matts.js

const t1 = performance.now();

let count_y = 0;
let count_n = 0;

for (let i = 0; i < 10_000; i++) {
        let message = `!play ${i}`;
        if (/^!(play|playball|givecompliment)(?:\s+(\w+))?$/.test(message))
                count_y += 1;
        else
                count_n += 1;
}

const done = performance.now() - t1;
console.log('Took', done, 'found', count_y, 'not_found', count_n);