1. Install
Download the latest version from the download page. Open the downloaded file and follow the install wizard. To start the game: Start › Programs › iPuissance 4D.
The game works with a mouse or keyboard: click an item, or navigate with the arrow keys, Tab, and Enter.
2. Play a local game
A local game is a solo game versus the computer or a game versus a friend on the same computer. Click Local from the main menu.
- To play against the AI, set one of the players to Computer and choose the difficulty level.
- To play with a friend, leave both players as Human.
You will then be asked to choose the game rules (see Game rules).
3. Play online
To play with other people over the internet, click Internet from the main menu. An internet connection is required. You may need to allow the game through your firewall.
3.1 Player login
You can play as a Guest without any account. With an account your wins count toward the high score and you get access to more features. Creating an account is free and takes only a few seconds.
3.2 The chat room
Once connected you land in the chat room. On the right is the list of connected players. Next to each name is a status icon:
 | The player is in the chat room. |
 | The player is in the chat room but away (AFK). |
 | The player is currently in a game. |
The bottom half of the screen is the chat. Type your message and press Send. For a
private message type /msg PLAYER_NAME MESSAGE. To see all available chat
commands, send a message containing only /.
The top half shows the room list. Press Create to create a room and wait for an opponent. To join an existing room, select it and press Join. Both players must press Ready before the game starts.
4. Game rules
The rules screen lets you configure:
- Game type — the rule variant to apply.
- Turn time limit — if a player doesn't move in time, a random column is chosen.
- Round time limit — the countdown runs only during your turn. Reaching zero means you lose.
Note: you cannot enable both time limits at the same time.
iPuissance 4D offers six rule variants:
- Classic — 6×7 grid, connect 4 to win.
- No Fill C. — top row drops when all columns are occupied.
- 10×10 C. — 10×10 grid.
- 2 Per Turn — each player drops two counters per turn.
- Reversed — connecting 4 makes you lose.
- Special — advanced rules with multiple counter types.
5. During the game
The top header shows the current rules and scores. On the left are the time-out timers for each player (if playing with a time limit). On the right you can select your counter type — only the Special rule lets you pick a different type for your second counter.
In online games the chat is at the bottom of the screen. Type and press Enter to
send. Use /msg "OPPONENT_NAME" to keep the conversation private. Press Del to clear the line. Press Enter on an empty line to bring back the /msg command.
Light gray messages come from the main chat room. Certain keywords typed in chat trigger
sounds for both players — these are called emoti-sounds. Try typing LOL or D'OH. There are around 40 sounds; the full list is intentionally secret.
6. Keyboard shortcuts
| Everywhere | |
|---|---|
| Left click | Execute a control. |
| Enter | Execute the active control. |
| Tab | Cycle between controls. |
| F12 or ` | Show/hide the console. |
| In the chat room | |
| Left click on a player | Pastes /msg NAME or just the name into the chat line. |
| Left click on a room | Selects the room. |
| Middle button | Pastes clipboard text into the chat line. |
| Mouse wheel | Scrolls the list under the cursor. |
| Del | Clears the current chat line. |
| Backspace | Deletes the character before the cursor. |
| ↑ / ↓ | Recalls previously typed chat lines. |
| ← / → | Moves the cursor in the chat line. |
| Page Up / Page Down | Scrolls the chat log up/down. |
| During the game | |
| Left click on a column | Drops the selected counter in that column. |
| Left click on a counter colour | Selects that counter type (if available). |
| ← / → | Moves the column cursor left/right. |
| Enter | Drops the counter in the selected column. |
| F1 – F10 | Selects column X, or drops a counter there if already selected. |
| Numpad 1–3 | Selects counter type: normal, green, or double white. |
| Middle button | Pastes clipboard text into the chat line. |
| Del | Clears the current chat line. |
| Backspace | Deletes the character before the cursor. |
7. F.A.Q.
- Can I play offline without an internet connection?
- Yes! You can play offline against the AI or with a friend locally on the same computer by downloading the standalone game client for Windows (installer or portable) or Linux (AppImage).
- Can I play without installing anything?
- Yes, iPuissance 4D can be played directly inside your web browser without downloading or installing anything.
- Do I need to create an account to play online?
- No, you can play online as a Guest without an account. Creating a free account allows your victories to be recorded in the global high score ranking.
- The BOSS key
- Press Esc twice to activate BOSS mode: the window minimizes, sound mutes, and the title bar changes to something innocent. To return to normal: click the game in the taskbar and press Esc.
- What are the emoti-sounds?
- Typing certain keywords in the in-game chat triggers a sound for both players. The full list is intentionally secret — discover them as you play!
- My score went down even though I didn't play.
- If you haven't played for more than three months, your score decreases by 1% per day to keep inactive players from distorting the ranking.
- What about cheaters?
- Obvious cheats can be reported via the contact page with the suspect's nickname and the date of the incident.
- Can the AI difficulty be increased?
- Possible in principle, but the AI's main purpose is to help you train. A very sharp AI could also be exploited to cheat.
- Can I spectate a game?
- Spectating is not currently available.
- Any other question?
- Contact us or check the tutorials.