· Skillz · Keyboard
Shortcut Ninja: free keyboard shortcut game to type faster
An action shows up: duplicate the line, paste without formatting… Press the right keyboard shortcut before the clock runs out.
What is Shortcut Ninja?
Twelve everyday actions, from copy to the command palette. Press the shortcut on your keyboard before the clock runs out, or pick it from four combos on a phone. Windows, Linux and Mac.
Shortcut Ninja is a free keyboard shortcut trainer. An action shows up, like "paste without formatting" in Google Docs or "duplicate the line" in VS Code, and you press its shortcut before the clock runs out. Every action has its Windows/Linux and Mac combo, and you switch keyboards in one tap.
A run has twelve actions: four classics everyone should know (copy, undo, find), four that save real time in documents and spreadsheets (paste without formatting, find and replace, insert today's date) and four power moves for text and code (delete a word, select by word, move a line, the command palette).
At a glance
- Category
- Skillz
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Play time
- 2–4 min
- Price
- Free, in your browser, sign-up optional
How to play
- Read
- An action and its app show up: Docs, Sheets, VS Code, the browser or any text field.
- Press
- Hit the shortcut on your keyboard. No keyboard? Pick the right combo from four.
- Beat the clock
- 10 seconds per action, a little less each round. A wrong combo or a timeout costs a life.
- Learn
- After each action you see the combo and a trick to remember it.
Strategy and tips
- Learn by letter
- Most shortcuts use the first letter: B for Bold, F for Find, S for Save, K for linK.
- Shift adds a twist
- Shift + a known shortcut often does the variant: paste without formatting, redo on Mac.
- The word key
- Ctrl on Windows and Option on Mac move or delete a whole word at a time.
- One a week
- Pick one shortcut you missed and use it all week until it's automatic.
- Command palette
- In VS Code and many apps, Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+P finds any command by name.
Why play Shortcut Ninja?
Every trip to the mouse and a menu costs a few seconds. Across a day, shortcuts save minutes and keep you focused. A timed game builds the muscle memory faster than a cheat sheet you never open.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shortcut Ninja free?
Yes. It is free and runs in your browser, with no download. Signing up is optional.
Does it work on a Mac?
Yes. Switch to Mac and every action shows its Cmd and Option combo. Windows and Linux share the same combos.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes: on a touch screen, pick the right combo among four instead of pressing it.
Why not Ctrl+W or Ctrl+T?
Browsers keep those shortcuts for themselves, so a web game can't catch them. The game sticks to combos it can read.