Pinroll

Pinroll is a ten-frame bowling game in 3D. You line up the bowler, set the power and the spin with three presses, and watch the ball roll down the lane toward ten pins.

How to play

1. Press play on the start screen and read the help card, then click once to begin.
2. Aim: slide the bowler with the left and right arrow keys, or press the arrows on the screen. The ball moves with him.
3. Power: press the space bar (or tap the screen) and the power bar starts to fill and empty. Press again to stop it.
4. Spin: an arrow now swings from side to side. Press once more to stop it and the ball is released.
5. Score: knock down as many pins as you can in two throws. A strike or a spare earns bonus points on the next throws, and the last frame gives up to three throws.

What you see on screen

• Start screen: the PINROLL sign on a wooden lane with a ball and scattered pins behind it.
• Score card: ten boxes across the top, plus a TOTAL box at the right end.
• Lane view: three lanes side by side, the pins at the far end and the bowler in a green shirt at the front.
• Monitor: a screen above the lane shows an animation for a strike, a spare or a gutter ball.

Tips

• Stop the spin arrow right after it starts. In our test, games with the arrow stopped at 0.9 seconds scored 0 in all 6 tries, while stopping it at 0.12 seconds scored 28 to 39.
• Stop the power bar near the top of its rise, about 0.7 seconds after the press. At 0.52 seconds, three games in a row scored 0.
• Keep the bowler near the middle. Sliding him 14 steps to the right scored 0 in 3 games.
• Read our bowling power bar tips for the numbers behind these tips.

Frequently asked questions

How do I throw the ball?

Press the space bar or tap the screen three times: once to start the power bar, once to stop it and once to stop the spin arrow.

How do I aim?

Slide the bowler left or right with the arrow keys or the arrows on the screen before the first press.

How many frames are there?

Ten. Each frame has two throws, and the tenth frame gives a third throw after a strike or a spare.

What is the best score?

A perfect game is 300 points, and the game shows a special message when you reach it.

Can I play on a phone?

Yes. The game is built for a tall screen and works with taps. Hold the phone upright.

Is Pinroll free to play?

Yes. You can play it in your browser on Yes This Game with no download and no sign-up.