Board Games

Board games online, free and ready in seconds: this is where Slice Games keeps its classic two-player strategy games. Reversi (Othello), Connect Four, Tic-Tac-Toe (XO) and Quoridor all run right in your browser on a phone, tablet or computer. There's nothing to download, no account to create and no board to set up, so the only thing left to decide is who moves first.

Every game here is made for exactly two players. The rules take a minute to learn, yet each game rewards a little planning. If you're looking for 2 player board games you can start in the time it takes to sit down, you're in the right place.

Reversi (Othello): corners win games

Reversi (Othello) is played on an 8×8 board with discs that are a different color on each side. Every game starts with four discs in the center. You place a disc so that it traps a line of your opponent's discs between two of yours, horizontally, vertically or diagonally, and every trapped disc flips to your color. Whoever has more discs at the end wins.

The twist is that grabbing lots of discs early rarely matters. Corners do, because a disc in a corner can never be flipped back, so the real fight is over who gets there first.

Connect Four: four in a row

Connect Four is played on an upright grid with 7 columns and 6 rows. Players take turns choosing a column, and the disc drops to the lowest open space. Line up four of your color horizontally, vertically or diagonally and you win; fill the grid with no line of four and it's a draw.

• Take the center: claim the center column early, since more winning lines pass through it than through the edges.
• Watch the diagonals: they're the threats players miss most often, and one overlooked line ends the game.

Tic-Tac-Toe (XO): the quick warm-up

Tic-Tac-Toe (XO) is the quickest game here and a perfect warm-up. Get three in a row on a 3×3 grid before your opponent does. With perfect play on both sides it always ends in a draw, so every win comes from spotting a fork or punishing a missed block.

Quoridor: walls, paths and planning

Quoridor is the deepest of the bunch. Each player starts with a pawn on opposite sides of a 9×9 board and 10 walls. On every turn you either move your pawn one square or place a wall to make your opponent's route longer, never both. A wall can force a long detour but can never seal anyone off completely, and the game checks every placement for you. The first pawn to reach the far side wins.

Because each wall costs you a move, Quoridor is a constant trade-off between racing ahead and blocking, which makes it a favorite for players who like to plan several turns in advance.

How two people play

• Same device: in Reversi (Othello), Tic-Tac-Toe (XO) and Connect Four you simply take turns on the same phone, tablet or computer.
• Against the computer: Reversi (Othello) and Connect Four let you pick how tough the computer opponent is, and Tic-Tac-Toe (XO) has an AI ready for a quick round.
• Online with a friend: Connect Four and Quoridor let you create a private room and invite a friend who is somewhere else. Connect Four even lets you share the invite as a link, a room code or a QR code.

There's no random matchmaking, so you only ever play the people you invite.

Short sessions or a long rematch

These board games suit short breaks, a coffee-table rematch or a long evening of best-of-five. Tic-Tac-Toe (XO) is over in under a minute, while Reversi (Othello) and Quoridor ask for a bit more patience and thought. If you'd rather think on your own, the Brain Games category has solo puzzles like Sudoku and Minesweeper waiting for you.

Frequently asked questions

Which board games can I play online for free?

Reversi (Othello), Connect Four, Tic-Tac-Toe (XO) and Quoridor, all free in your browser with nothing to download.

Can two players play on the same device?

Yes. Reversi (Othello), Tic-Tac-Toe (XO) and Connect Four let you take turns on the same phone, tablet or computer.

Can I play against the computer?

Yes, in Reversi (Othello), Connect Four and Tic-Tac-Toe (XO).

Is Reversi the same as Othello?

In modern play, yes: same 8×8 board, same four-disc start in the center and same flipping rule.