Bowling Game Online: how to play

Bowling is a free online bowling game with real ten-pin scoring. Pinny, a bowling pin in a bow tie, shows you round five friendly bowling places. Line the ball up, swipe it down the lane and watch the pins fly: the camera follows the ball all the way to the pins in a 3D bowling view. Each place is a short game of a few frames with a target score, and the lanes are new every day, the same for everyone.

How to play

• In this bowling game online, drag the ball left or right to line it up, then swipe up the lane towards the pins and let go to roll. The way you swipe is the way the ball goes, and a longer swipe rolls it harder. The white dots show the start of its path.
• With a keyboard it goes step by step: ← and → (or A and D) move the ball, Space; ← → turn the aim, Space; from Garden Lanes on ← → set the spin, Space; then the power bar swings up and down and Space rolls. Esc steps back.
• Real ten-pin scoring: knock down all ten with your first ball for a strike (10 plus your next two balls) or with both balls for a spare (10 plus your next ball). The last frame of each place gives you bonus balls after a strike or spare.
• Each place is a short game of 3 to 5 frames with a target score. Reach it to move on; fall short and you lose one of your three hearts and bowl that place again. Taking longer than 20 seconds over a ball also costs a heart.
• Your score is every point you bowl plus 50 times the level for each place you clear. Three stars per place: clear it, keep all your hearts, and roll at least one strike.

The five levels

1. Corner Lanes: bumpers line both gutters, so every ball reaches the pins: three frames, target 36
2. Seaside Lanes: no bumpers by the sea: a ball over the edge drops into the gutter (three frames, target 38)
3. Garden Lanes: spin: curve your swipe and the ball hooks once it leaves the oil near the far end (four frames, target 55)
4. Mountain Lodge: the old lodge floor tilts and pulls the ball one way, shown by the arrow but not by the dots (four frames, target 52)
5. Starlight Bowl: the pins glide side to side on a moonbeam, so time your roll (five frames, target 72)

Clear Starlight Bowl and the five places come round again with new lanes: lap 2 raises every target by 12% with shorter aim dots and faster gliding pins, and lap 3 raises them again. You have three hearts for the whole run, and the game is the same for everyone each day, so you can compare scores. Press M to turn the sound off or on.

Tips

• Aim for the pocket, just beside the head pin. Hitting the head pin straight on often leaves a split.
• A firm roll carries the pins better than a gentle one.
• For a spare, aim at the middle of the pins still standing: the little pin map in the corner shows which ones.
• Spin only grips once the ball leaves the oil, so start out to one side and let it curl into the pocket. At Mountain Lodge aim a little against the tilt arrow, and at Starlight Bowl roll as the pins slow down to turn.

Questions

Is Bowling free?

Yes. Bowling is a free bowling game you play online in your browser: no download, no sign-up and nothing to buy.

Can I play this bowling game on my phone?

Yes. Drag the ball with your finger and swipe up the lane to roll. It works on phones, tablets and computers; on an upright phone the lane fills the tall screen.

Is it a 3D bowling game?

The lane is drawn in a 3D view from behind the ball, and the camera follows the ball down to the pins so you see them fly. It runs straight in your browser with nothing to install.

How does bowling scoring work?

A strike (all ten pins with the first ball) scores 10 plus the pins from your next two balls. A spare (all ten with two balls) scores 10 plus your next ball. Otherwise a frame scores the pins you knock down. The scorecard at the top adds it up for you.