A free reaction time test with a demon in it
Swift Banish is a free online reaction time test. The screen stays dark for a random moment, then it turns red and a demon appears. Tap as fast as you can and the game shows how long you took, in milliseconds. Do that five times and you get your average.
It works like a simple reflex test, because that is what it is: one signal, one response, no tricks. There are no decoys and nothing to memorise. The only way to do badly on purpose is to guess, and a guess does not count.
How to play Swift Banish
- Tap the board, or press Enter, to begin. The screen goes dark and says WAIT.
- Keep still. The demon comes after a random wait of between 1.5 and 5 seconds, so you cannot learn the timing.
- The moment the screen turns red, tap, click, or press Space or Enter.
- Your time appears in milliseconds. Tap for the next try.
- After five tries you see every result and your average. Press Enter, or tap, for five more.
Controls
- Mouse or touch: click or tap anywhere on the board. The time is taken the moment you press, not when you let go.
- Keyboard: Space or Enter. Holding a key down does nothing, so you have to press it fresh each time.
- Esc goes back to the game list.
Scoring and rules
The result is your average over five valid tries, rounded to the nearest millisecond. A lower number is better, and your best average is saved in your browser.
Tap before the demon appears and you get TOO SOON. That try does not count and you simply take it again, so a false start cannot spoil your average. A press less than 80 milliseconds after the demon appears counts as a guess and is treated the same way.
If you leave the page in the middle of a try, that try starts again, because a hidden browser tab cannot keep accurate time.
Tips to score higher
- Watch the middle of the board and let your eyes relax. You only need to notice the color changing, not look at anything in particular.
- Rest your finger on the mouse button or just above the screen. Moving your hand a long way adds time before you press.
- Do not try to predict it. The wait is random, and guessing only earns you another try.
- Compare sets of five rather than single tries. One try can be lucky, and the average tells you much more.
- Use the same device each time. Screens, mice and phones all add their own delay, so results from different devices are not a fair comparison.
Questions
- What is a good reaction time?
- Online tests like this one usually quote typical results of about 250 to 275 milliseconds. Treat that as a rough guide: the sources disagree, and your device affects the number. We do not collect results, so we have no figures of our own.
- How accurate is this reaction time test?
- The clock is precise, but what you see is not instant. Your screen, your browser and your mouse or touch screen each add a little delay that is counted in your result. It is good for comparing yourself on the same device, and it is not a medical or professional measurement.
- Why is my time slower on a phone?
- Touch screens and phone displays often add more delay than a desktop mouse and monitor, so a slower number on a phone does not mean you got slower.
- Is my result saved anywhere?
- Your best average stays in your browser. If you accept analytics cookies, the page visit is measured, but your reaction times are not sent anywhere.