What makes a mouse only game good
- Designed for the pointer, not a keyboard game with the keys removed.
- One or two buttons at most.
- No hidden keyboard shortcuts you need to play well.
- Precise response, so the mouse's accuracy is an advantage.
Genres that work with just a mouse
| Genre | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Point-and-click adventures | Built around clicking on the world |
| Card and board games | Drag, drop, click |
| Idle and clicker games | Click is the whole game |
| Rhythm games (some) | Aim and click to the beat |
| Pointer-driven shooters | The ship follows the mouse and fires where it points |
A mouse only game with action: Captain Star
Action games are usually the hardest to play with a mouse alone, because they need movement and aim at the same time. Captain Star solves that by making them the same thing: your ship follows the pointer and fires where it points. There is nothing to press on the keyboard. That was the design from the start; read why we built it around the mouse.
Captain Star is our top-down space shooter: you pilot a UFO through escalating alien waves, reach the star to clear each wave, and chase a high score. One pointer both moves and aims the ship. It is US$0.99 on the Mac App Store, on Steam for Windows, and on Apple TV and iPad.
Tips for playing mouse only games comfortably
- Lower the mouse sensitivity so you move your arm, not just your wrist.
- Use a large mouse pad.
- On a MacBook, the trackpad works well for pointer games; try it before buying a mouse.
- Take breaks: one-handed games are easy to play for too long.