in from the far side of the ring, each one blocking one of the two paths. One tap flips you to the other orbit — and the whole game is choosing the right moment to do it.

It starts gently, so the first seconds teach the rhythm. Then the rings turn faster and the gates come closer together, until you are switching orbits almost on every beat. Switch too early and you run into the gate you were avoiding; switch too late and the one in front of you gets you. Every gate you slip through adds a point.

When a run ends, your score is saved to the leaderboard beside the game, and a new personal best is kept, so the next attempt always has a number to beat. A run lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes, which makes Orbit Dash a good pick for a quick break — and a hard one to put down after “just one more”.

Tips: look at the next gate, not at your marker; tap on the beat rather than in a panic; and remember that staying put is also a choice. Tap or click anywhere to switch orbit, or use the space bar or the up and down arrows. It works on a computer, a phone and a tablet, in either orientation, with no download and no sign-up.