Update: Formations and Defenders Mode

We just shipped one of the most requested features: tactical formations. Before every match, you now pick how your 11 pins are arranged on the board. There are 6 formations to choose from — the balanced 4-1-4-1, the aggressive 4-3-3, the fortress 5-3-2, and more.

Each formation changes the geometry of the board in a meaningful way. A 4-3-3 gives you more forward targets to bank shots off of, but leaves your midfield thinner. A 5-3-2 is incredibly hard to score against, but you have fewer pins up front to work with when it's your turn to attack.

Alongside formations, there's a new toggle called Defenders Mode. When enabled, after each shot settles, you get to drag one of your pins to a new position within its zone. This turns the game from pure flicking skill into something more strategic — you're actively shaping the board between turns.

The AI picks a random formation each game, so you'll face different layouts every time. Online opponents declare formations simultaneously before the match starts, so neither player has an information advantage.

Formations are defined in a clean data table in the codebase, making it straightforward to add new ones in the future. If you have ideas for formations you'd like to see, let me know on X.

Try out different combinations against the AI to find your style. The 4-2-3-1 with Defenders Mode is my personal favorite — the two defensive midfielders create a solid wall, and you can use your one pin move per turn to close off whatever lane the opponent just exploited.