3D Four in a Row: Rules and How to Play
3D Four in a Row is a two-player board game that takes about 10 minutes. Drop beads on 16 pegs in a 4×4 grid. The first to line up four up, across or diagonally, including through levels, wins.
Setup
- For two players. On your own, play against the computer.
- Use 16 pegs and 32 beads of each colour. The first seat starts as Red. The first move switches when you play again.
How to play
- On your turn, tap a peg to preview the landing place, then quickly tap it again or press Choose this at the bottom center to drop one bead. It lands in the lowest empty level.
- Each peg holds four beads. Tapping a full peg shows a cross and a reason.
- Swipe the board to rotate it. Pegs and bead positions stay the same.
Winning and scoring
- The first to line up four of their beads wins, up a peg, across or diagonally within a level, or diagonally through levels.
- If all 64 spaces fill without a line of four, the game is a draw.
Defaults on this site
| Item | Default on this site |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players (set automatically by the party size) |
| Turn time limit | None by default (the host can set 30 or 60 seconds) |
| If someone drops mid-game | Reopening on the same device returns you to your seat. If you do not return, the CPU plays in your place. |
| Draws | In ranked play, a draw counts as halfway between a win and a loss for your rating. |
| Source of the rules | Based on the standard reference rules |
Rules supervised by Qdan, Inc. (based on the standard reference rules)
House rules
Defaults follow the standard reference rules. The party can change these.
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alternate first move | Switch who goes first (Red) after each game. | On | Can be changed |
Terms
- Peg
- A place to drop beads. The board has 16, in a 4×4 grid.
- Level
- A bead’s height, from 1 at the bottom to 4 at the top.
- Stair
- A diagonal rising by one level on each neighbouring peg.
- Space diagonal
- A line between opposite corners of the cube, changing row, column and height together.
- Threat
- A line needing one more bead to make four.
FAQ
How do I reach higher levels?
Beads already on the peg support the new bead above them.
Do diagonals across levels count?
Yes. Four in a straight line rising one level at a time also wins.
Does rotating use my turn?
No. It only changes your view of the board.
Play now with these rules
Last updated 2026-10-26 · Run by Qdan, Inc.