The idea of lining up four in a row is old, but the drop-the-disc game most people know became famous in the 1970s as Connect 4. Explore the story:
- Who Invented Four in a Row?: the inventors and the 1974 launch.
- Fun Facts: numbers and trivia to impress your friends.
- Other Names for the Game: from four in a row to Captain’s Mistress.
Timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Milton Bradley launches Connect 4 |
| 1984 | Hasbro buys Milton Bradley |
| 1988 | The game is solved by computer: the first player can always win |
| 1995 | John Tromp builds a full database of opening positions |
| Today | Millions play four-in-a-row games online every month |
Connect 4 history in brief
Games about lining up pieces are ancient: noughts and crosses and Gomoku have been played for centuries. What made the 1970s game special was the upright frame. Discs drop to the bottom, so you can only play in the lowest free space of a column. That one rule turned a simple line-up game into one with real strategy. Read the full story in Who Invented Four in a Row?.
Why so many names?
No one owns the idea of lining up four in a row, so lots of companies have made their own versions, and players in different countries named it differently. Connect 4 is Hasbro’s brand name and the best-known version. See Other Names for the Game for the full list.
From toy to computer science
The game became a favourite test for computer scientists, and in 1988 it was solved. Today it’s still used to teach how game AI works; see How the AI Works.
FAQ
When did Connect 4 come out?
Milton Bradley first sold it in 1974.
Who makes Connect 4 now?
Hasbro, which bought Milton Bradley in 1984.