Tic-Tac-Toe

Play Tic-Tac-Toe free online. Classic three-in-a-row against a local AI or a friend on the same device.

Tic-Tac-Toe with a proper opponent. The Hard computer searches the full game tree with alpha-beta pruning and plays perfectly, so the best result available to you is a draw. Easy and Normal deliberately leave openings. Two-player mode passes the device between players.

  • Category: Board
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Players: 1 player vs computer, or 2 players on one device
  • Typical game: about 2 minutes
  • Works on: desktop, phones and tablets

How to play Tic-Tac-Toe

Objective: Get three of your marks in a row — across, down or diagonally — before your opponent does.

  1. X always moves first.
  2. Click or tap any empty square to place your mark.
  3. Choose "vs Computer" to play the local AI, or "Two Players" to pass the device.
  4. The winning line is highlighted when the game ends.

Scoring

A win scores 100, a draw scores 25, and the difficulty multiplies the result.

Difficulty levels

Easy plays mostly at random. Normal plays well but blunders about one move in five. Hard searches the whole game tree and plays perfectly — the best you can do is force a draw.

Tips

  • Taking the centre first gives you the most winning lines.
  • Against a perfect opponent, always block a line where they already have two marks.
  • Corners create two threats at once more often than edges do.

Controls

Mouse

  • Click a square to place your mark

Touch

  • Tap a square to place your mark

Tic-Tac-Toe achievements

  • Three in a Row – Win your first game.
  • Outsmarted – Beat the computer on Hard.
  • Unbreakable – Draw against the computer on Hard.
  • Hat Trick – Win three games in a row.
  • Pass and Play – Finish a two-player game on one device.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tic-Tac-Toe free to play?

Yes. Tic-Tac-Toe is completely free on GamesPlayLand, with no download, no sign-up and no purchases.

How do you play Tic-Tac-Toe?

Get three of your marks in a row — across, down or diagonally — before your opponent does. X always moves first. Click or tap any empty square to place your mark.

Can I play Tic-Tac-Toe on my phone?

Yes. Tic-Tac-Toe works in mobile browsers on phones and tablets, with no app to install. Tap a square to place your mark.

Can I play Tic-Tac-Toe against the computer?

Yes. You play against a computer opponent that runs entirely in your browser, and the difficulty setting changes how strong it is.

Can two people play Tic-Tac-Toe?

Yes. Tic-Tac-Toe has a two-player mode for playing with a friend on the same device.

Does Tic-Tac-Toe save my high score?

Yes. Your personal best, statistics and achievements for Tic-Tac-Toe are saved in your browser automatically.

More games like Tic-Tac-Toe

  • Backgammon – Race your fifteen checkers home and bear them off before the computer.
  • Carrom – Flick the striker to pocket your coins and cover the queen — vs the computer or a friend.
  • Checkers – Classic 8×8 checkers against the computer or a friend.
  • Chess – Full chess against a local computer opponent or a friend.
  • Chinese Checkers – Hop your marbles across the star into the opposite point first.
  • Connect Four – Drop discs and line up four in a row before the computer does.