404 WARSThe web hosting arcade game
Pick a real host. Its stats come from live HRI data. Defend the web from downtime.
Character stats are powered by real HRI data. No host can pay to appear in this game.
INSERT COIN404 WARS
Pick a real host. Stats are powered by live HRI data. Defend the web from downtime.
TOUCH OR ARROW KEYS TO MOVE. AUTO FIRE.
This month's top hosts
The arcade leaderboard resets on August 1. For the real standings, see the monthly HRI rankings.
No scores yet this month. Be the first to make the board.
404 WARS is a free browser arcade game published by HostList.io. Every playable character is a real hosting company drawn from an independent directory of more than 28,000 hosts across 85 countries. Each character's in-game stats are computed directly from that host's live HRI component scores: Trust sets hit points, Performance sets damage, and Freshness sets speed and fire rate. No hosting company can pay to appear in the game or to improve its stats, and the roster is selected only by HRI. Players defend the web from the villains of downtime, the 404 Ghosts, the DDoS Bots, and the Downtime Demon boss, across three waves. Winning reveals a coupon code pulled from the same verified deals database the rest of the site uses. Scores post to a monthly leaderboard called PING KINGS, which resets on the first of every month. Character stats are powered by real HRI data. No host can pay to appear in this game.
Every stat is a real HRI signal
HRI is HostList's independent 0 to 100 rating. Three of its components drive the game. Read the HRI methodology.
| HRI component | Game stat | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Trust | HP | Hit points (40 + Trust x 2) |
| Performance | ATK | Damage per shot (1 + Performance / 10) |
| Freshness | SPD | Move speed and fire rate |
Is 404 WARS free?
Yes. It is a free browser game with no signup needed to play or to see the leaderboard. An email is only required if you want to save a score to the monthly board.
How are character stats calculated?
Each character is a real host, and its stats come straight from that host's live HRI component scores. Trust becomes hit points, Performance becomes damage, and Freshness becomes movement speed and fire rate.
Can a hosting company pay to be in the game?
No. The roster is chosen only by HRI score, and no host can pay to appear or to change its stats. This matches the rest of HostList, which takes no paid placements.
How do I unlock the secret coupon code?
Beat all three waves, including the Downtime Demon boss. The game then reveals a verified coupon pulled from the HostList deals database, the same one used across the site.
When does the leaderboard reset?
The PING KINGS leaderboard resets on the first day of each month. Past months are archived, nothing is deleted, and the top ten can receive a monthly email.