Play Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! Online

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! came out in 1987 as part of the MS-DOS Classic Games collection, published by Software Toolworks. It was one of those programs that felt like a game even though it was meant to teach you something practical. In an era when many people were just getting their first home computers, it stood out as a surprisingly engaging way to build a useful skill.

You don't control a character in the traditional sense; your own typing is the input. The main objective is to improve your speed and accuracy through a series of structured lessons and challenges. Signature mechanics include timed typing races where you compete against on-screen cars, text-based adventure games that require specific typed commands to progress, and repetitive drills that enforce proper finger placement. The pacing starts slow, focusing on home row keys, but gradually introduces more complex combinations and higher speed requirements. It feels satisfying to watch your words per minute climb as your fingers find their way across the keyboard almost on their own.

Each game uses different controls, most DOS games use the keyboard arrows. Some will use the mouse , "Alt" ,"Enter" and "Space bar".