Dots and Boxes

How to play

1. Players alternate claiming an unused horizontal or vertical edge between neighbouring dots.
2. The player drawing a box’s fourth edge owns it and takes another turn. One edge can complete two boxes.
3. After all sixteen boxes are claimed, the player owning more wins. Eight boxes each is a draw.

AI or a friend?

Choose local AI with three search levels, or two players sharing one device. Changing mode or level starts a fresh game. Select a space, then confirm your move. There are no online rooms.

Make your move

• Touch or mouse: select a space, then press Confirm move. Checkers selects a piece before its destination.
• Keyboard: arrows move the cursor; Enter/Space previews, then confirms. The on-screen arrows provide the same selection controls.
• Standard gamepad: D-pad selects, primary button previews/confirms, Start pauses. Physical controllers and Tesla browsers await testing.

A small head start

• Count a box’s sides before adding a line.
• Giving away a short chain can sometimes prevent a much longer chain later.
• Check the highlighted edge before confirming; claimed edges cannot be reused.

Compatibility notes

Touch and keyboard controls are implemented. Physical phones, controllers and Tesla browsers await device testing.

Play style: Point and move. Local progress restoration is available for this game.

Check this game on your device ↗

Compatibility · Input check

Credits & source

Denny Games · MIT · original implementation. Source code

Updated: 2026-10-12. Free to play. Pages may contain disclosed affiliate links; Google ads are inactive.