Four in a Row or Nine Men’s Morris?
Both games come with Gather. Here’s how they differ and when each one fits better.
The key differences
- Four in a Row is louder than Nine Men’s Morris (calm vs. silent).
- Four in a Row is over sooner: usually 3–10 minutes, while Nine Men’s Morris takes 10–20 minutes.
- Four in a Row is quicker to learn than Nine Men’s Morris (explained in a minute vs. quick to learn).
At a glance
| At a glance | Four in a Row | Nine Men’s Morris |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Board and dice games | Board and dice games |
| Players | 2 players | 2 players |
| Length of a game | 3–10 min | 10–20 min |
| Age | ages 5+ | ages 6+ |
| Luck or skill | pure skill | pure skill |
| Noise level | calm | silent |
| Learning curve | explained in a minute | quick to learn |
| Interaction | you react to each other | you react to each other |
| TV | not needed | not needed |
| Against the computer | yes | yes |
| Teams | no | no |
| Bluffing | no | no |
| Reading needed | no | no |
Which one suits you?
Four in a Row
Discs drop into columns, and the first to line up four wins. Any kid gets the rules, yet every game is a small duel of thinking one move ahead.
Pick Four in a Row when two people want a clear-cut duel for a few minutes.
Nine Men’s Morris
The old board game with nine pieces each: place, then move, and finally fly. Close a mill and you take one of your opponent’s pieces – and a well-built double mill often decides the game.
Pick Nine Men’s Morris when two people want a calm strategy game that’s settled in about a quarter of an hour.
What they have in common
- Both only work with exactly 2 players.
- Both are Board and dice games.
- Both also work without a TV, right on iPhone, iPad or Mac.
- You can play both against the computer.
- Both work from age 6.
- Both come free with Gather and need no account.