Noughts & Crosses: free to play in your browser
Noughts & Crosses, also known as tic-tac-toe or Xs and Os, is the classic three-in-a-row game, rebuilt with glowing neon marks and a laser that strikes through every win. Play a friend on the same screen, passing a controller or sharing the keyboard, or take on the computer.
Each match is first to three rounds, and the player who goes first swaps every round so it stays fair. When the classic game gets too predictable, switch on VANISH mode: you can only ever have three marks on the board, so every new move wipes out your oldest one and the game never ends in a draw.
How to play
- Choose 2 Players (classic or vanish mode) or VS CPU (easy or unbeatable).
- Crosses (pink) go first in round one, then the first move swaps each round.
- Move the cursor with the stick, d-pad, WASD or the arrow keys, and place your mark with A, Space or Enter. You can also tap or click a square.
- Get three of your marks in a row, across, down or diagonally, to win the round.
- First to three round wins takes the match.
Game modes
- 2 Players · Classic
- Traditional noughts and crosses for two people on one device. Either keyboard side or any controller can play on your turn, so you can pass one controller back and forth.
- 2 Players · Vanish mode
- You can only have three marks at once. When you place a fourth, your oldest disappears. Your oldest mark flashes on your turn so you can see which one is about to go. There are no draws, so every round has a winner.
- VS CPU · Easy
- A relaxed opponent that sometimes misses a win or a block. Good for younger players or a warm-up.
- VS CPU · Unbeatable
- The computer plays perfectly. The best you can do is a draw, so see how many rounds you can hold it to a tie.
Tips
- If you go first, a corner is the strongest opening move: it gives your opponent the most ways to go wrong.
- If your opponent takes a corner first, take the centre to stay safe.
- Look for a fork: a move that makes two different threats at once, so your opponent can only block one.
- In vanish mode, plan around the mark that's about to disappear, and watch your opponent's flashing mark: the square it leaves could open a line for you.
Questions
Is noughts and crosses the same as tic-tac-toe?
Yes. It is the same game. It is called noughts and crosses in Australia, the UK and Ireland, and tic-tac-toe in North America.
Can two people play on one computer or tablet?
Yes. Two players can share the keyboard (WASD and Space, or the arrow keys and Enter), pass one controller, plug in two controllers, or just tap the squares on a tablet.
Can you beat the unbeatable CPU?
No. Noughts and crosses is a solved game, and with perfect play it always ends in a draw. Against the unbeatable CPU, a draw is a good result.
Can I play offline?
Yes. Press Save for offline on the game page while you are online, and Noughts & Crosses will keep working on that device without an internet connection.
