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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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The verdict on

Four in a Row

65
User verdict / 100 High confidence Divided

Four in a Row by DonkeyCat GmbH is generally considered a great and addictive Connect Four game, especially for online play, but it is heavily criticized for an excessive number of unskippable ads and persistent issues with cheating and technical glitches.

4.9★ lifetime (2,141) Free + in-app purchases since 2019 by DonkeyCat GmbH updated 1.3 mo ago recent negative 37% 41 reviews across 2 regions
Ads Gameplay Enjoyment Cheating Technical Issues
5★22
4★2
3★2
2★1
1★14
recent reviews across 2 regions, vs the 4.9★ lifetime average

Four in a Row by DonkeyCat GmbH is a popular Connect Four game praised for its engaging online multiplayer and challenging AI. However, recent user reviews highlight significant issues with frequent, unskippable ads, rampant cheating in online play, and various technical problems like disconnections and login failures.

What users like

  • Many users find the game excellent and enjoyable, especially for online play.R3R4R8R21
  • The game offers challenging gameplay and can help improve Connect Four skills.R7R18R24R28
  • It is considered one of the best apps for online Connect Four, with a busy player base.R27R32

What users complain about

  • The app has an excessive number of unskippable ads after every game, even for paid users.R1R2R5R15
  • There are widespread reports of cheating in online matches, with some players using solvers.R11R14
  • Users experience technical issues such as being kicked out of games when winning against AI, login problems, and connection failures.R12R13R19R26
  • The blocking feature for other players is ineffective, as blocked users can still challenge.R10
  • Some users report issues with lost in-game currency or credits.R35
  • A user reported the app accessing their camera files without clear reason.R6

Latest update · v552

What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):

UI Improvements

Recurring themes

Ads negative
Many users are highly frustrated by the frequency and unskippable nature of ads, which appear after every game, even for those who paid for no ads.R1R2R5R15
Cheating negative
A significant number of players report rampant cheating in online games, with opponents taking unusually long to respond before making perfect moves, and some even admitting to using solvers. This issue is noted across different regions.R11R14
Technical Issues negative
Users frequently encounter glitches such as being kicked out of games, especially when winning against the AI, login failures, and intermittent inability to connect or accept challenges. The developer's notes mention 'UI Improvements,' but recent reviews still highlight significant functional issues.R12R13R19R26
Gameplay Enjoyment positive
Despite the issues, many users genuinely enjoy the game, finding it fun, challenging, and the best Connect Four app available for online play.R3R4R8R21

Who it's for

This app is for players looking for a challenging and active online Connect Four game R3R32. It is not for users who dislike frequent, unskippable ads, or who are easily frustrated by online cheating and technical glitches R1R2R11R12.

Evidence note: The recent reviews skew negative (0.366 negative), which contrasts with the high lifetime rating of 4.88. This suggests a recent decline in user satisfaction, primarily due to the increased prevalence of ads, cheating, and technical issues. The confidence score reflects the strong consensus on these recent negative points, while acknowledging the historical positive sentiment.

Frequently asked

Are there many ads in Four in a Row by DonkeyCat GmbH?
Yes, many users report an excessive number of unskippable ads appearing after every game, which is a major point of frustration R1R2R5R15.
Is cheating common in online play?
Yes, several users, including highly-ranked players, report that cheating is prevalent in online matches, with some opponents using solvers R11R14.
Does paying for the app remove ads?
One user who paid for no ads still reported being unable to play, implying the ad removal might not work or other issues persist even after purchase R19.
Are there technical issues with the game?
Yes, users frequently experience problems such as being kicked out of games when winning against the AI, login difficulties, and intermittent connection issues R12R13R19R27.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 41 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] 5/5 · US Best one: Tried a bunch of connect four apps, this one takes the cake.
  2. [R4] 5/5 · US Great: Excellent game
  3. [R8] 5/5 · US Great game: It’s an awesome game!!!
  4. [R21] 5/5 · US Four in a row: Great game!
  5. [R7] 5/5 · US The only game that will make you feel like a fool: How could I have lost that connect for I am a genius. There’s no way this green beloved earth that I Bryan should have lost. Who is smarter than me. No, not one.
  6. [R18] 5/5 · US Fun good for your mind: Fun
  7. [R24] 5/5 · US fun game and i love to get better is really hard you can witch the modes: cool
  8. [R28] 5/5 · US Awesome game: I honestly love this game it’s very challenging
  9. [R27] 5/5 · US Needs update: Periodically throughout the day there will be moments where no player can approve match challenges from anyone. This last for a few minutes each time. Other then that the is the absolute best 4 in a row game online by far. I love this app. Please fix
  10. [R32] 5/5 · GB Best connect 4 app !: I am from the UK, this app is the best app hands down if you want online play! It’s a busy app! This is not a fake review either. Feel free to dm my insta and I’ll tell you this myself ( blackoutbarbers ) 136. Download it !
  11. [R1] 1/5 · US Horrible ads: Cannot close their horrible ads
  12. [R2] 1/5 · US So many adds: No matter if u play the computer or a person online you’ll have to deal with a unskipable add after EVERY GAME
  13. [R5] 1/5 · US Ads: The pop-up ads are so bad
  14. [R15] 1/5 · US Too many commercials: Too many commercials, garbage app.
  15. [R11] 2/5 · US Too many cheaters: It’s not everyone but I will see people that are like 4,000 take 17 seconds to respond and then they will just do that everytime a guy even admitted to me that he was cheating
  16. [R14] 3/5 · US Cheating: Hi, I was at one point rated the highest player in America and number 1 in the world. Later on I lost my Rank due to cheating. I have compared games I've played and games I've played against bots and they're identical. Not saying everyone cheats, but its flooding and ruining the game. One bot most cheaters use is connect four solver.
  17. [R12] 1/5 · US Will kick you out when winning against robot computer system: This has happened several times already. When you play one on one with the computer on hard mode and see that the computer is losing and your winning, it will take a moment to think about its “next move” then automatically kick you out and say you lost for no reason when clearly you weren’t going to lose and it NEVER shows you how it “w
  18. [R13] 1/5 · US User: This app cheats! It will randomly end the game and say “you lost the game” and won’t even allow you to finish! I absolutely despise this app! I am very competitive and I hate cheaters!
  19. [R19] 1/5 · US Cannot connect anymore: Paid for no ads and can’t even play
  20. [R26] 1/5 · US Creepy, deleted: Creepy AF. My bf and I were “playing” “each other” while talking on a videocall and his avatar lost the game on his 2nd move while I continued to play the game against an AI “him” ???! Is this a psyop?! Time travel?? Neither, - just fake?!?! Send h4lp! One mandatory star for the cute avatars tho.
  21. [R10] 1/5 · US Block: If I block someone I know is playing unfairly or cheating if you will, why are they still allowed to challenge me? Block should mean more than just limiting the chat feature…if I block you that means I don’t want to play against you ever again in any capacity
  22. [R35] 5/5 · GB WARNING:: It's a fun game, but don't buy any credits - I once logged in and I found out that lost 10k (but I'm not sure why).
  23. [R6] 1/5 · US It’s spying on us: Every time I open it it goes to the camara app on my files and asks for a picture. I’ve tried deleting it and reinstalling but it keeps doing it

Synthesized from 41 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store