What do the three coloured dots at the bottom mean?

They preview which three ball colours will appear on your next turn — use this information to decide where to move your current ball.

Can a ball jump over other balls?

No — movement follows pathfinding rules, and balls can't pass through occupied cells.

Is there a highest score or level?

The game is endless — play continues until the board fills, and your score accumulates throughout the session.

Lines 98 Old School

Bubble Shooter

Lines 98 Old School is a faithful browser port of the 1998 Russian classic Lines. Each turn you move one ball to an empty cell, and if you form a line of five or more same-colour balls in any direction — horizontal, vertical, or diagonal — they disappear and you score points without the board advancing.

The board is 9×9. After every move that doesn't complete a line, three new balls appear in random cells previewed at the bottom of the screen. The critical skill is planning two moves ahead: will the new balls block the row you're building? You can only move a ball if there's a clear path — it can't jump over other balls. Games end when the board fills completely.

Works for players who grew up with the original and for anyone who enjoys spatial planning puzzles. Unlike match-3 games, Lines 98 has no time pressure and no level cap — just one long session. Tip: aim for diagonal lines — they're harder to accidentally block and the board typically has more diagonal space available.

FAQ

What do the three coloured dots at the bottom mean?: They preview which three ball colours will appear on your next turn — use this information to decide where to move your current ball.
Can a ball jump over other balls?: No — movement follows pathfinding rules, and balls can't pass through occupied cells.
Is there a highest score or level?: The game is endless — play continues until the board fills, and your score accumulates throughout the session.