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Play Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe online — free
Nine boards. Every move picks your opponent’s.
- 1 or 2 players
- Play the computer — 5 levels
- Play friends or other players online
- Phone, tablet or computer — right in your browser
- Free — no sign-up, no download
About Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe
Ultimate tic-tac-toe puts nine small boards inside one big one. Win small boards to claim them, and line up three small boards to win the game.
The twist: the cell you play in sends your opponent to the matching board. Play the computer or a friend online.
How to play Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe
Goal
Win three small boards in a row — across, up and down, or diagonally — on the big board.
Setup
The big board is a 3×3 grid of nine small tic-tac-toe boards, all empty. X goes first, then the players take turns.
On your turn
- Put your mark in an empty cell of a small board you are allowed to play in. Those boards glow in your colour.
- X may start anywhere.
Where you send your opponent
The cell you pick decides which board your opponent must play in next. Play the top-right cell of any small board, and your opponent has to answer in the top-right board.
- If you are sent to a board that is already won or full, you may play in any open board.
Winning a small board
- Three of your marks in a row on a small board wins it — a big X or O covers it. Nobody can play there again.
- A small board that fills up with no winner is a tie and counts for nobody.
How the game ends
- The first player to win three small boards in a row wins the game.
- If every board is decided with no line of three (or no line is possible any more), it's a draw.
- With the Most boards wins option, play goes on until every board is decided, and whoever won more small boards wins instead. Equal numbers is still a draw.
Move notation
Moves are written as board letter + cell number: boards are a–i and cells 1–9, both counted left to right, top to bottom, like a phone keypad. e5 is the very centre cell of the centre board.
Tips
- Before you play, look at the board you are sending your opponent to: can they win it, or set up a strong line there?
- Sending your opponent to a board that is already decided gives them a free choice — usually a gift.
- The centre board and corner boards are part of the most big lines, so they are worth more.
Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe: questions and answers
Is Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe free to play?
Yes. Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe on Neon Game Cave is completely free — there's nothing to download and you don't need to sign up.
Can I play Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe against the computer?
Yes. Choose "Play the computer" and pick one of 5 levels — from a gentle beginner to a tough opponent.
How do I play Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe with a friend online?
Open the Game Cave and challenge your friend from the Players online list in the lobby. To be sure you find each other, share a chat room code first — friends in a chat room also get free text chat during the game.
Can I play Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe on my phone or tablet?
Yes. Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe runs in the web browser on phones, tablets and computers, so there's no app to install. You can add Neon Game Cave to your home screen to open it like an app.
Do I need an account to play Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe?
No. You can play straight away as a guest. Signing in with Google is optional — it keeps your games safe in the cloud and, in games with leaderboards, puts your best scores on them.