Is Four in a Row free?

Yes. You play right in your browser with no sign-up and no download, and there is nothing to buy.

Can two players play four in a row on one phone?

Yes. In “Two players, one device” mode you take turns tapping on the same phone or tablet. The game runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers.

What happens when the board is full?

If all 42 spaces are taken and nobody has four in a row, the game ends in a draw.

Yes. A game in progress survives reloading the page. Without an account it stays in this browser; with a PanicLines account it is kept in your account along with your run, so you can carry on on any device.

Four in a Row Online – Play the AI or Two Players

Play four in a row online for free

Four in a Row is the classic drop-the-disc duel: you and your opponent take turns dropping stones into an upright grid of 7 columns and 6 rows. The first to line up four of their own – horizontally, vertically or diagonally – wins.

On PanicLines you play for free in your browser on phone, tablet and computer, with no download and no sign-up. Take on the AI at three levels or play with a friend on one device; most games are over in a few minutes.

Rules

Take turns dropping a stone into one of the seven columns. It falls all the way down to the lowest free space.
The first to get four of their own stones in a row wins: horizontally, vertically or diagonally. The winning line lights up.
If all 42 spaces are full and nobody has four in a row, the game is a draw.
Going first is a slight advantage, so the starting player alternates from game to game. Giving up counts as a loss.

Modes and AI levels

Against the AI at three levels: Easy makes deliberate mistakes and sometimes misses threats, Medium looks four half-moves ahead and blocks every direct threat, Hard looks eight half-moves ahead.
Against the AI the first move alternates by default; in the settings you can choose “Always me” or “Always the AI”.
Two players, one device: take turns tapping, the starting player switches, and your run of wins and draws is counted.

Controls

Tap or click a column – the whole column is the target. With a mouse, a preview stone shows where yours will land.
To avoid mis-drops there is a confirm mode (settings): the first tap shows the stone, the second drops it.
Keyboard: 1 to 7 drop straight into that column, ← and → pick a column, Enter or Space drops.
Stones carry a symbol (circle and star) as well as a colour. There are two colour schemes (teal/red and yellow/blue), and “Reduce motion” turns off the falling animation.

Tips and strategy

Take the centre: a stone in the middle column can be part of more lines of four than one at the edge, so it gives you more options.
Make a double threat: set up two open threes at once. Your opponent can only block one of them.
Look at the space above: before you drop, check the space right on top of your stone. If it hands your opponent a winning spot, play somewhere else.
Mind the rows: threats higher up often decide the endgame, when the columns fill up and someone is forced to play underneath them. Going first, threats on the 1st, 3rd and 5th row from the bottom are strongest; going second, those on the 2nd, 4th and 6th.
Watch the diagonals: horizontal and vertical threes are easy to spot, diagonal lines are the ones that get missed most – by you and by your opponent.

Frequently asked questions

Is Four in a Row free?: Yes. You play right in your browser with no sign-up and no download, and there is nothing to buy.
Can two players play four in a row on one phone?: Yes. In “Two players, one device” mode you take turns tapping on the same phone or tablet. The game runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers.
What happens when the board is full?: If all 42 spaces are taken and nobody has four in a row, the game ends in a draw.
Is my game saved?: Yes. A game in progress survives reloading the page. Without an account it stays in this browser; with a PanicLines account it is kept in your account along with your run, so you can carry on on any device.