About Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe on Suvi
Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe is noughts and crosses with a twist that turns it into a real strategy game. The board is nine small boards set out in a big three-by-three grid. Win a small board with three in a row and it becomes your mark on the big board; win three small boards in a row to win the game. The catch is the send rule: the square you pick inside a small board decides which board your opponent must play in next. If that board is already won or full, they may play anywhere. A small board that fills up with no line counts for nobody. On Suvi you can play the computer at three levels or a friend on one phone, with an undo against the computer, a hint and the evening's score at the top. Nothing to download and no account needed.
How to play
- Choose vs Computer (Easy, Medium or Hard) or Two players, and who goes first. X is player one, O is player two.
- Play in the lit board. The square you pick sends your opponent to the matching board: the top-right square sends them to the top-right board.
- Get three in a row in a small board to win it. If you are sent to a board that is won or full, you may play in any open board.
- Win three small boards in a row, across, down or diagonally, to win the game. A small board that fills with no line counts for nobody.
Controls
On a phone or tablet: Tap a square in the lit board. The board uses the whole width of the screen so every square is easy to hit. Undo and Hint sit under the board.
On a desktop: Click a square, or use the arrow keys to move and Enter to play. Keys 1 to 9 play that square of the board you are sent to. U undoes, H asks for a hint.
Tips
- Every move is also a gift: before you play, look at the board you are sending your opponent to.
- Avoid sending your opponent to a board that is already won or full. A free move lets them play wherever it hurts you most.
- The centre board and the centre squares matter most, but taking the centre square sends your opponent to the centre board.
- Don't chase every small board. A board you win that isn't part of a line you can finish is worth less than it looks.
- Late in the game, count which boards your opponent still needs and keep them away from those.
Read the full guide: “Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe strategy: think one board ahead” →
Questions
- What is the send rule?
- The square you play in a small board is a map of the big board: playing the bottom-left square sends your opponent to the bottom-left board for their next move. The board they must play in lights up in their colour.
- What happens if I'm sent to a board that is already finished?
- If the board you are sent to has been won or is full, you get a free move: you may play in any board that is still open. All the open boards light up.
- What happens when a small board is a draw?
- It closes and counts for nobody: it can't be part of either player's line of three. If every board closes and nobody has three in a row, the game is a draw.
- How good is the computer?
- Easy plays loosely and is a good way to learn the send rule. Medium plans a few moves ahead. Hard plays out thousands of possible games before every move and is a real challenge, even for people who know the game.
- Can I play against a friend?
- Yes. Choose Two players and pass the phone between turns; type both names and the score for the evening stays at the top. To play a friend on their own phone, choose Online with a friend and send the invite link. There's no account to make: it asks once for your date of birth, and online play isn't open to under-13s.
- Is it free?
- Yes, every mode is free with no account. One hint a game is free, and while Suvi is new a few more are on us, with no ad to watch. Your wins and losses at each level are saved on this device.
More Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe
- Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe vs Computer
- 2 Player Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe
- Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe With a Friend Online
Similar games
- Four in a Row — Drop discs, line up four. Play the computer or a friend on one phone.
- Sea Battle — Hide your fleet, hunt theirs. Play the computer, or a friend on your own phones.
- Chess Puzzle — One tactic a day. Find the winning move.
Who made it
Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe is a Suvi Original, written and tested by Brasslight Games. Every puzzle is generated and checked by our own tools; nothing is copied from another site.