Beating the desk fan in Bin It, Games by Zaweba

Somewhere in every office there is a bin, a ball of screwed-up paper and somebody trying to land one in the other. Bin It turns that habit into a skill game on the Skill & sport shelf of Games by Zaweba, and adds a desk fan that does its best to blow your shot off course.

The flick

Press on the paper ball, flick upwards towards the bin, and let go. That is the whole control. A faster flick throws further, so the speed of your movement, not just its direction, decides where the ball lands.

The game runs on a simple rhythm. Each bin you get in a row moves the bin further away. Three misses and you are out of paper, and the game ends. So a long run makes every throw harder, and it is the run that builds your score.

Reading the fan

The fan is the real opponent. A wind gauge shows how strongly it is blowing and in which direction. Aim off to allow for it: if the fan is pushing to the right, start your flick a little to the left of the bin and let the air carry the ball back.

How far to aim off depends on two things, the strength shown on the gauge and how far the bin is. A long throw spends more time in the air, so the same wind moves it further. When the bin is close, a slight correction will do. When it has moved to the far end of the office, you may need to aim well wide.

Check the gauge before every throw, not just the first. It is easy to settle into a rhythm and forget that the fan has its own ideas.

Getting a feel for distance

Distance is the harder half of Bin It. Because speed sets distance, a consistent flick is worth more than a perfect one. Try to make the same smooth movement each time and change only one thing, a little faster or a little slower, as the bin moves back.

If a throw falls short, add a touch more speed next time rather than changing your whole action. If it sails over, ease off. Small, steady corrections tend to keep a run going far longer than big adjustments.

It also pays to settle before each throw. Rushing the next flick straight after a success is a common way to end a good run, because the bin has just moved and the old distance no longer applies. Take a breath, look at the new position and the gauge, then throw.

If you like Bin It

Bin It is the lightest game on the Skill & sport shelf of Games by Zaweba, and it is quick to pick up, which makes it ideal for a two minute break. The shelf has plenty more where wind plays a part, from Bullseye Archery and Hill Cannons to Long Drive, Skimming Stones and Ski Jump. Each one shows your score and your best when it ends, so there is always a reason for one more go.

As with everything in Games by Zaweba, there are no adverts, no accounts and no network. Press Esc to pause and F11 for full screen.