FOUR IN A ROW

Four in a Row: free to play in your browser

Four in a Row is the classic vertical strategy game with a neon twist. Take turns dropping glowing discs into a seven-column grid: they fall to the lowest open space, and the first player to line up four of their own across, down or diagonally wins the round.

It takes seconds to learn and a long time to master. Play a friend on the same screen, passing a controller back and forth or sharing the keyboard, or test yourself against the computer. Each match is first to three rounds, and the player who goes first swaps every round.

How to play

1. Choose 2 Players, VS CPU (easy) or VS CPU (hard).
2. Move left and right with the stick, d-pad, A/D or the arrow keys to pick a column.
3. Press A, Space or Enter to drop your disc. On a tablet or with a mouse, just tap or click the column.
4. Your disc falls to the lowest empty space in that column.
5. Get four of your discs in a straight line, across, down or diagonally, to win the round. If the board fills up first, the round is a draw.
6. First to three round wins takes the match.

Game modes

2 Players

Two players on one device. Either keyboard side or any controller can play on your turn, so one controller can be passed around.

VS CPU · Easy

A relaxed opponent that looks one or two moves ahead and sometimes plays loose. Good for learning the game.

VS CPU · Hard

Looks seven moves ahead, blocks your threats and sets up its own. Beating it takes real planning.

Tips

• Play the middle column early. More winning lines pass through the centre than through any other column.
• Look for moves that create two threats at once. Your opponent can only block one of them.
• Watch the space directly above a threat: if you fill the square underneath your opponent's winning spot, you hand them the win.
• Diagonal lines are the easiest to miss, both yours and your opponent's.

Questions