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How to Play the Stock Market Game

New to trading games? This beginner-friendly walkthrough gets you from zero to your first profitable trade in about five minutes — using nothing but $10,000 of play money.

Ready to try it? Open the stock market simulator in a new tab and follow along as you read.

Step 1 — Open the simulator

Head to the stock market simulator. You'll instantly see ten tickers, a live-updating price for each, and your starting balance of $10,000. No sign-up, no download — the market is already running.

Step 2 — Read a ticker

Each row shows the ticker symbol (e.g. NOVA), its sector, the current price, the percent change, and a mini chart. Green means the last move was up; red means down. Spend a few seconds watching how prices tick.

Step 3 — Buy your first share

Type a quantity, then click Buy. The cost (quantity × price) is deducted from your cash and the position appears in Your portfolio with its average cost. Congratulations — you're long the market.

Step 4 — Track profit & loss

As prices move, your portfolio table updates the value and P/L of every holding in real time. Green P/L = you're up; red = you're down. Your total ROI sits at the top of the board.

Step 5 — Sell and lock in gains

When a position is in profit (or you simply want out), enter a quantity and click Sell. Proceeds return to your cash balance, ready for the next trade.

Step 6 — Save your score

Happy with your return? Enter a name and hit Save my score to record your ROI on the leaderboard. Then try to beat it — that's the game.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do I need any experience?

None at all. The game is designed for complete beginners and students. If a term confuses you, check the trading glossary.

Can I lose all my money?

Only play money — and you can reset to $10,000 anytime. There is zero real-world risk.

What's the goal?

Grow your $10,000 as much as you can, then save your ROI to the leaderboard and beat your personal best.

Keep playing

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