Hit the Rat

There are two types of Hit the Rat games, both of which are fundamentally tests of reflexes.

The first type is an operated game found at fairs and carnivals, especially in the United Kingdom. A target (the “rat,” though real animals are not used) is dropped through a drainpipe over a spot in front of the player, who must hit it with a bat or stick in order to win a prize.

The second type is an arcade game, best known by the brand name Whac-a-Mole, though there are many brands. In this automated electric game, instead of a rat falling down a drainpipe, a rodent or other pest (there are, of course, other “nuisance” targets, including caricatures of public figures) rises out of one of four or more holes. The player must whack as many of the targets as possible within the allotted time with a cushioned mallet. The secret to the game is the algorithm used for the timing sequence, which is neither rhythmic nor identical with each play, making it impossible for the player to simply “get into the rhythm.” The game therefore depends purely on reflexes, not on the ability to keep the beat. There are simplified versions of the game, with fewer holes, for younger players.