What's Better: Timing The Market or Time In The Market?

I came across this little market investing game today and decided to give it a few tries.

I didn't do too good. You are randomly dropped into the market during an actual historical three year period of its existence. You don't know what years you are playing until the end of the game.

I played three games and my investments fared worse in 2 outta 3 games.

Can you do better?

Give it a shot.

Of course, this market index game is just pure luck

While it may be interesting, you can't really go off your results to say if you are or aren't an investing genius. There are a few reasons.

You are investing blind. You have no data or charts. No idea of what is going on in the world. You only buy or sell the index, not specific companies that might do better or worse.

But hey, it can still teach you that you never know what might happen in an instant to crash the whole market.

Try it out here: http://engaging-data.com/market-timing-game/

I recommend playing in speed 2 or 3, I find speed 3 the best. The times with orange background is when you are out of the market.