Players of Ten Pin Alley , a bowling game for the Playstation, must choose from eight unique characters. The game's power and accuracy can be customized using a meter similar to that found in the Links golf series. As players take their turn, the action unfolds.
The game features three main modes: single game, league, and tournament - both amateur and professional. Players can personalize their chosen character by altering their appearance, including clothes, hairstyle, skin tone, and four key factors that influence performance: power, release, spin, and hand usage. Each strike requires selecting a lane arrow, setting the bowler's position, and operating the bowling meter. Adjusting the bowling meter involves specifying spin velocity, power of the ball, and release point. The game illustrates these actions through animation, showcasing the ball's trajectory and impact with the pins. Following each completed round, results are displayed in a table.
For the Windows version of Ten Pin Alley , players can participate in hot seat mode, competing against up to nine human or computer opponents on a single computer. Alternatively, they can connect via internet for multiplayer gameplay.