This is the digital version of the classic Magic 8 Ball. Think of a question that can be answered with yes or no, shake the ball, and read the reply as it floats up into the window.
How to ask a good question
The 8 ball answers closed questions best – the ones that start with "should I", "will it" or "is it". An open question such as "what should I do this weekend" cannot be answered by the ball's replies; rephrase it as "should I go away this weekend" instead.
You can type the question into the field below the ball to keep track when several people ask in a row. The question is not stored anywhere and disappears as soon as you leave the page.
The answers and their colours
The ball holds over 30 replies split across three tones: affirmative, non-committal and negative. The glow around the ball shifts to match the tone – green for yes, amber for the evasive ones and red for no – so the outcome reads from across the room.
The mix follows the original toy, where the affirmative answers slightly outnumber the negative ones and a handful of replies simply ask you to come back and try again.
Frequently asked questions
- How many answers are there?
- Over 30 different replies, split between affirmative, non-committal and negative. One is drawn at random each time you shake.
- Can the Magic 8 Ball predict the future?
- No. It is a toy – the answers are drawn at random and have nothing to do with your question. Use it for fun, not for decisions that matter.
- Where does the Magic 8 Ball come from?
- It was launched in the United States in the 1950s and is based on an earlier fortune-telling device shaped like a writing slate.
