Dots and Boxes is the paper-and-pencil game many of us played on the last pages of school notebooks. Now you can play it on your phone against the computer. The board has a 5×5 grid of dots, which makes 16 boxes to fight over.
Take turns drawing a line between two neighbouring dots. Draw the fourth side of a box and it is yours, and you get another turn straight away. That extra turn is what makes the game so tricky: one careless line can hand your opponent a whole chain of boxes. Claim the most boxes to win. Play free in your browser with no sign-up. Looking for games to enjoy with family? See our family brain games guide.
How to play Dots and Boxes
- You and the computer take turns drawing one line between two neighbouring dots.
- If your line completes the fourth side of a box, you claim that box.
- Completing a box gives you another turn.
- When all lines are drawn, the player with the most boxes wins.
Tips to score higher
- Avoid drawing the third side of a box; it lets your opponent take it.
- Early on, play lines that do not give anything away.
- Count the chains of boxes that will open up near the end, and try to make your opponent open them first.
- Sometimes giving away one or two boxes on purpose wins you a longer chain later.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the board?
The board has 5×5 dots, which makes 4×4 or 16 boxes in total.
Do I get another turn after completing a box?
Yes. Every time you complete a box you take another turn.
How do I win?
When all the lines have been drawn, whoever has claimed more boxes wins.