# Darkball

> Predictive timing game challenging brain's anticipation skills. (iPhone/iPad app by CW&T.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkball/id937357954 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [CW&T](https://appshunter.io/developer/403622462)
- Category: Games, Health & Fitness, Strategy
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.10/5 from 15 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 0 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-05-04
- Data updated: 2026-07-17
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkball/id937357954/reviews.md

## What is Darkball?

Tap the screen when you think the ball will appear in the target. The ball will only flash twice.  The first flash happens when the ball drops and the second flash happens on the line. You’re goal is to tap the screen when you think the ball will appear in the orange target area.

Cristiano Ronaldo can famously volley a corner kick in total darkness. The magic behind this remarkable feat is hidden in Cristiano’s brain which enables him to use advance cues to plan upcoming actions. Darkball challenges your brain to do the same, distilling that scenario into its simplest form - intercept a ball in the dark. All you see is all you need.

One of the brain’s fundamental functions is to use information from the past and present to predict the future. This function is key to how animals, from dragonflies to humans, navigate a dynamic and uncertain world. To make predictions, the brain must have an “internal model” of the system it interacts with. A basic form of this function is at play when we move our body. For example, to reach for a cup, the brain must have a model to predict how the hand would respond to various motor commands. Internal models are also thought to play a crucial role when we mentally predict future states of the environment, for example when we track a ball as it moves behind another object. Here, we have designed a simple task to understand how the nervous system makes such predictions. In this task, subjects have to intercept a ball when it reaches its final position. By changing the speed of the ball, the intervals when it is invisible, and the target position, we will test various hypotheses about the algorithms that are used to integrate information about past and present to make predictions about future.

## Key features

- Predictive ball interception gameplay
- Tests brain's anticipation skills
- Simple tap-to-intercept mechanic
- Challenges timing and prediction
- Minimalist visual cues

## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkball/id937357954/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Needs work!

*2023-08-02*

Could be good if it didn’t send you back to the instructions after each time you miss.  It makes it very frustrating!!

### 2/5 — Meh

*2021-01-09*

It seems to help over time yes, but if you ever get 2 or lower in a game it has you do the tutorial round, and after most games it sends you right back to the info page. Could greatly benefit from toggles for those. Also would help to see a bigger stats page rather than just your recent scores

Doesn’t look like they look at reviews much, as this is still an issue

## Frequently asked questions about Darkball

### What is Darkball?

Darkball is a game where players tap the screen to intercept a ball in a target area, challenging their predictive timing and anticipation skills.

### How do you play Darkball?

You tap the screen when you predict the ball will appear in the orange target area. The ball flashes twice, with the second flash indicating its position on the line.

### What devices does Darkball support?

Darkball is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices.

### What is the age rating for Darkball?

Darkball has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of players.

### Is Darkball free to play?

Yes, Darkball is completely free to download and play.

### Does Darkball have ads?

No, Darkball does not contain advertisements.

### When was Darkball last updated?

Darkball was last updated on May 13, 2015, with version 1.21.

### What is the user rating for Darkball?

Darkball has a rating of 4.0 stars based on 14 user ratings.

## Version history (last 3 releases)

### 2.0 — 2026-07-06

Darkball is back — rebuilt from the ground up for modern iPhones and iPads.

• Runs full screen on today's devices
• Smoother, more precise touch timing
• Game Center leaderboard — see how your brain stacks up
• Research study concluded: the consent survey and data collection are gone. Just you, the ball, and the dark.

### 1.21 — 2015-05-13

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Added instructional text.

### .1 — 2015-04-30

No release notes.

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## More apps by CW&T

- [One Alarm](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/one-alarm/id420208602)
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- [Meditation Box](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meditation-box/id6758015617)

All apps by CW&T: https://appshunter.io/developer/403622462

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-17.*
